Ardhanarishvara is an androgynous shape of Lord Shiva, the composite of Shiva and Parvati, the half of-male and half-female fusion from the center. The proper half of is that of Shiva, and the left 1/2 expounds Parvati.

Symbolizing the all-pervasive, all-enduring nature of Lord Shiva, Ardhanarishwar portrays a super stability of male and lady as equal, as “Purusha” and “Prakriti,” the female and masculine energies of the cosmos in addition to Shiva, the male principle of God, because the essence of Shakti, the Sacred Feminine. 

Ardhanarishvara is also named Ardhanarisha, Ardhayuvateeshwara, Ardhagureeshwara, Gaureeshwara, Naranari, Parangada, and Ammiappan. According to Shaiva Siddhanta, Ardhanarishwar is one of the sixty four manifestations of absolutely the Parashiva.
The starting place of Ardhanarishvara

There are extraordinary instances about the advent of Ardhanarishvara consistent with scriptures and different Puranas. Among all the ones two are the maximum discussed ones.

There became as soon as a Rishi known as Bhringi, a devotee of Lord Shiva. He used to agree with himself to be the best acolyte of Lord Shiva handiest to the bit that he refused to worship Shiva together with Parvati. He had completely committed himself to Lord Shiva but might no longer worship his consort Parvati.

One day, Rishi Bhringi reached Mount Kailash, the adobe of Lord Shiva, to circumambulate Shiva, however he repudiated to circumambulate Parvati no matter her being along Shiva.  Goddess Parvati then advised Shiva to unite themselves collectively. That’s how Ardhanarishvara turned into created, one half of of Shiva and the alternative 1/2 of Parvati through the vital axis.

Rishi took the form of Beetle and circumambulated Shiva simplest, which enraged Parvati. Parvati then cursed Bhringi to lose all of the blood and muscle tissues believed to have come from mother in Hindu embryology. Bhringi changed into all however the most effective skeleton now, which is assumed to have come from his father, making him recognize the significance of Prakriti and Purusha. He pleaded forgiveness from Parvati and became given the third leg as a reward for pleading to maintain his frame.

According to Shiva Purana, Lord Brahma, the writer of the universe, changed into disenchanted with his creation as the arena changed into no longer transferring at the pace. It became steady to the number of beings he had created. There become no way out for him in preference to calling Shiva for rushing the improvement inside the international. Brahma asked Shiva for assist, and Shiva took this Ardhanarishwar form to make him apprehend era through copulation. Afterward, Ardhanarishwar split into Purusha and Prakriti, for this reason persevering with the creation, suggesting that Shiva is nothing with out Shakti, and creation, in addition to the continuation of life, is not possible with out each of them. 

The Symbolism 
The apologue of Ardhanarishvara has an extreme meaning symbolizing the quintessential stability among the male and woman energies within the universe. The forces are inseparable and complementary to each other, suggesting that they need to work collectively to keep the equilibrium.

The harmony of Purusha and Prakriti are basically opposite in nature. Still, they healthy each other in the experience that Purusha is the passive pressure of the universe. At the identical time, Prakriti is active, Purusha represents capability power, and Prakriti is kinetic power, and Purusha is infinite. Prakriti brings that infinity to be finite, hence, embracing each other to generate and sustain the universe.

The union of Linga of Shiva and the Yoni of the Devi gives rise to the birth of the entire cosmos. Consequently, this idea additionally raises the idea of Lust giving upward push to procreation.
 
As stated in advance, Ardhanarishvara is half of-male and half-lady; but, this doesn't imply Shiva and Shakti are incomplete. Ardhanarishwar means that “totality lies past duality”; they're complete and completely advanced guy and lady. They are best and identical, that's why they each are the essence of introduction. Shiva at the left additionally indicates the spiritual sphere and Shakti the fabric sphere depicting that both ought to coexist to bring ecstasy to existence.

Many cultures additionally accept as true with that Ardhanarishwar marks infinite increase and fertility as Parvati with Shiva is related to the profuse reproductive capacity of mother nature.  Generally, the Shakti half is on the left side, denoting relative inferiority and feminine characteristics like creativity, instinct, and so forth. The right aspect is of Shiva, 1/2 denoting comparative superiority and masculine characteristics like electricity, good judgment, systematic mind, etc.

Many additionally compare Ardhanarishvara with the Chinese idea of Yin-Yang as they're additionally complementary opposites of each different, the identical halves of the extra complete. They are component and parcel of the dynamic nature of the universe. Yin has similarities to the gentle and female half and Yang to the robust, ferocious, and masculine 1/2.

Ardhanarishwar is beyond our idea of gender and materializes the fact that God may be male, woman, and even neuter too. Remaining on this intrinsic condition Ardhanarishwar is precise of all aligning even technological know-how in this direction.
Like Ardhanarishvara, no individual is pure unisexual as every bears the potentiality of both male and woman. It is the dominance of one over any other that determines the sexuality of the character.

The idea of Ardhanareshwar reflects that the matching of opposites produces the proper rhythm of existence as Shiva is shava with out Shakti and Shakti