“Smooth and curved her stomach like the snake’s hood her flawless gait mocks the peacock’s grace with feet soft as cotton down and waist a slender creeper Uma Devi is one-half of Siva Lord of sacred Pundarai.”
The praise of Lord Shiva as “Ardhanarishvara” comes from the pen of the great Shaiva Tamil bhakti saint Sambandar, an ode to the divine form of Shiva and Shakti that is today a celebration of the togetherness of Purusha and Prakriti (male and female primordial element) in the Panchaloha bronzes of Swamimalai.
In this large bronze Ardhanarishvara, Sambandar’s beloved Lord appears accompanied by his divine potency- Uma, in a sculpture that speaks for the mastery of the Sthapati of Swamimalai. With great detailing, the two halves of Ardhanarishvara are characteristically differentiated from each other, while simultaneously creating a unity of elements that justifies the two appearing as a single entity in this Panchaloha sculpture. The icon of Ardhanarishvara is standing on a simple inverted lotus pedestal in a relaxed posture, in an ethereal three-armed form. An imposing and profusely decorated hair ornamentation is shared by Shiva and Parvati, with Shiva on the right side wearing his hair in a Jatamukuta (crown of tresses) adorned by a serpent, and Uma carrying the crescent moon in her locks, both the halves joined through a Kirtimukha (face of glory) crested hair ornament.
Uma Parvati, who is Shiva’s Vaamangi (situated to the Vaama or left, wife) wears a round earring, while her beloved Lord has a Makara kundala in his ear. The divine couple share necklaces, Yajnopavita (sacred thread), Udarabandha (belly belt), and girdle. Fine fabric feel is captured by the maker of this bronze Ardhanarishvara in the short dhoti of Shiva that appears sheer and the lower body garment of Uma that forms eye-catching waves while clinging to the lithesome leg of Devi. Shiva in his secondary hand holds a battle axe, while his primary hand has its palm facing downward. The wrist of Uma, embellished with elegant bangles is raised in a graceful gesture, depicting a stunning sophistication in the delineation of her fingers.
In terms of facial features, the two halves of this Panchaloha bronze Ardhanarishvara are indistinguishable, underling the supreme unity and balance between the male and female elements in the universe, which is a prerequisite for the creation, sustenance, and destruction. The sturdiness discernible in Shiva’s bare shoulder compared to Uma’s limber arms, the angular sculpting of Shiva’s torso as opposed to Uma-Parvati’s voluptuousness, and the distinction between the leg musculature on the reverse of this bronze statue are some of how the sculptor has marked the exquisite uniqueness of Shiva-Parvati.
The third eye marking the forehead, large almond eyes, a delicate nose, and fuller lips that reveal a heavenly inward smile that animates the icon incredibly, Ardhanarishvara in this Panchaloha composition seems especially pleased with the devotion of the Sthapati to his craft.
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