'Shiva & Parvati' Sculpture in 'Ardhanarishwar' Form

Provenance

In a sacred time on Mt. Kailash, Parvati longed deeply to dwell eternally with Shiva. She realised that although Shiva was the supreme being, his divine consciousness alone only represented one half of universal reality. She approached him, paid devotions, and asked: “If you are complete, allow me to share in your being, so that together we reflect the fullness of creation.”

Moved by her devotion, Shiva told her that what she sought could only happen if he embraced her as one with him. Parvati undertook austerities, meditation, and penance, offering herself wholly to the divine union. At the culmination of her devotion, Shiva merged his form with hers—she became the left half of him, and he retained the right half. Thus emerged Ardhanarishvara: half‑male, half‑female, embodying both consciousness and energy, stillness and creativity.

The form teaches that Shiva (consciousness) and Shakti (energy, Parvati) are inseparable. One without the other is incomplete. Through Parvati’s prayer and union with Shiva, the perfect balance of masculine and feminine principles, action and being, was revealed in one divine shape.