Bronze Lingam Sculpture, 1800s

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An extraordinarily detailed lingam sculpture . The lingam of Shiva emerging from Parvati's yoni is a symbol of power and … Read more An extraordinarily detailed lingam sculpture . The lingam of Shiva emerging from Parvati's yoni is a symbol of power and fecundity. This unusual object of Hindu worship has been given a special imagery, particularly expressive, in the sculpture you see on this page. Made of bronze using a lost-wax casting technique, it captures the full 25 centimeters of Shiva's glory.
Shiva's mukhamandala (facial region) is imprinted on the body of the lingam. There are four crowned heads and a pair of hands along the torso for each head. The composure of the face is of deep contemplation; the mudra (posture) of the hands, of abhaya (fearlessness) and aashirvada (blessing).
Immediately below the raised faces, just at the intersection of the yoni plane and the thick, elongated structure of the lingam, is the slender body of a snake wrapped around the circumference of the latter. The snake is indispensable in the iconography of Shiva. Such a lingam would be a substantial addition to your temple or poojana-kaksha See less