Ardhan─Бr─л┼Ыvara has always fascinated me. Such a wonderful representation of Prakr̥ti and Puruс╣гa! Gender equality cannot be better explained. It is sad that many merely atribute this profound concept to hermaphroditism, although it would not be untrue that this can well be placed under the umbrella of Ardhan─Бr─л┼Ыvara. Ardhan─Бr─л┼Ыvara teaches us that this world is not possible without the combination of Prakr̥ti and Puruс╣гa. Ardhan─Бr─л┼Ыvara also explains so wonderfully that each one of us has male and female attributes within us - mentlally, physically, subtly and evidently. Hermaphroditism is a different term that is rather related with (only or mainly) the physical aspects. We say that the female is all gentle, kind and warmhearted, but it is the same female attribute that can rise up and destroy. Who can better represent this than Ma K─Бl─л! We say that the male is all stern, angry, wrathful and hard, but the same male can also take in the sufferings of the entire world, hold it within Him and render His kith and kin safe. Who else can better represent this than Bhagav─Бn N─лlakaс╣Зс╣нha! One can go on and quote innumerable examples that state this magnanimous truth. You call it a myth or history - it doesn't matter. What matters is that these are all such beautiful representation of the eternal truth. These are not mere stories - these are codes of life - narrated to us with simplicity - handed over to us like a big coconut. It is for us to break the shell, decode them and get connected with the ultimate truth. And if just ONE picture shall represent this entire truth, the entire story of life, all the principles of eternity, then that has to be Ardhan─Бr─л┼Ыvara, or even the picture of a Liс╣Еga, which as many people often fail to notice, is always in union with the Yoni. Mind you, this is not a mere sex symbol as many bluntly interpret. This is the union of Prakr̥ti and Puruс╣гa, the male and female principles of the universe, the cause of the very creation. On this note, let us meditate upon Ardhan─Бr─л┼Ыvara and take a look into the lyrics of Ardhan─Бr─л┼Ыvara Stotram written by ┼Ъr─л ─Аdi ┼Ъaс╣Еkara. The following is a video I found on YouTube with good rendition - easy to follow and practice.
рдЕрд░्рдзрдиाрд░ीрд╢्рд╡рд░рд╕्рддोрдд्рд░рдо्
рдЪाрдо्рдкेрдпрдЧौрд░ाрд░्рдзрд╢рд░ीрд░рдХाрдпै рдХрд░्рдкूрд░рдЧौрд░ाрд░्рдзрд╢рд░ीрд░рдХाрдп ।
рдзрдо्рдоिрд▓्рд▓рдХाрдпै рдЪ рдЬрдЯाрдзрд░ाрдп рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдпै рдЪ рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдп ॥ рез ॥
рдХрд╕्рддूрд░िрдХाрдХुрдЩ्рдХुрдордЪрд░्рдЪिрддाрдпै рдЪिрддाрд░рдЬः рдкुрдЮ्рдЬрд╡िрдЪрд░्рдЪिрддाрдп ।
рдХृрддрд╕्рдорд░ाрдпै рд╡िрдХृрддрд╕्рдорд░ाрдп рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдпै рдЪ рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдп ॥ реи ॥
рдЪрд▓рдд्рдХ्рд╡рдгрдд्рдХрдЩ्рдХрдгрдиूрдкुрд░ाрдпै рдкाрджाрдм्рдЬрд░ाрдЬрдд्рдлрдгिрдиूрдкुрд░ाрдп ।
рд╣ेрдоाрдЩ्рдЧрджाрдпै рднुрдЬрдЧाрдЩ्рдЧрджाрдп рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдпै рдЪ рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдп ॥ рей ॥
рд╡िрд╢ाрд▓рдиीрд▓ोрдд्рдкрд▓рд▓ोрдЪрдиाрдпै рд╡िрдХाрд╕िрдкрдЩ्рдХेрд░ुрд╣рд▓ोрдЪрдиाрдп ।
рд╕рдоेрдХ्рд╖рдгाрдпै рд╡िрд╖рдоेрдХ्рд╖рдгाрдп рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдпै рдЪ рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдп ॥ рек ॥
рдорди्рджाрд░рдоाрд▓ाрдХрд▓िрддाрд▓рдХाрдпै рдХрдкाрд▓рдоाрд▓ाрдЩ्рдХिрддрдХрди्рдзрд░ाрдп ।
рджिрд╡्рдпाрдо्рдмрд░ाрдпै рдЪ рджिрдЧрдо्рдмрд░ाрдп рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдпै рдЪ рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдп ॥ рел ॥
рдЕрдо्рднोрдзрд░рд╢्рдпाрдорд▓рдХुрди्рддрд▓ाрдпै рддрдбिрдд्рдк्рд░рднाрддाрдо्рд░рдЬрдЯाрдзрд░ाрдп ।
рдиिрд░ीрд╢्рд╡рд░ाрдпै рдиिрдЦिрд▓ेрд╢्рд╡рд░ाрдп рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдпै рдЪ рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдп ॥ рем ॥
рдк्рд░рдкрдЮ्рдЪрд╕ृрд╖्рдЯ्рдпुрди्рдоुрдЦрд▓ाрд╕्рдпрдХाрдпै рд╕рдорд╕्рддрд╕ंрд╣ाрд░рдХрддाрдг्рдбрд╡ाрдп ।
рдЬрдЧрдЬ्рдЬрдирди्рдпै рдЬрдЧрджेрдХрдкिрдд्рд░े рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдпै рдЪ рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдп ॥ рен ॥
рдк्рд░рджीрдк्рддрд░рдд्рдиोрдЬ्рдЬ्рд╡рд▓рдХुрдг्рдбрд▓ाрдпै рд╕्рдлुрд░рди्рдорд╣ाрдкрди्рдирдЧрднूрд╖рдгाрдп ।
рд╢िрд╡ाрди्рд╡िрддाрдпै рдЪ рд╢िрд╡ाрди्рд╡िрддाрдп рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдпै рдЪ рдирдо: рд╢िрд╡ाрдп ॥ рео ॥
рдПрддрдд्рдкрдаेрджрд╖्рдЯрдХрдоिрд╖्рдЯрджं рдпो рднрдХ्рдд्рдпा рд╕ рдоाрди्рдпो рднुрд╡ि рджीрд░्рдШрдЬीрд╡ी ।
рдк्рд░ाрдк्рдиोрддि рд╕ौрднाрдЧ्рдпрдордирди्рддрдХाрд▓ं рднूрдпाрдд्рд╕рджा рддрд╕्рдп рд╕рдорд╕्рддрд╕िрдж्рдзि: ॥ реп ॥
॥ рдЗрддि рдЖрджिрд╢рдЩ्рдХрд░ाрдЪाрд░्рдпрд╡िрд░рдЪिрддрдо् рдЕрд░्рдзрдиाрд░ीрдирдЯेрд╢्рд╡рд░рд╕्рддोрдд्рд░рдо् рд╕рдо्рдкूрд░्рдгрдо् ॥
C─Бmpeyagaur─Бrdha┼Ыar─лrak─Бyai karp┼лragaur─Бrdha┼Ыar─лrak─Бya .
Dhammillak─Бyai ca jaс╣н─Бdhar─Бya nama: ┼Ыiv─Бyai ca nama: ┼Ыiv─Бya .. 1 ..
Kast┼лrik─Бkuс╣Еkumacarcit─Бyai cit─Бrajaс╕е pu├▒javicarcit─Бya .
Kс╣Ыtasmar─Бyai vikс╣Ыtasmar─Бya nama: ┼Ыiv─Бyai ca nama: ┼Ыiv─Бya .. 2 ..
Calatkvaс╣Зatkaс╣Еkaс╣Зan┼лpur─Бyai p─Бd─Бbjar─Бjatphaс╣Зin┼лpur─Бya .
Hem─Бс╣Еgad─Бyai bhujag─Бс╣Еgad─Бya nama: ┼Ыiv─Бyai ca nama: ┼Ыiv─Бya .. 3 ..
Vi┼Ы─Бlan─лlotpalalocan─Бyai vik─Бsipaс╣Еkeruhalocan─Бya .
Samekс╣гaс╣З─Бyai viс╣гamekс╣гaс╣З─Бya nama: ┼Ыiv─Бyai ca nama: ┼Ыiv─Бya .. 4 ..
Mand─Бram─Бl─Бkalit─Бlak─Бyai kap─Бlam─Бl─Бс╣Еkitakandhar─Бya .
Divy─Бmbar─Бyai ca digambar─Бya nama: ┼Ыiv─Бyai ca nama: ┼Ыiv─Бya .. 5 ..
Ambhodhara┼Ыy─Бmalakuntal─Бyai taс╕Нitprabh─Бt─Бmrajaс╣н─Бdhar─Бya .
Nir─л┼Ыvar─Бyai nikhile┼Ыvar─Бya nama: ┼Ыiv─Бyai ca nama: ┼Ыiv─Бya .. 6 ..
Prapa├▒casс╣Ыс╣гс╣нyunmukhal─Бsyak─Бyai samastasaс╣Гh─Бrakat─Бс╣Зс╕Нav─Бya .
Jagajjananyai jagadekapitre nama: ┼Ыiv─Бyai ca nama: ┼Ыiv─Бya .. 7 ..
Prad─лptaratnojjvalakuс╣Зс╕Нal─Бyai sphuranmah─Бpannagabh┼лс╣гaс╣З─Бya .
┼Ъiv─Бnvit─Бyai ca ┼Ыiv─Бnvit─Бya nama: ┼Ыiv─Бyai ca nama: ┼Ыiv─Бya .. 8 ..
Etatpaс╣нhedaс╣гс╣нakamiс╣гс╣нadaс╣Г yo bhakty─Б sa m─Бnyo bhuvi d─лrghaj─лv─л .
Pr─Бpnoti saubh─Бgyamanantak─Бlaс╣Г bh┼лy─Бtsad─Б tasya samastasiddhi: .. 9 ..
.. Iti ─Бdi┼Ыaс╣Еkar─Бc─Бryaviracitam ardhan─Бr─лnaс╣нe┼Ыvarastotram samp┼лrс╣Зam ..
Om.... should I conclude my post as "Om Namah Shivaya" like I normally do? Let me redefine it a bit:
Nama: ┼Ыiv─Бyai ca nama: ┼Ыiv─Бya!!