ARDHANARESHWARA

Perhaps the most striking example of man-woman equality even as far back as the Vedic ages can be seen in the concept of 'Ardhanareshwara', a beautiful union of Lord Shiva and his consort Shakti (Parvati). The bronze explicitly shows the body of a man and a woman blended in a perfectly sacred union. The right half is that of a man and the left, that of a woman. The woman is known as 'Wamangi' (Wam-left side; Angi-of the body) or 'Ardhangini' (Ardha-half; Angini-of the body) is shown on the side of the heart in the body. In modern medical parlance, the left side of the body is controlled by the right lobe of the brain, which harnesses the powers of grace, beauty, balance and calm. The right side is characteristically male, controlled by the left-brain lobe, signifying power, activity, strength and dynamism. Is it then a coincidence that one's spouse is known as the better half?