Lord Harihar with Goddesses Parvati and Lakshmi

Lord Harihar with Goddesses Parvati and Lakshmi

Cave No. 1, Badami, 6th Century CE

              This is one of the most unusual depiction of Lord Harihar. Generally He is portrayed as a single figure where the left half is Lord Shiva and the right half is Lord Vishnu. But here He is shown with Goddess Parvati on the left side and Godess Lakshmi on the right side. Thus both the halves are with their respective consorts, with their "Shaktis". The two halves are also with their vehicles: Nandi , the bull in a human form on the left, and Garuda, again in human form on the right. 

             This is a fascinating group of sculptures: all the three figures are over lifesize. In cave temples generally we have over lifesize figures. This testifies to the confidence of the sculptor, to the boldness of the people. They could think in large terms. They had a broader vision. 

             Interestingly the early Rulers of Chalukyan Dynasty were Vaishnavites. Later they worshipped Lord Shiva.  Yet here in a cave dedicated to Lord Shiva, they have commissioned a sculpture of Lord Harihar. He is a figure  who was invented in order to end the controversy  between the Vaishnavites and the Shaivites as to whose god was greater. Hence, this group is socio-political statement that both the factions are equal in the eyes of the King. 

             Other sculptures in Cave No. 1 also carry forward the message of assimilation. Right opposite this group of Harihar, is an equally over lifesize group of Lord Shiva as Ardhnarishwar-- as half man, half woman.  Ardhnarishwar not only portrays the unity in the duality of Nature, but more importantly depicts gender equality and gender fluidity.  The ancient mind was far more liberal in accepting genders of different types. It was comfortable with men turning into woman and vice versa. In fact the birth of Harihar itself deals with Lord Vishnu turning into Mohini, the enchantress, and having a physical relationship with Lord Shiva to give birth to Harihar. Such liberal thoughts are a rarity in Modern Age where one gender has seek equality, and where a community of LGBT have to struggle for their rights. The ancients would be amused by the "advanced" thinking of the moderns.