Primary Source

The Half-Male, Half-Female Form of Shiva (Shiva Ardhanarishvara)

  • Bronze sculpture of Shiva standing with a head dress.

Annotation

This sculpture is of Shiva, originally found in Kerala, southwestern India, shows the importance of religious symbols in Hinduism. Shiva is the one of three principal gods – the destroyer – and is also associated with the opposing idea of regeneration. As evidence of Shiva's divine status, the god was often depicted as male and female at once indicating that Shiva was above and outside the physical world. As a result of the Indian Ocean trading network, sculptures such as these spread to the east coast of Africa as well, showing the role of trade in the distribution of artifacts and religious symbols.

The Half-Male, Half-Female Form of Shiva (Shiva Ardhanarishvara), ca. 13th century

Credits

Metropolitan Museum of Art, Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Gift of Samuel Eilenberg, 1987

How to Cite This Source
The Half-Male, Half-Female Form of Shiva (Shiva Ardhanarishvara) in World History Commons,
Tags
Culture Trade Religion