Ardhanarishvara (Sanskrit: अर्धनारीश्वर, Ardhanārīśvara),(Tamil:அர்தனாரீஸ்வரர்) is a composite androgynous form of the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Parvati (also known as Devi, Shakti and Uma in this icon). Ardhanarishvara is depicted as half male and half female, split down the middle. The right half is usually the male Shiva, illustrating his traditional attributes.
The earliest Ardhanarishvara images are dated to the Kushan period, starting from the first century CE. Its iconography evolved and was perfected in the Gupta era. The Puranas and various iconographic treatises write about the mythology and iconography of Ardhanarishvara. While Ardhanarishvara remains a popular iconographic form found in most Shiva temples throughout India, very few temples are dedicated to this deity.
Ardhanarishvara represents the synthesis of masculine and feminine energies of the universe (Purusha and Prakriti) and illustrates how Shakti, the female principle of God, is inseparable from (or the same as, according to some interpretations) Shiva, the male principle of God. The union of these principles is exalted as the root and womb of all creation. Another view is that Ardhanarishvara is a symbol of Shiva's all-pervasive nature.
Don't you know we lost?
Sunk so low, we just called it off
How an ordinary moment gets tossed
A more than ordinary woman's cost
Believe me
Believe me
Thought I understood
Fought to buy the whole neighborhood
You ought to try, "I told you so", it feels good
Bought it high, and sold as low as I could
Believe me
Believe me
It's come undone
Done
It's come undone
Done
Have another look, another look around
Have another look around
I can't stay too long
Can only play a handful of songs
How a melody can make up your mind
Take a memory and leave it behind
Believe me
Believe me
It's come undone
Done
It's come undone