The Lingam is a symbol that denotes the presence of the Great God Shiva. Goddess Parvati is his consort; Ganesha and Kartikeya are his two sons. Shiva is worshipped in many different forms. The Lingam is perhaps the most popular and the most sacred of these forms. It is in the form of a pillar with a round top, made up of stone. It was during the Kushana period that carved human faces, upon the Lingam, became a popular form. They are called the Mukhalingams. The number of faces, on a Mukhalingam, may vary from one to five.
This exquisitely crafted sculpture of Chaturmukha Linga is made out of the famous black stones of Mahabalipuram. One of the four faces is of Shiva while two are of Parvati. They face the cardinal geographical directions. These three faces are larger than life but the fourth one is quite small. The smaller face is carved atop the Lingam’s aisle. A full-body depiction of Lord Ganesha graces the rear of the Mukhalingam. The hood of a coiled five-headed serpent acts like a parasol to the idol. The faces of the deities radiate serenity and calmness. Note the finely engraved hair strands and the other intricate details of the facial feature. Shiva's third eye is vertical and engraved in the middle of his forehead. He is shown surrounded by numerous serpents. He is the prime deity of the tradition of Shaivism. In his honor, Hindus celebrate festivals like Maha Shivratri, Kartik Purnima. Lord Shiva is widely revered throughout the Indian Subcontinent but South India is especially rich when it comes to the legendary iconography of the Mukhalingams
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