One of the most beautiful and popular forms of Shiva-Shakti in Hindu temple complexes is the “Uma-Maheshwara” Roopa. Shiva sits majestically on the throne, carrying his beloved Uma-Parvati on his lap, as a symbol of the union of Purusha and Prakriti, the supreme male and female principles, which ensures the origin, sustenance and reemergence of the Universe.

This wooden statue depicts the Uma-Maheshwara moorti or roopa, with a four-armed Shiva embracing Uma, both emanating a divine beauty. Ornaments and gestures of both the deities are beautifully delineated, giving the composition a heavenliness despite its simple and unpolished appearance. The Kiritmukha aureole surrounds the icon, as a symbol of the divinity of Uma-Maheshwara.