Small carving of Shiva as Ardhanarishvara on square wood tile. This is an excellent wood carving of Shiva's form as <em>Ardhanareshwara</em>. The wood is so neatly carved that it looks like a carving in stone. The finished wood carving is polished chocolate brown. It is an ideal decorative item to be hung on walls or placed in small spaces inside big furniture like shelves or bookracks. <br> <br>Ardhanareshwara is Shiva's form in which he is half himself and half Parvati, his consort. Accordingly the wood carving depicts Shiva on the left and Parvati on the right. This form endorses the completeness of <em>Brahman</em> (supreme being) who has in him both male and female attributes or who is both the dynamic consciousness (Shiva) and static nature (Parvati). Skilled artisans of Tamil Nadu have hand carved this wood carving in traditional South Indian style.
