Art Institute of Chicago
Emblem of the God Shiva with One Face (Ekamukhalinga)
India
- Date
- c. 6th century
- Medium
- Sandstone
- Culture
- Madhya Pradesh
- Department
- Arts of Asia
- Institution
- Art Institute of Chicago
Enshrined in the innermost sanctums of temples dedicated to Shiva throughout southern Asia, linga s are phallic emblems of the deity’s cosmic, procreative powers. Shiva is regarded as possessing five faces or aspects, and linga s sometimes contain anthropomorphic depictions of one, four, or five of these faces. The head on this ekamukhalinga (single-faced linga ) displays many of Shiva’s identifying traits, such as the prominent vertical third eye, the matted hair indicative of his ascetic practice, and the crescent moon affixed above his left forehead.
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- Object type
- AAT300301253
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