Naga Altar Ornament

Maharashtra/ Karnataka

Brass alloy

A decorative cylindrical cover in the shaped of a coiled naga (snake) which may have fit over a lingam (or might have been worshipped in its own right in lieu of a lingam). Many covers have faces (in which case they are called a mukhalinga). Lingam covers are used in puja or prayer rituals and are a visible form of the mantra namah Shivaya through which devotees invoke the blessings of Shiva.

Shiva is one of the three principal deities of Hinduism. He is labelled the ‘destroyer’ with the Trimurti, Hinduism’s trinity which includes Brahma and Vishnu. While sometimes depicted iconically, he is usually worshipped in the aniconic from of a lingam. The lingam is shaped like a pillar with a round top and can be made of stone, wood or metal.

Size (cms): 12(H) x 8(W) x 5(D)
Size (inches): 4.5(H) x 3(W) x 2(D)