18 Across

NYT Daily • August 21, 2025

Destroyer of Hindu cosmogony

Answer:

SIVA

Hint:

This deity’s dance symbolizes the end of the universe in sacred Hindu tradition.

Explanation:

In Hindu mythology, Shiva (also spelled Siva) is the god associated with destruction and transformation, playing a key role in the cyclical end of the universe. The clue references "cosmogony," which deals with the origin and dissolution of the cosmos—something Shiva embodies as the destroyer in the Hindu trinity. The answer is straightforward, with no wordplay, just a direct nod to his cosmic role.

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