When Lord Brahma was tasked with the creation of the Universe, his imaginative powers could not conceive the feminine form, the other half of the universe. As an answer to Brahma’s queries, Shiva and Shakti, the Adideva and Devi (first God and Goddess) took the ethereal Ardhanarishwara form, underlining the principle of Srishti, made up of male and female qualities.
The mesmerizing beauty and divinity of Ardhanarishwara has been reimagined in this Chola-style bronze statue. The form of Ardhanarsihwara takes a graceful posture, standing on a lotus which is the symbol of the origin of the world. Uma-Parvati is Shiva’s Vamangi (residing on the left side, wife), wearing lovely ornaments and a fine dhoti whose folds are beautifully captured in metal. Her hair is tied in a long Jatamukuta, which she shares with Shiva, whose tresses are adorned with Ganga, followed by a Makara-shaped earring, a dhoti of tiger hide, and a bell and anklet on his foot. This form of Shiva and Shakti is a unique three-armed one, with Uma raising her hand in a graceful gesture, and a two-armed Shiva danging one hand toward the ground and holding an Ankusha or goad in the other.
With finess in work, the details of ornamentation, flow of the graceful pose of Ardhanarishwara, and details of clothes and hair are all captured on the reverse of the idol as well, giving it an aesthetic richness. Blowing life in metal, Ardhanarishwara smiles benevolently, at Brahma’s creation which is created and sustained by their powers.
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