In popular understanding of the mythology, Brahma is called the creator, Vishnu, the preserver and Shiva, the destroyer. When you ask people why Shiva is called the destroyer, they will answer, it is because he is the destroyer of evil. But if Shiva is the destroyer of evil, does it mean Brahma is the creator of evil and does it mean Vishnu is the preserver of evil? Such counter questions make the word, “destroyer”, problematic.

Also, the word evil is not a Hindu word. It belongs to cultures that do not believe in rebirth and karma. Hence, we have to ask ourselves: what is as okay being created by Brahma as it is being preserved by Vishnu and destroyed by Shiva? Perhaps a study of what Shiva actually destroys helps figure this out.