ARDHANARI (dancing over fragmented MAYA)
This artwork contains symbolism and interpretive keys rooted in theosophical, philosophical and sacred texts. To deeply understand these elements, it is necessary to delve into these teachings, exploring spiritual and metaphysical concepts present in universal traditions. You have been invited to approach it with curiosity and openness, as each detail holds layers of meaning beyond the surface.
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"In the beginning, this Being was indivisible. When it divided, it became two: masculine and feminine. From their union, everything that exists was generated. Yet it remains One, for there is no separation in the essence of Being."
| Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.4.3-4) |
Ardhanarishvara, or Ardhanari, is one of the most profound and symbolic manifestations in Hinduism, representing the perfect integration of the masculine and feminine as complementary forces of the universe. The name "Ardhanarishvara" literally means "Lord who is half woman" (Ardha = half, Nari = woman, Ishvara = lord). This figure unites the god Shiva with his consort, Parvati (or Shakti), in a single body, symbolizing that both are indispensable for the creation and sustenance of the cosmos. Ardhanarishvara demonstrates the reconciliation of duality (masculine-feminine, active-passive, spirit-matter) within the primordial unity. Through the exoteric, psychological, and anthroposophical keys below, we can better comprehend these aspects when applied to our consciousness and perception of the manifested world.
"Matter and spirit are but the two poles of the same universal substance, the Absolute, which is the one reality. All we perceive as separate is merely the reflection of that Unity through the distorted lens of Maya."
| Isis Unveiled – (Volume I) |
The figure of Ardhanarishvara symbolizes unity within duality and is deeply connected to the notion of Maya, the illusion of the manifested world. This divine representation, uniting Shiva and Shakti in a single body, teaches that the apparent separation between masculine and feminine, active and passive, spirit and matter, is an illusion created by Maya. Although these elements seem opposite, they are, in fact, inseparable and parts of a single underlying reality.
The manifested world presents diversity as if it were the ultimate reality, but Ardhanarishvara reveals that this multiplicity is a temporary expression of a singular essence. To transcend Maya means to understand that all apparent dualities are expressions of a divine unity. From a spiritual perspective, contemplating this figure reminds us that true freedom comes from the integration of internal and external polarities, dissolving the illusions of separation.
In Theosophy, the manifested universe is seen as an expression of divine consciousness on different planes. Ardhanarishvara illustrates the need to balance the masculine and feminine energies within oneself, integrating them to transcend duality and attain a state of universal consciousness. Thus, the representation of this divine figure reflects the spiritual path leading to the realization of divine unity, or the Buddhic plane.
"And here is what the passions of the world are: rotations and disappearances. Now, rotation is revolution, and disappearance is renewal... The opposites, at the same time, differentiate and unite; and from their difference, the harmony of all things arises."
| XI Discourse of Nous to Hermes - Corpus Hermeticum |
From a Theosophical perspective, Ardhanarishvara can be interpreted as the representation of the essential duality that composes the manifested world, reflecting the Hermetic principle of polarity: all things have two poles that, though seemingly opposing, are complementary and interdependent. The union of Shiva and Shakti transcends the illusion of separation between opposites, demonstrating that masculine and feminine are expressions of the same divine essence. This underlying unity reflects the Theosophical ideal of understanding spiritual reality beyond apparent divisions.
Maya, by projecting the illusion of separateness, causes beings to perceive the polarities as disconnected. However, Ardhanarishvara points to something: duality is merely an aspect of manifestation, not of essence. This representation invites transcendence, revealing that the true reality lies in the fundamental unity that sustains the cosmos. Thus, Ardhanarishvara aligns with the Hermetic and Theosophical principles, showing that the integration of polarities can become the path to spiritual illumination.
In the theosophical and psychophilosophical context, this can be understood in three stages:
Normal-regular thinking, which represents the ordinary mental functioning where thought is guided by linear analysis and memory. There is no effort to transcend inherited mental models.
The next stage can be understood as volitional perception, emphasizing the power of intention in shaping subjective experience. It involves practices such as meditation, visualization, and reflection to cultivate a perception more aligned with the inner will, enabling greater autonomy in relation to external conditions.
The highest stage is spiritual apperception, which can be understood as a state of "full insight" or "instinctive wisdom" resulting from an internal process of harmonization and psychological balance. At this stage, the individual perceives the underlying unity within their own experience.
This approach emphasizes the role of individual practice and critical reflection, highlighting the process of psychic maturation as a self-sufficient phenomenon intrinsic to the human being.
"The movement of the pendulum manifests in everything, the measure of its swing to the right is the measure of its swing to the left, rhythm adjusts and balances."
| Hermetic Axioms - The Kybalion |
The concept of the pendulum, applied to the Hermetic perspective, reflects the constant oscillation between opposing poles that govern human experience. When the pendulum swings close to the base, it is strongly influenced by the extremes of internal conflict, alternating between emotional excesses, rigid beliefs, or disharmonious thoughts. These states represent a fragmented consciousness, identified with the polarities of the manifested world and distant from harmony.
As the pendulum rises toward the center, an intermediate state is reached, where the polarities begin to balance, allowing for a clearer and calmer experience. The ultimate goal is to completely transcend dualities, reaching a state of higher consciousness aligned with divine ideation. In this state, the mind is no longer governed by oscillation but resides in the fixed center, representing the unity of being. This movement reflects the spiritual work necessary to overcome Maya and connect to the divine reality.
"The One becomes Two, the Two becomes Three, and from the Three emanates the Four, which is the sacred form; thus the All reflects the divine Unity in its manifestation."
| Secret Doctrine - Vol 1. Cosmogenesis |
The number 4 (Tetraktys), from a Pythagorean perspective, represents the complete structure of manifestation, where the essential elements of the cosmos are organized in harmony. It symbolizes the manifested world, the solid foundation upon which existence unfolds, but also the field where polarity operates most evidently. In the Hermetic principle of polarity, it is in the "four" that opposing forces, such as light and darkness, positive and negative, fully manifest and exert their flow and force. Within the circumference represented by π (Pi), the number 4 can be associated with the point where opposing energies meet in dynamic balance, sustaining the circular motion that keeps creation in constant evolution.
From the 4, emerges the number 3 (Triad), which symbolizes the integration of polarities and the principle of balance. While the 4 represents the material base where opposites interact, the 3 reflects the consciousness that recognizes and harmonizes these opposites, rising above separation to seek unity. Within π, the Triad is present in the relationship between the circle (unity) and its constituting elements, indicating the balance necessary for creation and continuous movement. Similarly, the number 2 (Dyad) emerges as the expression of polarity in its purest form, introducing separation and contrast, essential for manifestation, but also representative of the dualistic illusion of Maya.
Finally, at the heart of π and all manifestation, is the number 1 (Monad), the primordial unity that transcends duality. It is the principle that contains within itself the potential of all numbers and forms, being the source from which everything emerges and to which everything returns. Thus, the flow of polarity within π reflects the continuous movement that emerges from unity (1), unfolds into duality (2), achieves harmony in synthesis (3), and finally manifests as the complete structure of creation (4). This journey, present in both Pythagorean symbolism and Hermeticism, reveals that the true purpose of polar movement is to return to divine unity, transcend the illusion of Maya, and recognize the infinite contained within the circumference of the All.
“The TAO generates the One, the One generates the Two. The Two generates the Three, the Three generates all things.
Behind all things, there is darkness, and they tend towards the light, and the flow of force gives them harmony.”
| 42nd Aphorism - Tao Te King |
The TAO, as the Absolute, represents the unnameable and unknowable source from which everything arises, equivalent to the Monad (1) in Pythagorean philosophy and the primordial Unity in Theosophy. From this Unity emerges the Dyad (2), which symbolizes polarity—the initial separation that creates the fundamental opposites necessary for manifestation. The Triad (3) then arises as the principle of balance and harmony between these opposites, allowing the creative flow that generates "all things," that is, the Tetraktys (4), the structural base of the manifested universe.
The second part of the aphorism, “Behind all things, there is darkness, and they tend towards the light, and the flow of force gives them harmony,” reflects the dynamic of the Hermetic principle of polarity within manifestation. Darkness represents the latent potentiality of the Dyad, the duality of light and shadow inherent in creation. The tendency toward light symbolizes the universal impulse for transcendence and return to the divine Unity (the TAO or Monad). The "flow of force" that harmonizes all things is the same balance described in the movement of the pendulum within Pi, where the polarities interact in a continuous cycle of evolution.
Thus, the Taoist aphorism synthesizes the journey of the cosmos: starting from primordial unity, passing through polarity and harmony, and culminating in the transcendence of the dualistic illusion. This vision aligns with Pythagorean and Theosophical principles, which see an underlying cosmic order to manifestation.
"The interconnection between science and spirituality reveals itself profoundly when we explore how different traditions approach the duality present in nature."
| Synthesis - Hermeticism and the Law of Complementarity |
The principle of complementarity, proposed by Niels Bohr in quantum physics, posits that seemingly opposite properties, such as particle and wave, are interdependent manifestations of the same entity, revealing different aspects of a greater reality depending on the context of observation. This scientific view finds a direct parallel in the Hermetic principle of polarity, which states, "Everything is dual; everything has two poles; everything has its opposite." Both emphasize that opposites are not mutually exclusive, but extremes of the same continuum, where their underlying essence is one.
In quantum physics, the manifestation of an electron as either a particle or a wave is determined by the type of observation performed, illustrating that polarities coexist in a state of potentiality until a context defines them. Similarly, Hermeticism recognizes that polarities such as light and darkness, masculine and feminine, or being and non-being, are interconnected expressions of the same essential reality.
This idea is represented by the Hermetic-physical formula: the circle symbolizes the dynamic interaction between the opposites (O1 and O2), while the central point (R) symbolizes balance and unity. The arrows demonstrate the continuous flow between the poles, translating the coexistence of polarities as different expressions of the same essence.
"I revere Ardhanarishvara, He who is half woman and half man,
Who is the essence of all creation, The balance of power and compassion,
The union that transcends all dualities."
| Excerpt from the Hymn of Ardhanarishvara Stotra |
The figure of Ardhanarishvara, which unites the masculine and feminine in one body, symbolizes the transcendence of duality and the understanding that all polarities are illusions of Maya, the dualistic manifestation of the sensory world. This idea reflects the Hermetic principle of polarity, which teaches that opposites are extremes of the same essential reality, just as the Pythagorean and Theosophical concepts affirm that the Monad, when unfolding into the Dyad and Triad, generates the cosmos.
Psychologically, dualistic thinking—such as the conflict between light and shadow or reason and emotion—imprisons the mind in illusions. Harmonious and transcendent thinking, on the other hand, allows for the integration of these opposites and access to a higher consciousness. In physics, the complementarity of wave and particle demonstrates that reality is more unified than it appears, pointing to a meaningful concept beyond appearances.
The recognition of unity behind duality elevates us to a state of harmony and connection with the divine, where the illusion of separation disappears. In this state, the true nature of the Self reveals itself, allowing consciousness to transcend the limits of Maya and reach the infinite.
Conceptual References:
Psychology and alchemy - Collected Works of C.G. Jung
The Masters and the path - Charles C. W. Leadbeater
Pythagoras and Early Pythagoreanism - Cornelia Johanna de Vogel
Iamblichus: On the Pythagorean Life - Vol 8 (by - Guillian Clark)
Isis unveiled - Helena P. Blavatsky
The Secret Doctrine - Helena P. Blavatsky
Corpus Hermeticum - Hermes Trismegistus
Freemasonry and the enlightenment - James Stevens Curl
Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu (by - Richard Wilhelm)
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad - Shankara Bhashya (by Swami Madhavananda)
Kybaillon - Tree Iniciates