Karnataka (South India)
brass alloy
A finely cast Mukhalingam with a five-headed serpent canopy that extends over the head of the moustached god. Shiva wears a jewelled necklace, a decorated turban and his third eye is prominently displayed on his forehead.
Shiva is one of the three principal deities of Hinduism. He is labelled the ‘destroyer’ with the Trimurti, Hinduism’s trinity which includes Brahma and Vishnu. While sometimes depicted iconically, he is usually worshipped in the aniconic from of a lingam. The lingam is shaped like a pillar with a round top and can be made of stone, wood or metal. Mukhalinga signifies a visage or face on a metallic, cylindrical casting used to cover a stone lingam. The cover is thought to protect the viewer from the harm that could occur on visualization of the linga, especially one with eyes painted on its surface, which is believed to energize the figure. The metallic visage iconically depicts Shiva, wearing his characteristic moustache, earrings and matted hair.
Size (cms): 20(H) x 9(W) x 10(D)
Size (inches): 8(H) x 3.5(W) x 4(D)
