Ardhanarishvara

The combination of tight and loose sketches led to this one, of a statue of Shiva as Ardhanarishvara. She called to me from across the room, drawing me to her to draw her. I hadn't seen this manifestation of Shiva before.

I learned that Ardhanarishvara represents union, oneness, wholeness. The female principle, Shakti, as inseparable from the male principle, Shiva.

Ardhanarishvara is also represented as a golden egg. The RigVeda states that the universe was created from a giant golden egg that split into two halves, one creating the sky and the other, the earth. Interesting.