Standing Ardhanārīśvara

This compelling combination of male and female forms depicts the Hindu god known as Ardhanarisvara, the Lord who is Half Woman. In this aspect, the male Siva has joined with his wife Uma (Parvati) in an expression of the unification of dualistic oppositions such as consciousness versus form or eternity versus change. The male side of this figure raises a battle-ax and rests his forearm on the muzzle of his attendant bull, Nandi. The female side bears a lotus flower and contrasts with the masculine half through different jewelry, clothing, and anatomy. In one story, Ardhanarisvara was born from the head of the creator god Brahma, who found himself incapable in his efforts to create the universe. It was only the combined male/female deity, a unification of all aspects of reality, who had the power to generate life in the world out of nothing.