Lord Shiva Begging before Godess Parvati

Lord Shiva Begging before Godess Parvati

 Lepakshi Temple, Andhra Pradesh, Vijayanagar Empire, 16th Century AD

          This sculpture depicts a very unusual story: Lord Shiva decides to have some fun at the expense of Godess Parvati.  He transforms himself into a dwarf and goes begging before the Godess.  Parvati not only gives him a basket full of rice, but also pours sambar onto the rice. The dwarf tugs at her sari, and pulls it half off, revealing her nakedness. Parvati realises that the dwarf could be no one else than Lord Shiva himself. 

           The story is not glorifying the outraging of modesty of a woman. It is a comment on the capacity of the intellect to strip nature to unravel its  secrets. Lord Shiva symbolises pure intellect, undisturbed, controlled intelligence.  Godess Parvati symbolises Nature with all of its warmth, and emotions. To understand Nature the intellect has to uncover its secrets. The story is a subtle way of telling people to encourage scientific temper.