Emblem of the God Shiva with One Face (Ekamukhalinga)

Enshrined in the innermost sanctums of temples dedicated to Shiva throughout southern Asia, lingas are phallic emblems of the deity’s cosmic, procreative powers. Shiva is regarded as possessing five faces or aspects, and lingas 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.