The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (238 page)

Gobind Si
gh
. The prayer evolved in the 18th cent., providing insight into contemporary ideals although lines have been added since. It is printed as part of
Nitnem
. See
NIRA
K
R
;
RAVID
S
.

 
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(Skt., ‘half-female’). The androgynous form of a Hindu deity, especially of
iva
as Ardan
r
vara, ‘Hermaphrodite Lord’. In painting or sculpture, the ardhan
r
is represented with the left side of the body as female and the right side as male. On the one hand, this symbol of the union of male and female polarities within the Supreme Being is an image of erotic desire (
k
ma
) and divine creativity. On the other hand, ardhan
r
symbolizes the perfect balance of male and female, of all dualities and limitations within the transcendent, impersonal
Brahman
. In
Tantric
belief the balance of male and female elements within the individual, achieved by various techniques (sexual and non-sexual), results in
enlightenment
and bliss. Although the most common ardhan
r
is that of
iva,
Vi
u