# Talk:Ardhanarishvara

There is little information that I've found about Ardhanarishwara on the internet but is an aspect of Shiva and Shakti that I am very intrigued with.
What I know already about Ardhanarishwara [Also Ardhanariswara, Ardhnariswara, Ardhnarishwara and a couple others that are probably out there] is that this Deity is the combined entities of Shiva and Shakti [Shakti, which is also his wife in her many forms of Devi, Durga, Kali, among other names describing a different aspect of the same thing] thus one of the names "ShivaShakti." 
It would be interesting to see more information gathered here about this deity.

Ardhanaarinateshwara or Mohiniraaj is my family's kuldaivat. The main temple for us is in Nevaasa, Maharashtra near Shirdi. This avtaar is of Shiva and Vishnu to kill a rakshas who had a blessing that he cannot be killed by either a male or female. So Vishnu took mohini's avtaar and together with Shiva the avtaar is called Mohiniraaj or Ardhanaarinateshwara. I will expand on this shortly. BhooshanPathak 02:41, 11 May 2006 (UTC)BhooshanPathak

Most (or: all?) text in this article seems to have been copied from this web page. I have sent its webmaster an email asking if that's OK.Geke 09:44, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

This review is transcluded from Talk:Ardhanarishvara/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.
Reviewer:  Blue Rasberry (talk) 03:29, 6 March 2011 (UTC)


### Ties between India and Greece
There is nothing in this article about Ardhanarishvara as a contemporary deity to be worshipped, which this god is.  This article needs some content about Ardhanarishvara in modern society.
The lede and the "origins and early images" section both say "The concept of Ardhanarishvara originated in Kushan and Greek cultures simultaneously" but nowhere in this article is anything about the Greek sources stated.  Where is such a figure present in Greek culture? Blue Rasberry (talk) 03:29, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

"the androgynous myths of the Greek Hermaphroditus and Phrygian Agdistis"--Redtigerxyz  Talk  16:55, 6 March 2011 (UTC)


### LGBT issues
"The hermaphrodite, the homosexual and the transvestite have a symbolic value in Tantra and are considered privileged beings, images of the Ardhanarishvara. The deity is also a tutelary deity of eunuchs." I think that these sentences ought to be expanded into its own section - I came to this page for information on LGBT issues in India and I would suspect that other people find their way here for this purpose. Blue Rasberry (talk) 03:29, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Though westerners often relate Ardhanarishvara with LGBT due to the androgyny, mainstream Hindu scriptures do not relate relate him with Hijras. But Hijras do worship him and only Tantra sees them as embodiment of Ardhanarishvara. --Redtigerxyz  Talk  16:55, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
There has been an established LGBT community presenting itself for international attention through government registered organizations since the 1980s, and transgender organizations for much longer than that.  I feel that contemporary practice is important regardless of whether it has a basis in traditional scriptures or not.  Unfortunately I have no sources describing the use of this god's iconography as a symbol of LGBT rights or lifestyle, but yet I know it is used in this way by Indian people.  I do not accept the idea that the association of this god with LGBT issues is a Western projection, even though people like Swami Ramdev have said so.  Someone else tagged this article as being of LGBT interest; I would like to ask whether anyone else knows of sources about this god and alternative sexuality.  Blue Rasberry (talk) 03:18, 15 March 2011 (UTC)
"LGBT issues in India" is an WP:UNDUE here. Ardhanarishvara is discussed in LBGT books as a symbol of androgyny - that is personified in the Hijras, however mainstream Hinduism as well as books written on the deity or Shiva do not relate Ardhanarishvara with LBGT. In folk Hinduism, Hijras do participate in rituals associated with folk deities like Aravan, an article where I am the main contributor, Yellamma and Bahuchara Mata, but Ardhanarishvara is not a folk deity. Ardhanarishvara is a mainstream Hindu deity, who is used mostly as a decoration-al motif to adorn Shiva temple walls and in very few temples, is worshipped but by Brahmin men, not Hijras. The fact that Ardhanarishvara is worshipped by Hijras, is stated in the article.--Redtigerxyz  Talk  17:14, 15 March 2011 (UTC)
At this time I do not have sources describing this figure's relationship to LGBT issues.  It is original research, but at gay pride events in India people use this god as a champion of their cause.  As more pride events are happening I would expect this use to be more documented, but if no sources are currently discovered then let's leave this issue until or unless they are.  Blue Rasberry (talk) 04:51, 17 March 2011 (UTC)


### Temples
Are there major temples dedicated to Ardhararishvara?  If so, what are their names and where are they? Blue Rasberry (talk) 03:29, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

No major temples dedicated to Ardhanarishvara.--Redtigerxyz  Talk  16:55, 6 March 2011 (UTC)


### Contemporary practice
The major reason why I think this article does not meet GA criteria at this time is that it is written as historical documentation and not as something which is important within living society.  This is not just an art figure which is depicted in a certain way, has certain postures, and exists as statues excavated from various sites.  Before any of these things, Ardhararishvara is the recipient of people's religious devotion.  The article hardly conveys this point.  I have to say I have no idea where to find a source for describing the relationship between this god and contemporary people.  Blue Rasberry (talk) 03:48, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for your input. I will try to incorporate a Worship section, but Ardhanarishvara is mostly an iconographical form of Shiva that adorns his temples and does not enjoy widespread worship. Similar iconographical forms of Shiva due exist and include Bhikshatana, kankala murti, --Redtigerxyz  Talk  16:55, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
I would help you any way I can.  I think I may be asking for information for which there are no sources. It is easy to say that something exists if it is found in a source, but if it is not found in a set of sources, then it is hard to say whether it exists in other unknown sources or whether it exists and no one has written about it.  I work with the gay community in India and among people I know this god is respected especially, but that is original research.  Blue Rasberry (talk) 03:18, 15 March 2011 (UTC)

This review is transcluded from Talk:Ardhanarishvara/GA2. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.
Reviewer: Lemurbaby (talk) 12:06, 23 March 2011 (UTC)
Reviewer: 12:06, 23 March 2011 (UTC)

Is it reasonably well written?
A. Prose quality: 
Just a few proposed changes to improve clarity. Very well written and researched.
B. MoS compliance for lead, layout, words to watch, fiction, and lists: 
Is it factually accurate and verifiable?
A. References to sources: 
B. Citation of reliable sources where necessary: 
C. No original research: 
Is it broad in its coverage?
A. Major aspects: 
B. Focused: 
Is it neutral?
Fair representation without bias: 
Is it stable?
No edit wars, etc: 
Does it contain images to illustrate the topic?
A. Images are copyright tagged, and non-free images have fair use rationales: 
B. Images are provided where possible and appropriate, with suitable captions: 
Overall:
Pass or Fail: 


### Comments
Another great Hinduism article. Thanks for all your hard work. -- Lemurbaby (talk) 23:37, 24 March 2011 (UTC)

I suppose one wouldn't write words such God (Christian or Muslim), Holy Ghost/Spirit, Trinity with small letter. I think that other, non-Christian and any Gods shall be respected as well. Cultural sensitivity, mutual respect and equality between all the religions would be nice: either all gods (including the Christian one) with small letter or all of them with capital one. Thank you. Այնշախոր (talk) 09:09, 18 July 2011 (UTC)

In Christianity and Islam, the word "god" is written with a capital letter when it is used as a proper noun for the name of a deity.  It has nothing to do with showing respect; the Christian and Muslim gods are both named "God".  In Hinduism, the gods have names other than the word "god". Here is the page from the manual of style.  Blue Rasberry (talk) 14:57, 18 July 2011 (UTC)

I have come across a number of works of fiction that relate/thematise the concept of half male-female with regards to Shiva. I believe it would be beneficial to readers if they were made aware of this OliverKipf (talk) 10:52, 23 September 2021 (UTC)

I was performing a free-text search ('depicted with eight arms') which returned both this page, and Shiva Parvati (as linked above). They seem to describe the same entity, and indeed some of the content and references seem to be word-for-word copies of each other. However, it is not clear to me whether this is desirable or intentional. If it is not, maybe it would be better to merge the two pages together? 142.245.59.9 (talk) 15:43, 15 August 2023 (UTC)