Lord Harihara is a composite deity. Like Ardhanarishvara, which is a confluence of Shiva and Parvati, Harihara is a confluence of Shiva (Hara) and Vishnu (Hari). The Harihara sculpture that you see on this page depicts Him in all His beauty and stateliness. These qualities are accentuated by the colour of molten gold.
Harihara stands tall and erect on an upturned lotus pedestal. He is possessed of four arms, the chaturbhujadhari: shankha va chakra in the posterior hands, gada va padma in the anterior ones. A tall, tapering crown sits on Harihara’s head. Zoom in on the dense engravings on its body, devoid of symmetry in order to convey the distinctness between Hari and Hara. Speaking of distinctness, Hara’s short loincloth contrasts with Hari’s long, silken dhoti; and the arch of Hara’s determined brow contrasts with the gracefully relaxed curve of Hari’s.
Note the attire and adornments on the body of Harihara. Densely packed across limb and torso, they are in keeping with the aesthetic of ancient temple iconography.
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