The Concept & Significance Of Ardhanarishvara :- When the Ultimate Man Became Half-Woman !
The Concept & Significance Of Ardhanarishvara Ardhanarishvara is an androgynous deity composed of Shiva and his consort Shakti, representing the synthesis of masculine and feminine energies. According to many scriptures, everything in this Universe originates from Ardhanarishvara and goes back into Ardhanarishvara after completion of its lifetime. This view is supported by a lot of arguments. The Samkhya texts state that there are two distinct fundamental eternal entities: the Purusha and the Prakriti. The Prakriti has three qualities: sattva (purity or preservation), rajas (creation) and tamas (darkness or destruction). When the equilibrium between these qualities gets broken, the act of creation starts. Rajas quality leads to creation. Therefore, Purusha and Prakriti cannot exist independent of each other. They must exist together and in harmony in order to create. The Devi Bhagwat Purana says that Purusha (Shiva, in material form) worshipped and meditated on Adishakti ...