This museum-grade bronze sculpture is a masterful representation of Ardhanarishvara, the androgynous manifestation of the Divine that merges Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati into a single form. It stands as a profound visual treatise on the Advaita philosophy, illustrating that the masculine and feminine principles are not opposing forces but an inseparable, cosmic whole.
The iconography of this piece is divided with exacting precision down the vertical axis. The right side represents the masculine principle, Purusha, characterized by Shiva’s matted Jatamukuta crown adorned with a crescent moon. He holds the Parashu or battle-axe to symbolize the destruction of ego, while his lower hand is often raised in the Abhaya Mudra to offer protection. His form is lean and ascetic, draped in a shorter garment that signifies his role as the supreme yogi.
In contrast, the left side embodies the feminine principle, Prakriti. The artisan has rendered this half with a graceful, rounded physiology, featuring a single breast and a fuller hip to denote creative energy and fertility. Parvati wears a delicate Karandamukuta crown and holds a blue lotus, symbolizing the unfolding of the material universe. Her attire is an elegant, ankle-length garment that flows with a distinct softness compared to the right side.
The sculpture is cast in high-quality bronze with a rich, aged patina that highlights the intricate jewelry—a shark-fin Makara Kundala in the right ear and a circular Valika in the left. Standing in a gentle Abhanga pose on a traditional lotus pedestal, the figure transcends duality, serving as a reminder that harmony in the universe is achieved through the perfect balance of logic and intuition, spirit and matter, and stillness and motion.
Please note that vintage pieces come with small imperfections, that's a part of its beauty and age.
Size: 2.75”L X 2”W X 5.75”H
Weight: 465 gm
