Editing Ardhanarishvara (section)

==Legends==
[[File:Ardhanari.jpg|thumb|upright|Ardhanarishvara relief is from the [[Elephanta Caves]] near [[Mumbai]]]]

The mythology of Ardhanarishvara – which mainly originates in the Puranic canons – was developed later to explain existent images of the deity that had emerged in the Kushan era.<ref name = "Srinivasan57">Srinivasan p.57</ref><ref name = "Dehejia37ff"/><ref>Goldberg p. 157</ref>

The unnamed half-female form of Shiva is also alluded to in the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. In Book XIII, Upamanyu praises Shiva rhetorically asking if there is anyone else whose half-body is shared by his spouse, and adds that the universe had risen from the union of sexes, as represented by Shiva's half-female form. In some narratives, Shiva is described as dark and fair-complexioned, half yellow and half white, half woman and half man, and both woman and man. In Book XIII, Shiva preaches to Parvati that half of his body is made up of her body.<ref name = "Mbh">Collins p.76</ref>

In the ''[[Skanda Purana]]'', Parvati requests Shiva to allow her to reside with him, embracing "limb-to-limb", and so Ardhanarishvara is formed.<ref name="swami60ff">Swami Parmeshwaranand pp. 60–1</ref> It also tells that when the demon [[Andhaka]] wanted to seize Parvati and make her his wife, Vishnu rescued her and brought her to his abode. When the demon followed her there, Parvati revealed her Ardhanarishvara form to him. Seeing the half-male, half-female form, the demon lost interest in her and left. Vishnu was amazed to see this form and saw himself in the female part of the form.<ref name="Pande"/>

The ''[[Shiva Purana]]'' describes that the creator god [[Brahma]] created all male beings, the [[Prajapati]]s, and told them to regenerate, which they were unable to do. Confronted with the resulting decline in the pace of creation, Brahma was perplexed and contemplated on Shiva for help. To enlighten Brahma of his folly, Shiva appeared before him as Ardhanarishvara. Brahma prayed to the female half of Shiva to give him a female to continue creation. The goddess agreed and created various female powers from her body, thereby allowing creation to progress.<ref name ="Kramrisch200"/><ref name="swami60ff"/><ref>Rao pp. 321–2</ref> In other Puranas like the [[Linga Purana|''Linga Purana'']], [[Vayu Purana|''Vayu Purana'']], [[Vishnu Purana|''Vishnu Purana'']], [[Skanda Purana|''Skanda Purana'']],<ref name ="Kramrisch200"/> [[Kurma Purana|''Kurma Purana'']],<ref>Collins p.77-8</ref> and [[Markandeya Purana|''Markandeya Purana'']],<ref>Collins pp. 76–7</ref> Rudra (identified with Shiva) appears as Ardhanarishvara, emerging from Brahma's head, forehead, mouth or soul as the embodiment of Brahma's fury and frustration due to the slow pace of creation. Brahma asks Rudra to divide himself, and the latter complies by dividing into male and female. Numerous beings, including the 11 [[Rudras]] and various female [[shakti]]s, are created from both the halves. In some versions, the goddess unites with Shiva again and promises to be born as [[Dakshayani|Sati]] on earth to be Shiva's wife.<ref name ="Kramrisch200">Kramrisch pp. 200–3, 207–8</ref> In the ''Linga Purana'', the Ardhanarishvara Rudra is so hot that in the process of appearing from Brahma's forehead, he burns Brahma himself. Ardhanarishvara Shiva then enjoys his own half – the Great Goddess – by "the path of yoga" and creates Brahma and Vishnu from her body. In the repetitive cycle of [[Kalpa (aeon)|aeons]], Ardhanarishvara is ordained to reappear at the beginning of every creation as in the past.<ref name ="linga"/><ref>Kramrisch p. 205</ref>

[[File:Shiva Vinadhara.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Ardhanarishvara playing a ''veena'' surrounded by [[Bhringi]] and a female attendant, [[Badami]]<ref>Rao pp. 327–8: The male half of the four-armed Ardhanarishvara at [[Badami]] wears snake ornaments and a knee-length deerskin dress and holds a ''parashu''. His ''jatamukuta'' is adorned by the crescent moon as well as a skull. The female side wears gold ornaments and an ankle-length silk garment, and carries a ''nilotpala''. Together with the remaining arms, Ardhanarishvara plays a ''veena''. The skeleton figure identified with Bhringi stands beside him. The bull stands behind the deity.</ref>]]

The ''Matsya Purana'' describes how Brahma, pleased with a penance performed by Parvati, rewards her by blessing her with a golden complexion. This renders her more attractive to Shiva, to whom she later merges as one half of his body.<ref name = "matsya">Collins p.77</ref>

[[Tamil Nadu|Tamil]] temple lore narrates that once the gods and sages (''[[rishi]]'') had gathered at Shiva's abode, they prayed their respects to Shiva and Parvati. However, the sage [[Bhringi]] had vowed to worship only one deity, Shiva, and ignored Parvati while [[pradakshina|worshipping and circumambulating]] him. Agitated, Parvati cursed Bhringi to lose all his flesh and blood, reducing him to a skeleton. In this form Bhringi could not stand erect, so the compassionate ones who witnessed the scene blessed the sage with a third leg for support. As her attempt to humiliate the sage had failed, Parvati punished herself with austerities that pleased Shiva and led him to grant her the boon of uniting with him, thereby compelling Bhringi to worship her as well as himself in the form of Ardhanarishvara.  However, the sage assumed the form of a beetle and circumambulating only the male half, drilling a hole in the deity. Amazed by his devotion, Parvati reconciled with the sage and blessed him.<ref>Rao pp. 322–3</ref><ref name="Pattanaik">{{cite web |url=http://devdutt.com/ardhanareshwara-the-hierarchy-of-halves/ |title=Ardhanareshwara |last=Pattanaik |first=Devdutt |date=Sep 16, 2005 |work=Official site of [[Devdutt Pattanaik]] |access-date=6 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121175321/http://devdutt.com/ardhanareshwara-the-hierarchy-of-halves/ |archive-date=21 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The seventh-century Shaiva [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] saint [[Appar]] mentions that after marrying Parvati, Shiva incorporated her into half of his body.<ref name="Pande"/>

In the [[Kalika Purana|''Kalika Purana'']], Parvati (called Gauri here) is described as having suspected Shiva of infidelity when she saw her own reflection in the crystal-like breast of Shiva. A conjugal dispute erupted but was quickly resolved, after which Parvati wished to stay eternally with Shiva in his body. The divine couple was thereafter fused as Ardhanarishvara.<ref name="swami60ff"/> Another tale from North India also talks about Parvati's jealousy. Another woman, the river Ganga – often depicted flowing out of Shiva's locks – sat on his head, while Parvati (as Gauri) sat on his lap. To pacify Gauri, Shiva united with her as Ardhanarishvara.<ref name="Pattanaik"/>

Only in tales associated with the hindu sect of Shakta (in which the Goddess is considered the Supreme Being) is the Goddess venerated as the Maker of All. In these tales, it is her body (not Shiva's) which splits into male and female halves.<ref name = "goldberg145"/>