Ardhanarishvara

Origin

अर्ध (ardha) - half + नर (nara) - man + ईश्वर (ishvara) - lord; Lord whose half is a man.

Description

Ardhanarishvara is a composite male-female figure of the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Parvati. In sculptures from Indian and Southeast Asian traditions, the right half represents Shiva with traditional ornaments, while the left half depicts Parvati. Symbolically, the figure signifies the inseparability of male and female principles. Various legends explain its origin, including one from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, describing the first creature as an androgynous being that later split into a husband and wife. Another legend involves the sage Bhringi and a request from Parvati to unite with Shiva in one form.

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