Harihara represents the unity of the Hindu gods Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara). Also known as the Shankara-Nayarana, Harihara's right half represents Shiva and the attributes it is associated with: destructive, terrifying, and feminine, while the left half represent Vishnu as the pacifist, auspicious, and masculine. Because worshipers believe each deity is the Supreme Being, the unity of the two represents the sacred ultimate power of the universe, supreme over all other gods. The exact nature of this unity is still debated among the Hindu philosophical schools.