Questions re Ardhanari/2-beings in one

[Guest guest]

I found a small statuette that I was told by an art store salesperson

is an Ardhanarishwara, but the female side has no breast, and the face

doesn't look any different than the other side. I was told this was

because of the size of the statue (about 2" tall, bronze), but the

rest of it is so intricately formed, it's hard to believe that the

artisan could not make a mold with a breast that would meet the other

half of the mold (without a breast) evenly. The implements held in the

hands on the arms on both sides (2 arms each side) are the proper

implements for the Ardhanarishwara, but I am used to seeing more

feminine depictions of the female half.

 

I have read that there are some combinations of 2 deities in one, like

the Ardhanari, that are not male/female, but have 2 different gods in

them, eg Vishnu and Shiva, something like that. Could this be one of

those?

[Guest guest]

I'd need to see the image to determine if it is a Hari-Hara (half Shiva, half

Vishnu). Certainly, the traditional proportions given to male and female

images should make the two sides noticably different, if Ardhanari. The tiny

wasp-waist, and the voluptuous curves of the hip of a Hindu goddess should be

noticable. Not to mention the pneumatic bosom, and the three folds often found

across the mid-section from supporting the bosom's weight...

 

In a Hari-Hara, the left side should be holding Vishnu's weapons (i.e., any

two of the following: conch shell, discus, mace, or lotus).

 

-- Len

 

 

Mary Ann <buttercookie61 wrote: I found a small statuette

that I was told by an art store salesperson

is an Ardhanarishwara, but the female side has no breast, and the face

doesn't look any different than the other side. I was told this was

because of the size of the statue (about 2" tall, bronze), but the

rest of it is so intricately formed, it's hard to believe that the

artisan could not make a mold with a breast that would meet the other

half of the mold (without a breast) evenly. The implements held in the

hands on the arms on both sides (2 arms each side) are the proper

implements for the Ardhanarishwara, but I am used to seeing more

feminine depictions of the female half.

 

I have read that there are some combinations of 2 deities in one, like

the Ardhanari, that are not male/female, but have 2 different gods in

them, eg Vishnu and Shiva, something like that. Could this be one of

those?

 

 

 

 

 

FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Len - Thanks for your reply. I think it's Hari Hari because

there's a conch shell, what looks like a horn, that is. There was

also a trident with a drum hanging from it (I guess that's what

those are), and a cobra/snake wrapped around the "Shiva" side. Then

for the other side, there was a lotus in one hand, as on the

Ardhanari, but now I no longer have the item because I gave it to a

friend. The headress was a bit different, but the face looked the

same (as it does on my Nepalese Ardhanari print), but with no

voluptuousness or breast (what are features of the print I have of

the Ard.)

 

I am going to contact the shop where I got it because it seems if

they have Hari Haris, they may be able to get Ardhanaris. But they

did sell me this by telling me it was the Ard.

 

 

, Len Rosenberg

<kalipadma108> wrote:

>

> I'd need to see the image to determine if it is a Hari-Hara (half

Shiva, half Vishnu). Certainly, the traditional proportions given

to male and female images should make the two sides noticably

different, if Ardhanari. The tiny wasp-waist, and the voluptuous

curves of the hip of a Hindu goddess should be noticable. Not to

mention the pneumatic bosom, and the three folds often found across

the mid-section from supporting the bosom's weight...

>

> In a Hari-Hara, the left side should be holding Vishnu's weapons

(i.e., any two of the following: conch shell, discus, mace, or

lotus).

>

> -- Len

>

>

> Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote: I found a small

statuette that I was told by an art store salesperson

> is an Ardhanarishwara, but the female side has no breast, and

the face

> doesn't look any different than the other side. I was told this

was

> because of the size of the statue (about 2" tall, bronze), but

the

> rest of it is so intricately formed, it's hard to believe that

the

> artisan could not make a mold with a breast that would meet the

other

> half of the mold (without a breast) evenly. The implements held

in the

> hands on the arms on both sides (2 arms each side) are the

proper

> implements for the Ardhanarishwara, but I am used to seeing more

> feminine depictions of the female half.

>

> I have read that there are some combinations of 2 deities in

one, like

> the Ardhanari, that are not male/female, but have 2 different

gods in

> them, eg Vishnu and Shiva, something like that. Could this be

one of

> those?

>

>

>

>

>

> FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

The term is Hari-Hara. "Hari" means Vishnu (literally it means "the

Attractor"); "Hara" means Shiva (literally it means "the Scatterer").

Different endings are important. HarI. HarA. (Lakshmi is sometimes called

"Hari-priya." She's just wild about Hari!)

 

-- Len

 

 

Mary Ann <buttercookie61 wrote: Hi Len - Thanks for your

reply. I think it's Hari Hari because

there's a conch shell, what looks like a horn, that is. There was

also a trident with a drum hanging from it (I guess that's what

those are), and a cobra/snake wrapped around the "Shiva" side. Then

for the other side, there was a lotus in one hand, as on the

Ardhanari, but now I no longer have the item because I gave it to a

friend. The headress was a bit different, but the face looked the

same (as it does on my Nepalese Ardhanari print), but with no

voluptuousness or breast (what are features of the print I have of

the Ard.)

 

I am going to contact the shop where I got it because it seems if

they have Hari Haris, they may be able to get Ardhanaris. But they

did sell me this by telling me it was the Ard.

 

 

, Len Rosenberg

<kalipadma108> wrote:

>

> I'd need to see the image to determine if it is a Hari-Hara (half

Shiva, half Vishnu). Certainly, the traditional proportions given

to male and female images should make the two sides noticably

different, if Ardhanari. The tiny wasp-waist, and the voluptuous

curves of the hip of a Hindu goddess should be noticable. Not to

mention the pneumatic bosom, and the three folds often found across

the mid-section from supporting the bosom's weight...

>

> In a Hari-Hara, the left side should be holding Vishnu's weapons

(i.e., any two of the following: conch shell, discus, mace, or

lotus).

>

> -- Len

>

>

> Mary Ann <buttercookie61> wrote: I found a small

statuette that I was told by an art store salesperson

> is an Ardhanarishwara, but the female side has no breast, and

the face

> doesn't look any different than the other side. I was told this

was

> because of the size of the statue (about 2" tall, bronze), but

the

> rest of it is so intricately formed, it's hard to believe that

the

> artisan could not make a mold with a breast that would meet the

other

> half of the mold (without a breast) evenly. The implements held

in the

> hands on the arms on both sides (2 arms each side) are the

proper

> implements for the Ardhanarishwara, but I am used to seeing more

> feminine depictions of the female half.

>

> I have read that there are some combinations of 2 deities in

one, like

> the Ardhanari, that are not male/female, but have 2 different

gods in

> them, eg Vishnu and Shiva, something like that. Could this be

one of

> those?

>

>

>

>

>

> FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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