Topic: Ardhanarshvara

[nichi]

[Nichi]

Wiki:

In Hinduism, Ardhanari (Devanāgarī अर्धनारी, IAST Ardhanārī) or Ardhanarishvara (अर्धनारीश्वर, Ardhanārīśvara), is an androgynous deity composed of Shiva and his consort Shakti, representing the synthesis of masculine and feminine energies. The Ardhanari form also illustrates how the female principle of God, Shakti, is inseparable from the male principle of God, Shiva. Ardhanari in iconography is depicted as half-male and half-female, split down the middle. The best sculptural depictions of Shiva as Ardhanari are to be seen in the sensuous Chola dynasty bronzes and the sculptures at Ellora and Elephanta.


From the elephant caves at Mumbai.


The term 'Ardhanarishvara' is a combination of three words- 'ardha', 'nari' and 'ishvara', meaning respectively, 'half', 'woman' and 'Lord' or 'God', that is, Ardhanarishvara is the Lord whose half is woman, or who is half woman. Some scholars interpret the term as meaning 'the half male' who is Shiva and 'the half female' who is Parvati. Such interpretations are suggestive of dvaita, the duality of existence, and thus contradict the Advaita Vedic stand in the matter. Such contentions also contradict the Shaiva philosophy of advaita, which is very emphatic in its assertion that He alone is the cause of the entire existence, as it is by His will and out of Him that the cosmos came into being.

In the Shaivite hymn 'Ekohum bahusyami' (Shiva Purana), that is, I am One, but wishes to be many, there echoes the Rigvedic perception of the single egg splitting into bhuta and prana. Otherwise also, most interpretations of the Vedas widely favor the principle of monogenic existence. Besides its emphasis on the unity of the outward duality, the Rigveda acclaims, 'He, who is described as male, is as much the female and the penetrating eye does not fail to see it'. The Rigvedic assertion is explicitly defined. The male is only so much male as much he is female and vice versa the female is only as much female as much she is male. The maleness and femaleness are the attributes contained in one frame.

The Rigvedic assertion was taken literally by the founder of the Integral Yoga, Sri Aurobindo, who claimed that the new, superhuman race, will have "unisex" bodies that are totally different from animals and free from the duality of male and female.

[Nichi]

Michael, are androgyny and transsexuality acceptable in India?
Is it seen as a state of enlightenment as indicated by "Ardhanarshvara", or by the merger of Krishna-Radha?

It is not viewed as anything other than dysfunction, if not pathology, in the US mainstream.

How about in Australia?

[Michael]

Shiva is always half male half female, so I assume when demonstrably in that form he is called Ardhanarshvara - I have not been aware of that separate name, although they all have multitudes of names fo different aspects.

Androgyny and transexuality are allowed in the gods but not the people. However there has always been a very strong tradition of gay men who dress as women - they are not happily accepted, but have been a very strong part of Indian culture for a long time. They fulfil specific functions in society.

Hijra

Worth looking up - amazing people.