Ardhanarishvara. Union of Shiva and Shakti

Any energy cannot be whole without its other half, for it is dual by its very nature. Yes, Shakti is movement, emotion. But in order that balance reigns in the Universe and energy does not get out of control, the half of Shakti is Shiva - Mahadev - Bhairava. Shiva is another name for the Absolute Reality or Absolute Consciousness that makes up our cosmos. Shiva is the transcendental aspect of cosmic consciousness or the Source of all things. Shiva, in all his enduring union between the inner and outer worlds, is often known as the Lord of Yoga. The power of Shiva consciousness can bring tremendous inner strength. In the tradition of Shivaism, Shiva is forever in union with Shakti, his divinely feminine consort. The nature of Shiva's energy is unshakable, stable, peaceful, strong and absolutely still with total presence.
 
All creations are born through the feminine aspect of Shakti, Kali, and all of us also possess these qualities within ourselves. It is dance, movement, power, energy and freedom of becoming. Shiva is pure being in his stillness. Shakti is pure becoming in all its flow and creativity and its endless opening of possibilities. Shakti's energy can be extremely sensual and expressive. Shakti's energy can be seen in everything that exists as a manifestation, whereas Shiva's energy has no form. That which has already arisen is created from Shakti energy. These two divinely sacred energies are equal and opposite forces. We cannot have one without the other.

Usually in India the inferior touches the feet of the superior: children touch the feet of their parents, a man touches the feet of a king, priest, grandfather, father, elder brother, believers touch the feet of a statue of a deity, but.... a woman touches the feet of her spouse. And Shiva allowed Parvati, seized with hatred, to step on his own foot! The preservation of all peace and goodness in the soul of a wife is dearer than male pride. This is what Shiva shows. So shows Hindus following the example of the great couple of husband and wife. But there is not an ounce of servility or belittling of mutual dignity here. Acceptance, sacrifice and humility exemplify only mutual respect and sincere love. There is a moment when Parvati leaves her husband to discover her forgotten past and the truth about herself and Shiva, respecting her quest for self-discovery, lets her go, even though he knows that they will be reunited only after many centuries. Shakti does the same, for the sake of respect for her husband, willing to accept his ascetic nature and act as the guardian of Kailash when Shiva is immersed in deep meditation - Sadhana. And then the image of Souls truly loving each other is manifested, ready to sacrifice their comfort and whimsy for each other's peace and development. And is born, curiously enough, on the basis of native myths, stemming from an example from ancient Indian history!

In union, Shiva and Shakti form a single being known as Ardhanarishvara. The image of Shiva-Shakti in consort is truly beautiful. This figure shows the union of the masculine and feminine aspects of our being, which evokes a mystical wholeness within. This Shiva-Shakti is the union of the sacred masculine and feminine consciousness that is within us and throughout the cosmos.