Madurai: Siva-Vishnu

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Morgan, Kenneth W.
Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham

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Here on a pillar in the temple at Madurai, is an image combining Vishnu and Siva, the two great gods of Hinduism, indicating that they are really the same. The god on the left is Vishnu, called Narayana, which is Vishnu as the creator of the universe. On the right is Siva
note that the figure on the right combines the male and female aspects of Siva
the right half of the figure is male, and the left is female with female features, breast, and hip. Vishnu, called Hari, and Siva, called Hara, are sometimes identified as Hari-Hara, indicating that both are representations of the Supreme Being.

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Archives Series

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This image is provided for research purposes only and must not be reproduced without the prior permission of the Archives Program, Australian National University.

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