Ardha



Ardha, also known as Ardhanari, Alter or Ardhanarishvara is a recurring figure revolving the Shin Megami Tensei series. Derived from the androgynous God of Hinduism, Ardha is a deity composed of Shiva and his consort Sati, representing the synthesis of masculine and feminine energies. Ardha, along with his counterpart, Hari-Hara plays a much prominent role in the Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner dualogy.

Appearances

 * Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2: Atma Avatar
 * Persona 4: Judgment Arcana

Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2
Ardha is the Atma Avatar of Seraph in Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner. Keeping in with the Hindu overtones, Seraph, is a manifested being composed of the combined data of Serph and Sera, two distinct genders. Ardha, being the perfect balance of masculine and feminine energies is truly the perfect being, having excelling in all around stats, and holds no weakness to any affinities.

Interestingly, the manifestation of Seraph may be a reference towards Ardha's mythology, as Serph and Sera is, immolated to death during their ascension to the Sun. According to one of the myth, Shiva's consort, Sati is reincarnated as Parvati after immolating herself and rejoins with Shiva, creating the figure of Ardhanarishvara

Upon player's access towards Ardha, Ardha inherits both the Mantra board of Serph and Sera, along with their mastered skills. It should be noted that while Seraph's personality are more towards Sera's, players are given the freedom of customizing Ardha's stats, leading to a well-balanced character. Should players' chooses to start a second cycle, Serph will inherit the Mantra board and the mastered skills of Ardha, but retains his weakness towards ice-affinity.

''Persona 4
Ardha appears as the Persona of the Judgment Arcana. He can be summoned once the Protagonist reaches Lv. 90 or above. Ardha's fusion prerequisites requires the special fusion of Shiva and Parvati, in reference of Hinduism mythologies. Paying homage to Digital Devil Saga, Ardha truly has not weakness not excelling in any other affinities, similar to the Ardha in Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2.

History
The term 'Ardhanarishvara' is a combination of three words- 'ardha', 'nari' and 'ishvara', meaning respectively, 'half', 'woman' and 'Lord' or 'God', that is, Ardhanarishvara is the Lord whose half is woman, or who is half woman. Some scholars interpret the term as meaning 'the half male' who is Shiva and 'the half female' who is Parvati. Such interpretations are suggestive of dvaita, the duality of existence, and thus contradict the Advaita Vedic stand in the matter. Such contentions also contradict the Shaiva philosophy of advaita, which is very emphatic in its assertion that He alone is the cause of the entire existence, as it is by His will and out of Him that the cosmos came into being.