Uma–Maheshvara

Uma–Maheshvara (Sanskrit: उमामहेश्वर, romanized: Umāmaheśvara) is a form of the divine couple, Shiva (Maheshvara) and Parvati (Uma), in Hindu iconography.

It is one of the panchavimshatimurti (twenty-five forms of Shiva in Hindu iconography), as has been described in the Agamas, particularly in the Shaiva Siddhanta tracts of Southern India, and in the Silpa texts.

[8] This divine union of Purusha and Prakriti, the male and the female forms, results in srishti, or procreation, and maintains the constant cycle of creation and balance.

[9] It is believed that Sati was reborn as Parvati, after her self-immolation, as the mother goddess who comforted Shiva and maintained the procreative balance of the universe.

[9] Shiva, on the other hand, is described by the Vayu Purana as the adisarika bija, or the first seed of creation,[10] and his urdhva-linga, or the erect phallus, showcases his creative potency.

The Indian artists, working throughout history, have followed these scriptural injunctions to create the images of the divine couple in diverse media, but mostly in stone and bronze sculptures.

Shiva in some representations touches and caresses Parvati's breasts (the kuca-sparsa pose) or holds her in his lap (atikarohana form).

[5][14] In the South Indian version of the images, Parvati's lion is often substituted with a godha, or an alligator, associated with an earlier incarnation of the goddess.

It originates from a story in the Matsya Purana, where Indra incurs Durvasa's wrath for placing a garland, that the sage had gifted, on Airavata, instead of putting it around his neck.