Ardhanarishvara

Hindu images serve to represent the deity and are believed to act as vessels containing the spiritual essence of the God defined. These images intentionally illustrate rich mythology and attempt to express hidden powers through visual allegory.

This silk painting shows Shiva in his ardhanarishwar, androgynous form, his left half female, subsuming within himself, his divine consort Parvati in the form of Durga and thus becoming purusha and prakriti conjoined in one. Here, Shiva is portrayed as beautiful, with a third eye in the centre of his forehead and a crescent moon on his brow. He is crowned with matted hair, within which is depicted a flowing river symbolizing the Ganges, which is sometimes depicted as a goddess. Garlands of rudraksha beads and a serpent surround his neck. He wears a tiger skin over his yellow lower garment. In one hand, he holds a trident with his drum attached to it. One of his hands is raised in a gesture of granting favours. Next to him stands Nandi, the bull, Shiva's vehicle.

The left half, Durga is portrayed as a beautiful woman, wearing an elaborate crown and lots of jewellery. Her brilliant pink saree and green blouse is in direct contrast to the dull palette used in Shiva's image. Durga's vehicle, the fierce lion stands next to her.

The foreground is rocky where the androgynous form and the vehicles stand but the background has lush greenery, sandy hills, snow-capped mountains and the clear blue sky, using pleasing colours all through the painting.

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