
Ardhanarishvara is a combination of three words “Ardha,” “Nari,” and “Ishwara” means “half,” “woman,” and “lord,” respectively, which when combined means the lord whose half is a woman. It is believed that the God is Lord Shiva and the woman part is his consort Goddess Parvati or Shakti. Ardhanareeshvara symbolizes male and female principles cannot be separated. It conveys the unity of opposites in the universe.