Indian and Himalayan Art Shiva as Half Man and Half Woman (Ardhanarishvara) Made in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India, Asiac. 1725 Artist/maker unknown, India Opaque watercolor with gold on paper Currently not on view 1994-148-421 Stella Kramrisch Collection, 1994 |
LabelThe god Shiva, in the form of half-male and half-female Ardhanarishvara, represents the perfect unity of the divine. The male god appears as the right side of Ardhanarishvara's body, holding his distinctive hourglass drum. His matted hair breaks the fall of the river Ganges as it plummets from heaven to earth. His wife Parvati appears as the left side, carrying their son Ganesha. Shiva's bull and Parvati's lion follow in reverential attitudes. The inscription on the top enumerates Shiva's attributes and describes how his force pervades every aspect of nature. |
