ARDHANARISHWARA (ardha=half, nari=woman, ishwara=lord)

Text attributed to Lacchu Maharaj in the recording by Raj Kishore Das, Pakhawaji, given to Janaki Patrik by Samir Chatterjee.  Same text also composed by Atul Desai and danced by Sandhya Desai

Translated by Janaki Patrik with help from Samir Chatterjee and Abha Bhatnagar Roy

Head (shish)-- Half of the head is illuminated by the moon, from the other half flows thGanges River

Forehead (bhala)-- Half of the forehead is smeared with sandalwood paste, the other half is decorated with red powder

Throat (kantha)-- Half of the throat holds poison, the other half is filled with the elixir of immortality.

Neck (griva)-- Around half of the neck is twisted [a garland of] teeth, from the other half hangs a garland of jungle flower

Hand (bhuja)-- One hand holds the hourglass drum, the other hand is decorated with bangles.

Torso (anga)-- Half of the torso shines with ashes, the other half is adorned with ornaments.

Waist (kati)-- From one side of the waist hangs a tiger skin, from the other side hangs shining white cloth.

[Style/face of dance]-- Half of the body shows the tandav/vigorous aspect, half shows the lasya/languorous aspect.

Jay jay jay hay ardhangapati-- Hail, hail, hail –lord [whose] body is half [and half]
 

Transliteration – ARDHANARISHWARA (kavita torah)

1. Ardha sheesha para shashee oojeeyara.    Ardha sheesha Ganga key dhara
2. Ardha bhala chandan lapatayay    Ardha bhal sindoor shobhayay
3. Ardha kantha lay bishaharoo dhara    Ardha kantha  amrit key dhara
4. Ardha greeba liptayay karala    Ardha greeba sewhay banamala
5. Ardha bhoojakar damaroo bajay    Ardha bhoojakara kangana sajay
6. Ardha anga may bhashma lgayay    Ardha anga sringaar sajayay
7. Ardha katee byaghrambara sewhay    Ardha kati swetambara sewhay
8. Ardha anga hay tandaba roopa    Ardha anga hay lasyaswaroopa

Jay jay jay hay ardhangapatee