Ardha

Ardha, also known as Ardhanari, Alder or Ardhanarishvara, is a demon in the series.
==History==
The term "Ardhanarishvara" is a combination of three words- "ardha," "nari" and "ishvara," meaning respectively, "half," "woman" and "lord" or "god," that is, Ardhanarishvara is the Lord Who is Half Woman. The god is male on one side and female on the other, depicted with the male half bearing aspects of Shiva and the female half bearing aspects of Parvati. It is one of the most common forms of the divine in Indian art and the figure itself is likely older than the many stories and myths that have formed around it. In some texts, Ardhanarishvara is an androgynous incarnation of Shiva, in others it is the form of Shiva and Parvati, who loved each other so deeply that they joined as one being rather than stay apart.
==Appearances==
*Shin Megami Tensei II: Deity Race
*Shin Megami Tensei: if...: Deity Race
*Soul Hackers 2: Deity Race, Boss
*Persona 3 / FES / Portable: Fusion spell
*Persona 4 / Golden: Judgement Arcana
*Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
*Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth: Judgement Arcana
*Persona 5 / Royal: Temperance Arcana
*Persona O.A.
*Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth: Fool Arcana
*Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2: Atma Avatar (of Seraph)
*Quantum Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner: Atma Avatar (of Shin Minase)
*Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2: Deity Race
==Profile==
===Shin Megami Tensei II===
Ardhanarishvara can be created through a special fusion of Shiva and Parvati.
===Persona 3===
Ardha is not personally in the game, but is represented instead as a fusion spell of the same name (as Ardhanari) using Shiva and Parvati. Upon execution, the Ardha fusion spell inflicts severe Fire damage upon all enemies.
===Persona 4===
Ardha appears as a Persona of the Judgement Arcana. They can be summoned once the protagonist reaches Lv. 90 or above. Furthermore, the protagonist must complete the Tower Arcana Social Link, as Ardha's fusion prerequisites requires the special fusion of Shiva and Parvati, with the former being the ultimate Persona of the Tower Arcana.
This game marks the first appearance of a 3D model for Ardha based on their Shin Megami Tensei II design.
===Persona 4 Arena Ultimax===
Ardha is one of the Personas used by Margaret.
===Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth===
Ardha can only be created through special fusion, by combining Shiva and Parvati.
===Persona 5===
Ardha is the ultimate Persona of the Temperance Arcana and can only be obtained through fusion in the Velvet Room once the Temperance Confidant with Sadayo Kawakami has been completed. Ardha is summoned through a special fusion combination of Shiva and Parvati. Ardha is one of four Personas to learn God's Hand and the first of two to learn the Cosmic Flare skill. Ardha is also one of the three Personas to learn the Invigorate 3 skill and is also a source of the Agneyastra skill, as well as the Auto-Masuku passive skill. They are one of the four Personas to learn Fortified Moxy and Salvation. When itemized through Electric Chair execution, Ardha yields an Agneyastra skill card.
When fighting Caroline and Justine, failing to do enough damage to them will cause them to summon Ardha for a special attack that will activate their All-out Attack.
====Royal ====
Ardha is can be itemized into Sahasrara, the strongest firearm available for Sumire Yoshizawa, which provides a +5 bonus to all stats. During a fusion alarm, Ardha instead becomes Sahasrara EX, with a slightly higher damage value and 1 extra point to all stats.
===Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2===
Ardha is the Atma Avatar of Seraph. Just as Seraph is a being composed of the combined data of Serph and Sera, Ardha holds the perfect balance of masculine and feminine energies. It has no elemental weaknesses or resistances. The manifestation of Seraph is likely another reference to Ardha, as Seraph is created when Sera and Serph are immolated in their attempt to reach the Sun, similar to how the god Ardhanarishvara was created after the rebirth of Parvati, who in her previous life died of self-immolation and joined with Shiva when reincarnated.
Ardha inherits the Mantra boards of both Serph and Sera, along with their mastered skills. While Seraph's personality is similar to Sera's, Ardha's stats can be freely customized, leading to a well-balanced character. Depending on Serph's decisions towards Margot Cuvier's plans of creating a world of Tuners earlier, Ardha may also inherit Hari-Hara's special skill from Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner, Reincarnation, which deals massive Almighty damage to all enemies and costs 99 MP.
In a second cycle save, Serph will inherit the Mantra board and the mastered skills of Ardha, but none of Ardha's elemental affinities, nor Reincarnation, which must be acquired the same way in every playthrough.
In Quantum Devil Saga- Avatar Tuner, Ardha is instead the Atma form of Shin Minase, while Seraph (the character) does not exist, replaced by Serph eating both Heat and Sera. It's shown to have the power to inhibit the AIs, completely shrug off their magic attacks and create tendrils of light which crystallize enemies. 
==Stats==
===Shin Megami Tensei II===
<tabber>
SNES=
|-|
PSX/GBA=
</tabber>
===Shin Megami Tensei: if...===
===Soul Hackers 2===
===Persona 4===
===Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth===
===Persona 5 / Royal===
<tabber>
Persona=
|-|
Persona (P5R)=
</tabber>
===Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth===
===Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2===
==Gallery==
Ardha Concept.jpg|Ardha's concept art from Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2
DDS2-Ardha.jpg|Portrayal of Ardha in Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2
15.jpg|Seraph and Ardha
Ardha Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.png|Ardha in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
PersonaO,A,-Ardha.jpg|Ardha in Persona O.A.
Ardha (P O.A.).png|Ardha in Persona O.A. (No Background)
Ardha P5R.jpg|Ardha in Persona 5 Royal
Alder.jpg|Ardha in Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2
==In Other Languages ==
Language	Name
English 	Ardha
Japanese	アルダー (Arudaa)
French 	Ardha
Italian 	Ardha
German 	Ardha
Spanish 	Ardha
==Trivia==
* Ardha, Cu Chulainn, Yoshitsune, and Helel are the only mythical figures who aren't Persona originals that appear in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
Category:Hindu Mythology
Category:Fusion Spells
Category:Atma Avatar
Category:Persona 4 Arena Personas
Category:Persona Q2 Personas
Category:Fool Arcana
Category:Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2 Demons
Category:Soul Hackers 2 Demons
Category:Ultimate Boss
Category:Soul Hackers 2 Bosses