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 * Gallery 227, Asian Art, second floor (Wood Gallery) 1994-148-421 Stella Kramrisch Collection, 1994 |
LabelThe god Shiva, shown here in the form of half male and half female Ardhanarishvara, represents the perfect unity of the divine. He appears as the right side of the figure, holding his distinctive hourglass drum. His wife Parvati appears as the left, carrying their son Ganesha (the elephant-headed deity). Shiva’s devoted bull and Parvati’s lion sit nearby. The portrayal of the god and goddess as one being denotes the inseparability of male and female, and signifies the duality of the created world.* Works in the collection are moved off view for many different reasons. Although gallery locations on the website are updated regularly, there is no guarantee that this object will be on display on the day of your visit. |
