Mukhalinga
A mukhalinga or mukhalingam (
A mukhalinga generally has one, four, or five faces. Mukhalingas having four faces are also regarded to have an invisible fifth face on top of the linga. The four- and five-faced mukhalingas represent the five aspects of Shiva,[2] which also relate to the classical elements, and the cardinal directions.
While the formless aspect of Shiva is classified as nishkala (non-material), mukhalingas are classified as sakala nishkala (material-non-material).[3]
Iconography of stone Mukhalingas in texts
The iconography and making of the mukhalinga is prescribed in the
The stone mukhalingas may be depicted comprising just of the central shaft, but may be part of the full assemble, where the shaft is embedded in the pitha pedestal, denoting the yoni, the feminine counterpart.[5][6][7]
Mukhalingas as metal sheaths
A normal linga may be converted into a mukhalinga by covering with a kavacha ("armour"), a metal (generally gold) covering carved in the shape of the head of Shiva. It has displays the third eye of Shiva on the forehead, the crescent moon over his head and a crown.[8] The covering or sheath is also known as a kosha or linga-kosha, and can be called of metal alloys, gold or silver or[9] copper.[5] Another form of cover is carved in shape of a linga, with a rounded top, with four faces carved on four sides.[10]
One-faced Mukhalinga
The one-faced mukhalinga is called eka-mukhalinga, "linga with a single face". The face is created in high relief. He wears his hair piled on his head like a bun, while longer hair flow over his shoulders.[11] He may also wear earrings and a necklace and have the crescent moon on his head and the third eye on the forehead.[7] The faces of Shiva are carved generally from the ear onwards, emerging from the linga.[12]
Four/Five-faced Mukhalinga
The five-faced mukhalinga is called pancha-mukhalinga. The five faces relate Shiva to the classical elements, the directions, the five senses and five parts of the body. These represent Shiva's five aspects:
The 13th Century A.D. pancha mukha sivalinga is in Kalahasti, Andhra Pradesh.The fifth face would not be shown to highlight the Nishkala character of Sivalinga.[13]
The top face is known as Ishana or Sadashiva, who is rarely depicted and governs zenith and the sky (
In Nepal, the four aspects have similar faces. They wear similar crowns and hairstyles and have Shiva's third eye. Mahadeva may have a moustache and has matted hair piled up on his head. Nandi bears on the forehead the sectarian mark (
Eight faced shivalinga is located at Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh) along the banks of River Shivana locally known as "Ashtamukhi Pashupatinath" which is claimed to be unique in terms of its sculpture. The eight faces carved on the lingam exhibit eight moods / facial expressions facing the four directions, two each in one direction placed one above the other.
Evolution
Mukhalingas are found throughout India[8] and Nepal.[5] They also appear in the former Champa kingdom, presently in Vietnam as well as Cambodia and Borneo in the south east Asia[9][14] and Afghanistan to the west of India.[7] One of earliest specimen of a mukhalinga is a five-faced one in Bhita, which is dated to second century BCE.
Alain Daniélou says that mukhalingas of Shiva resemble similar depictions of phalluses with carved faces from Greece and those from Celtic Europe. He also notes the phalluses with full human figures are also found in France and India, citing the second-century Gudimallam Lingam as an early example.[8]
See also
Notes
- ISBN 978-0-429-62754-5.
- ISBN 978-81-208-0878-2.
- ISBN 978-81-7823-542-4; Page 46
- ^ a b c d e Rao pp. 86-88
- ^ a b c d e f g Kossak p.139
- ^ Kossak p. 143
- ^ ISBN 978-0-87099-710-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-59477-731-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-9971-69-451-7.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-520-05407-3.
- ^ Kossak p. 94
- ^ Kramrisch p. 178
- ISBN 978-81-7823-542-4; Page 47
- ^ O'Connor, S.J. (1961). "AN EKAMUKHALINGA FROM PENINSULAR SIAM" (PDF). The Journal of the Siam Society. The Siam Society. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
References
- Rao, T.A. Gopinatha (1916). Elements of Hindu Iconography. Vol. 2: Part I. Madras: Law Printing House. OCLC 630452416.
- ISBN 9788120804913.
- Steven Kossak (1991). The Lotus Transcendent: Indian and Southeast Asian Art from the Samuel Eilenberg Collection. Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN 978-0-87099-613-9.