Story of Ardhanarisvara
Ardhanarishvara is one of the many forms of Lord Shiva. The meaning of the name Ardhanarishvara is the male God whose half is woman. The names Umamahesvara and Sivasakti also denote the same meaning.
The story of Siva becoming Ardhanarishvara has many versions, both puranic and folk. Lord Brahma, who was in charge of creation among the three Murtis started creation. There was no sex difference among the things he created. Then he thought: “how can this further proceed? Those which I create should proceed themselves with further creation. And for the same, there should be both sexes among the created ones.” Suddenly there appeared before his eyes, Siva whose right half was male and left half female. Inspired by the form of Siva, Brahma divided himself into two, right half male and left half female. From the right half further originated all male beings and from the left half all female beings.
Originally, Ardhanarishwara form of Siva was a single person. It was Brahmadeva who requested Shiva that Ardhanarishwara be divided into two to become God and Goddess. And so Mahadeva divided himself and let his Shakti, Uma, Parvati (his power) be apprehended separately.
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