> One of the many forms of Shiva, a principal Hindu deity, involves him merging with his wife, Parvati, to become the androgynous Ardhanari, who holds special significance to many in the Hijra community.
– Sridevi Nambiar, https://theculturetrip.com/asia/india/articles/a-brief-history-of-hijra-indias-third-gender/
> The duality in the nature has always fascinated human mind, when the two entities exist separately and within each other at the same time. A human being is not a pure unisexual organism. Each human organism bears the potentiality of both male and female sex.
> [Ardhanarishwar] represents duality of Shiva and Parvati in an immaculate balance, where they depend on each other, assimilate in each other, at the same time preserve their identity.
– Rajashree Oak, https://www.classicalclaps.com/ardhanari-the-androgynous-forms-of-shiv-ganesh-krishna-and-vishnu/