In Hinduism, Arthanareeshwara means half Lord Siva and half Goddess Parvathi depicted in the same figure and on the same side. Philosophically, it represents the male and female characters together in the same statue. In other words, it could be described as masculine and feminine functions and characters together in the same supreme image of the Lord.
Most of the Hindu gods are depicted with their consorts, except certain gods. Goddess Kanyakumari, Lord Ayeappa, and Lord Hanuman are always considered as individual gods without partners.
The Arthanareeshwara statue is divided into two different equal figures. The right side is depicted with a male figure as Lord Siva and the left side is depicted with a female figure as Goddess Parvathi. But one Arthanareeshwara bronze statue exhibited at the National Museum in Colombo is an exception. It was discovered at an ancient archaeological sites at Veragala in the Anuradhapura District.
The height of the statue is estimated at 12 inches. The bronze sculpture belongs to the 6th century. It is a unique local creation.
The Arthanarishwara sculpture of the Lord is depicted in two different figures (the front view is depicted with a male figure (Lord Siva) and the rear view of the figure is depicted with a female figure (Goddess Parvathi). That means the male and female images are together in one and the same statue, but facing different directions.
The front view of the sculpture represents the male figure and the rear view represents the female figure. So far no other sculpture has been found in Sri Lanka. A noteworthy factor is that when you view the front of the sculpture, you cannot imagine that there is a rear view. The sculpture resembles the ancient beautiful Dravidian sculptural style.
The bronze sculpture reveals Lord Arthanarishwara wearing a crafted crown, beautiful neck ornaments and lower hip garments worn with the tight pyjama and the bent right. Normally, male and female figures are depicted in one statue but facing two different directions is somewhat unusual. But in this unique statue, the front view of the sculpture is depicted as a male figure (Lord Siva) and the rear view is depicted as a female figure (Goddess Parvathi). The statue is fixed on a beautiful pedestal.
Extraordinary portrayal
The male Arthanareeshwara figure (Lord Siva) is depicted with a lotus bud in its right hand. And the left hand holds a pole which resembles a sugarcane stem or a piece of bamboo. The female figure is depicted as Goddess Uma or Parvathi, the consort of Lord Siva. The left hand of the female figure holds a parrot. The right hand of the female figure holds a stem similar to a sugar cane or a piece of bamboo. Thaali, the sacred Hindu marriage cord, adorns the neck of the female figure.
It is a unique statue because it reveals the extraordinary handiwork of the sculptor. So far such an exceptional Arthanareeshwara statue has not been found anywhere else in the world. It is a highly imaginative creation of the local sculptor.