Unique sculpture of Siva and Parvathi

BT Subashini Pathmanathan

In Hinduism Arthanareshwara means the half Siva and half Parvathi image of Lord Siva. Normally in the same sculpture the figure is equally divided into two; one is male and the other female. The Arthanareswara sculpture at the National Museum in Colombo is an exceptional one. Here the Arthanareswara male sculpture holds a lotus bud in its right hand. The left hand is holding a pole which resembles a sugarcane stem or a piece of bamboo.

The height of the statue is estimated about 12 inches and it is believed that the sculpture belongs to the 6th century. Most of the Hindu gods are depicted with their consorts, except certain gods such as Goddess Kaniyakumari and Lord Ayeappa who are always considered individual gods without partners.

In the Colombo Museum the Arthanareshwara is an exceptional sculpture. The Lord is depicted in two different figures. It is a bronze statue. The front view of the sculpture is depicted with the male figure and the rear view is depicted with the female figure, without dividing it. The male and female images together face two different sides and views.

Philosophically, Arthanareshwara represents the male and female characters together in the same statue.

Parrot

The left hand of the female figure is holding a parrot. A thali is worn around the neck symbolising marriage. She is regarded as goddess Uma or Parvathi, the consort of Lord Siva.

The sculpture was discovered in an ancient archaeological site of Sri Lanka. It is unique and exceptional, because it reveals the extraordinary handiwork of the sculptor. Here the sculpture shows the front view that represents the male figure and the rear view the female figure. So far such an exceptional sculpture has not been found anywhere in Sri Lanka.

The sculpture resembles the ancient Dravidian sculptural style. The male bronze sculpture reveals Lord Arthanareshwara wearing a crown, neck ornaments and a lower hip garment. The statue is fixed on a beautiful pedestal.

For Bharatha Natyam it is often used to depict Lord Vishnu or Lord Rama. The Thiryajtam foot position in Bharath Natyam is adopted for this pose both the front male figure and rear female figure are adorned with wangi for the upper arms.

Cultural Triangle

Another statue of Lord Arthanareswara was discovered at Abaiyagiri Vihara, by the Cultural Triangle project in 1982. It belongs to the 6th 9th or century AD The height of the statue is 13 c.m. The right leg of the statue is pressing the ground. The left leg is bent at knee level. The whole body is divided into two portions as usual. The left side resembles the male and the right side resembles the female figure.

According to the Hindu Agama Sastra, Lord Siva represents the right side and Goddess Parvathi the left side.

But here the right side of the sculpture resembles Goddess Parvathi with long hair up to the shoulder level.

Even the right eye of the statue has a beautiful feminine touch. The two raised upper right and left hands are holding conches. On the left side the head of the Lord is adorned with head gear.

Around the neck ornaments are found. Ear studs are seen in the form of Kundalams. The tiger skin is firmly tied around the waist. The entire body rests on the right leg rather than on the left.