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Shiva linga cover India, Maharastra 17th/18th century Copper alloy, cast in the lost wax method height 37 cm |
The linga is the focus of worship in a Saivite temple. It symbolizes the generative power of Shiva and represents the cosmic pillar that connects heaven and earth. Shiva is the most powerful god in the Hindu trinity. At once creator and destroyer, he uses his cosmic energy to end all existence and to bring it into being once more. The linga represents the four cardinal points and centre of the universe, and the five cosmic elements. This cylindrical Mukhallinga was originally created to cover a linga. This phallic symbol was considered the cause of creation, and when Shiva came to be regarded as the cause of causes, the linga, which denotes gender, became his mark. Shiva is portrayed with large almond-shaped eyes with marked circular pupils. His nose, mouth and eyebrows are finely outlined, his beard and a moustache are rendered in relief, and a thick braid is knotted on top of his head, encircling a portrait of the goddess Ganga. The slightly elongated ears are pierced and designed to accommodate separately made earrings. An urna, the sign of illumination, is shown on his forehead. A slightly thicker edge marks the lower part of his neck. Maharastra, in western India, was home to the Marahti, an Indo-Aryan population group who knew a period of Islamic occupation. Contacts with the Solankis of Gujarat were intensified, resulting in a cultural tradition that was isolated from the new developments in the Vijayanagar and Nayak kingdoms. For centuries Maharastra maintained its own particular style of bronze casting. Images were cast in a light coloured copper alloy and reveal an abstract approach [1]. The present head of Shiva is a typical example, created with great imagination in a powerful concept of stylized forms and pure lines. This impressive and large head of Shiva can be seen as a monument of concentrated energy. It has a most convincing presence, being cast in a beautiful light coloured copper alloy with a fine natural patina, which adds life to the piece. The high artistic quality and unusual size make it a unique example. Provenance: Tewari Collection, Switzerland. [1] S. Aryan, Unknown Masterpieces of Indian Folk & Tribal Art, Home of Folk Art, 2005, no. 105. |