Hindu destroyer of verse found in branch of Islam (5)
I believe the answer is:
shiva
'hindu destroyer' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'verse found in branch of islam' is the wordplay.
'verse' becomes 'v'.
'found in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'branch of islam' becomes 'Shia' (one of the main branches of Islam along with Sunni).
'v' placed inside 'shia' is 'SHIVA'.
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for shiva that I've seen before include "Jewish period of mourning" , "Major Hindu god with third eye in middle of forehead" , "Major Hindu deity (the destroyer)" , "Destroyer goddess of Hinduism" , "powerful deity" .)