Mukhalinga 06

This large, lost-wax cast brass mukhalinga is from North Karnataka or Maharashtra. The mukhalinga is a covering used to give a face or iconic form to the abstract Shiva lingam. The face allowed worshippers to both see and be seen by Shiva and would have been placed over the linga. On the Mukhalinga’s forehead is Vibhooti (sacred ash) and Shiva’s third eye, which symbolizes the power of knowledge, and the detection of evil. He’s also wearing earrings in the form of Nagas (snakes), which are called Nagakundala. On his head he wears a a decorative band above which are ridges to resemble hair.
The mukhalinga measures 11 x 6 x 14 inches without the base. The size is 11 x 6 x 16 inches with the base.