God-dess Art of India —
Ardhanari
Ardhanari, which means 'half-woman', is a special image of Shiva & Shakti.
This form shows how the divine feminine, Shakti, is inseparable from the divine masculine, Shiva.
God & Goddess are not separate, but rather two aspects of the one reality.
Thus there is no cause for conflict between followers of God and Goddess.
A complete spiritual faith honors both.
Note that in the Ardhineshvara form, as it is also called, the feminine side - Shakti - is on the left.
This is the rule in sacred sex teachings, and relates to the way energy flows in creation. For example,
left-handedness is typically associated with artistic & creative expression ('feminine' qualities),
while the right side relates to more masculine traits. Tantra, the spiritual tradition typically
associated with the Goddess, is also called the 'left-hand' path.
[In case the male-female imagery is not immediately evident in the pictures below, note that the deity has one male
and one female breast. The legs are also typically adorned differently.]
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