Uma-Maheshvara represents the sacred embrace, alingana, of the Lord Shiva joined with the Goddess Uma. The Great Ascetic, Lord Shiva, who was overcome with the beauty of Uma, Daughter of the Mountain, succumbed to their union for the benefit of his devotees. Their union is principally metaphysical, though during the Pala period, Shiva and Uma's relationship can be most immediately observed through their corporeal interplay. It is through their sensual relationship that they are meant to become a gateway for the devotee to enter their sacred realm.
In this sculpture, Shiva’s primary arms lovingly caress Uma, with one hand brushing the underside of her chin with his fingertips while the other arm (now lost) would have firmly held the underside of her breast and torso. There is contrast between the lightness of his fingers and the strength of his arm around her torso, and this contrast between his tenderness and power is also played out in the attributes he holds. The secondary left arm holds the trishula “representing his invincibility” while in his second right arm, the peaceful and beautiful lotus signifies a balance of elements in his nature.
