Editing Ardhanarishvara (section)

==Iconography==
[[File:Shakta Ardhanari.jpg|thumb|left|A rare example of a Shakta Ardhanarishvara, where the dominant right side is female]]
The iconographic 16th century work ''[[Shilparatna]]'', the [[Matsya Purana|''Matsya Purana'']] and [[Agama (Hinduism)|Agamic]] texts like ''Amshumadbhedagama'', ''Kamikagama'', ''Supredagama'' and ''Karanagama'' – most of them of South Indian origin – describe the iconography of Ardhanarishvara.<ref>Rao p. 323</ref><ref name = "matsya"/><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rajarajan|first=R. K. K.|title=Dance of Ardhanari as Pattini-Kannaki with special reference to the Cilappatikaram|url=https://www.academia.edu/2955548|journal=Berliner Indologische Studien|date=January 2000 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rajarajan|first=R. K. K.|title=Dance of Ardhanārī. A Historiographical Retrospection|url=https://www.academia.edu/3740760 |journal=Convegni |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Rajarajan|first=R. K. K.|url=https://www.academia.edu/30222114|title=Masterpieces of Indian Literature and Art - Tears of Kaṇṇaki: Annals and Iconology of the 'Cilappatikāram'|language=en}}</ref> The right superior side of the body usually is the male Shiva and the left is the female Parvati; in rare depictions belonging to the Shaktism school, the feminine holds the dominant right side.<ref name = "goldberg145">Goldberg pp. 145–8</ref> The icon usually is prescribed to have four, three or two arms, but rarely is depicted with eight arms. In the case of three arms, the Parvati side has only one arm, suggesting a lesser role in the icon.

===Male half===

The male half wears a ''jata-mukuta'' (a headdress formed of piled, matted hair) on his head, adorned with a crescent moon. Sometimes the ''jata-mukuta'' is adorned with serpents and the river goddess [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]] flowing through the hair. The right ear wears a ''nakra-kundala'', ''sarpa-kundala'' ("serpent-earring") or ordinary kundala ("earring"). Sometimes, the male eye is depicted smaller than the female one and a half-moustache is also seen.<ref name = "Rao324ff"/><ref name = "Goldberg4"/> A half third eye (''trinetra'') is prescribed on the male side of the forehead in the canons; a full eye may also be depicted in middle of forehead separated by both the sides or a half eye may be shown above or below Parvati's round dot.<ref name = "Rao324ff"/><ref name = "Goldberg5"/> A common elliptical halo (''prabhamandala''/''prabhavali'') may be depicted behind the head; sometimes the shape of the halo may differ on either side.<ref name = "Goldberg5"/>

In the four-armed form, a right hand holds a ''[[parashu]]'' (axe) and another makes an ''abhaya mudra'' (gesture of reassurance), or one of the right arms is slightly bent and rests on the head of Shiva's bull mount, [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]], while the other is held in the ''abhaya mudra'' gesture. Another configuration suggests that a right hand holds a ''[[trishula]]'' (trident) and another makes a ''[[Varadamudra|varada mudra]]'' (gesture of blessing). Another scripture prescribes that a trishula and ''[[akshamala]]'' (rosary) are held in the two right hands. In the two-armed form, the right hand holds a [[kapala]] (skull cup) or gestures in a ''varada mudra''.<ref name = "Rao324ff">Rao pp. 324–5</ref><ref name = "Goldberg4">Goldberg p. 12</ref> He may also hold a skull.<ref name = "matsya"/> In the [[Badami]] relief, the four-armed Ardhanarishvara plays a [[veena]] (lute), using a left and a right arm, while other male arm holds a ''parashu'' and the female one a lotus.<ref name = "Rao327ff">Rao pp. 327–8</ref>

[[File:Ardhanari.png|thumb|upright|A three-armed bronze Ardhanarishvara]]
The Shiva half has a flat masculine chest, a straight vertical chest, broader shoulder, wider waist and muscular thigh.<ref name = "Goldberg4"/> He wears a [[Upanayana|''yagnopavita'']] (sacred thread) across the chest, which is sometimes represented as a ''naga-yagnopavita'' (a snake worn as a ''yagnopavita'') or a string of pearls or gems. The ''yajnopavita'' may also divide the torso into its male and female halves. He wears ornaments characteristic of Shiva's iconography, including serpent ornaments.<ref name = "matsya"/><ref name = "Rao324ff"/><ref name = "Goldberg5"/><ref name="britannica"/>

In some North Indian images,<ref name = "Goldberg5"/> the male half may be nude and also be ithyphallic (''urdhavlinga'' or ''urdhavreta'': with an erect phallus), however, connotes the very opposite in this context.{{sfn|Kramrisch|1994a|p=218}} It contextualizes "[[Coitus reservatus|seminal retention]]" or practice of [[Celibacy#Hinduism|celibacy]]<ref name="govind52">Ghurye, G.S., 1952. Ascetic Origins. Sociological Bulletin, 1(2), pp.162-184.</ref> (illustration of ''Urdhva Retas''),{{sfn|Kramrisch|1994a|p=26}}<ref name="brill72">Pensa, Corrado. "Some Internal and Comparative Problems in the Field of Indian Religions." Problems and Methods of the History of Religions. Brill, 1972. 102-122.</ref><ref name="patt06">Pattanaik, Devdutt. Shiva to Shankara: Decoding the phallic symbol. Indus Source, 2006.</ref> and represents the deity as "the one who stands for complete control of the senses, and for the supreme carnal renunciation",{{sfn|Kramrisch|1994a|p=218}} other images found in North India include full or half phallus and one testicle.<ref name = "Goldberg30"/> However, such imagery is never found in South Indian images;<ref name = "Goldberg5">Goldberg p. 13</ref> the loins are usually covered in a garment (sometimes a [[dhoti]]) of silk or cotton, or the skin of a tiger or deer), typically down to the knee, and held in place by a ''sarpa-mekhala'', serpent girdle or jewellery. The right leg may be somewhat bent or straight and often rests on a lotus pedestal (''padma-pitha''). The whole right half is described as smeared with ashes and as terrible and red-coloured or gold or coral in appearance; however, these features are rarely depicted.<ref name = "Rao324ff"/><ref name = "Goldberg5"/>

===Female half===
The female half has ''karanda-mukuta'' (a basket-shaped crown) on her head or well-combed knotted hair or both. The left ear wears a ''valika-kundala'' (a type of earring). A ''[[tilaka]]'' or ''[[Bindi (decoration)|bindu]]'' (a round red dot) adorns her forehead, matching Shiva's third eye. The left eye is painted with black eyeliner.<ref name="Rao325ff" /> While the male neck is sometimes adorned with a jewelled hooded serpent, the female neck has a blue lotus matching it.<ref name="swami57" />

In the four-armed form, one of the left arms rests on Nandi's head, while the other is bent in ''kataka mudra'' pose and holds a ''[[Nymphaea nouchali|nilotpala]]'' (blue lotus) or hangs loosely at her side. In the three-armed representation, the left hand holds a flower, a mirror or a parrot. In the case of two-armed icons, the left hand rests on Nandi's head, hangs loose or holds either a flower, a mirror or a parrot. The parrot may be also perched on Parvati's wrist. Her hand(s) is/are adorned with ornaments like a ''keyura'' (anklet) or ''kankana'' (bangles).<ref name="britannica"/><ref name = "Rao325ff">Rao pp. 325–6</ref>

Parvati has a well-developed, round bosom and a narrow feminine waist embellished with various ''haras'' (religious bracelets) and other ornaments, made of diamonds and other gems. She has a fuller thigh and a curvier body and hip than the male part of the icon.<ref name = "Goldberg30">Goldberg p. 30</ref><ref name = "Rao325ff"/> The torso, hip and pelvis of the female is exaggerated to emphasize the anatomical differences between the halves.<ref>Rao pp. 329–30</ref> Though the male private parts may be depicted, the female genitalia are never depicted and the loins are always draped.<ref name = "Goldberg30"/> She wears a multi-coloured or white silken garment down to her ankle and one or three girdles around her waist. The left half wears an anklet and her foot is painted red with [[henna]]. The left leg may be somewhat bent or straight, resting on a lotus pedestal. In contrast to the Shiva half, the Parvati half – smeared with saffron – is described as calm and gentle, fair and parrot-green or dark in colour.<ref name="britannica"/><ref name = "Rao325ff"/> She may be draped in a [[sari]] covering her torso and legs.

===Postures and vahana===
[[File:God marriage AS.jpg|thumb|upright|A seated Ardhanarishvara with both the vahanas]]

The posture of Ardhanarishvara may be ''[[tribhanga]]'' – bent in three parts: head (leaning to the left), torso (to the right) and right leg or in the ''sthanamudra'' position (straight), sometimes standing on a lotus pedestal, whereupon it is called ''samapada''. Seated images of Ardhanarishvara are missing in iconographic treatises, but are still found in sculpture and painting.<ref name = "Goldberg5"/><ref name = "Rao330ff">Rao pp. 330–2</ref> Though the canons often depict the Nandi bull as the common ''[[vahana]]'' (mount) of Ardhanarishvara, some depictions have Shiva's bull ''vahana'' seated or standing near or behind his foot, while the goddess's lion ''vahana'' is near her foot.<ref>Srinivasan p.266</ref><ref>Daniélou p. 147</ref>

===Eight-armed form===

The [[Parsurameswar Temple|Parashurameshvara Temple]] at [[Bhubaneswar]] has a dancing eight-armed Ardhanarishvara. The upper male arms hold a lute and ''akshamala'' (rosary), while the upper female ones hold a mirror and a book; the others are broken.<ref name ="swami57">Swami Parmeshwaranand p. 57</ref> Another non-conventional Ardhanarishvara is found at [[Darasuram]]. The sculpture is three-headed and eight-armed, holding ''akshamala'', ''khadga'' (sword), ''pasha'', ''musala'', ''kapala'' (skull cup), lotus and other objects.<ref name="Rao330ff"/>

===Other textual descriptions===

The [[Naradiya Purana|''Naradiya Purana'']] mentions that Ardhanarishvara is half-black and half-yellow, nude on one side and clothed on other, wearing skulls and a garland of lotuses on the male half and female half respectively.<ref>Swami Parmeshwaranand p. 61</ref> The ''Linga Purana'' gives a brief description of Ardhanarishvara as making ''varada'' and ''abhaya mudras'' and holding a ''trishula'' and a lotus.<ref name="linga">Collins p. 78-9</ref> The ''Vishnudharmottara Purana'' prescribes a four-armed form, with right hands holding a rosary and ''trishula'', while the left ones bear a mirror and a lotus. The form is called ''Gaurishvara'' in this text.<ref name = "collins80"/>