There are hermaphrodite images of Shiva in which his right side is a male with the Shaiva attributes and the left side female; this expresses the union of the two halves on the principle that male and female have united but have not merged. Seated on tiger skin, the Ardhanarishvara form has Shiva's bull Nandi in the foreground. The right side that belongs to Shiva has two arms, holding the trishula in one hand and the other resting on his leg. Shiva's rattle drum is also attached to the trident. A snake peeps from behind Shiva's back. From his knotted hair flows the Ganga. The left side that belongs to Shiva's Shakti, Parvati, shows her with a lasso in her hand. She wears a jeweled crown. The ear ornament, the kundala and kamandala in each ear are easily recognizable in paintings or sculptures that have fallen prey to time and adverse climate. The third eye in the middle of the forehead is the common feature to the male and female.
Shiva in his androgynous form, subsumes within himself, his divine consort Parvati and thus becomes purusha and prakriti conjoined in one, indicating the complementary nature of the sexes.
The background is in deep blue indicating nighttime and a stylized rock provide the seated figure shade and protection. The white bull in the foreground breaks the monotony of deep dull colors as does the red half of Parvati.
A very thought provoking image indeed.
The description by Kiranjyot
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