Ardhanarishwara

Read Customer Reviews

Ardhanarishwara

This infusion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi shows the reason behind the birth of this world. Lord Shiva the ‘Purusha’(male power), infuses with the ‘Prakriti ‘(Goddess Parvathi, the female power) to create this world.

Ardhanarishwara is one of the 64 embodiments of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva fusion. Ardhanarishwara is a combination of three words namely 'Ardha' meaning half, 'nari' meaning female/woman and 'ishwara' meaning God. Thus Ardhanarishwara literally translates to 'the God who is half female.

Lord Shiva is the absolute and the supreme God who is responsible for destruction and regeneration of everything that comes in to existence with the universe. When the ultimate man, Lord Shiva infused with Goddess Parvati, a new God came to light and came to be known as 'Ardhanarishwara'. Ardhanarishwara is depicted as fusion of half male and half female forms, split down from the centre. The right side depicts Lord Shiva and the left side shows Goddess Parvati, his consort. The Lord is portrayed as Lord Shiva on the right side who has a blue complexion, wearing tiger skin, sitting on Lord Nandi. The Lord holds Damru and Trishula in his upper hand and another hand hold out to bless the devotees. The left side has Goddess Parvati who is wearing saree and jewellery, a crown on her forehead. She holds a lotus flower in her upper hand and another hand stays downward, she rides the Lion.

There are several legends associated with the origin of 'Ardhanarishwara'. One of which can be traced back to the era of Mahabharata. One of the legends says that Goddess Parvati when married Lord Shiva insisting on knowing what all Lord Shiva went through to be the supreme God. Lord Shiva asked her to sit on his lap and she gave her consent without any hesitation. Thus 'Ardhanarishwara' was formed combing the two greatest powers, Lord Shiva and the Shakti herself, Goddess Parvati.