Head of Harihara

Syncretism is a favored device in Indian cosmologies for representing the complex and multifaceted personalities of the gods. The oldest archaeological evidence of this practice are sculptures from Kushana-era Mathura (late 1st–3rd century), northern India, depicting Shiva combined with his female aspect, Parvati, as the androgynous Ardhanarishvara. Vishnu (Hari) combined with Shiva (Hara) appeared later in India, in the fifth century during the Gupta period, and is explained mythically as Shiva representing the male half of the universe and Vishnu, in his female aspect as Mohini, representing the female element. Harihara is born of their sexual union.

cat. no. 91