Editing Ardhanarishvara (section)

===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.