A highly simplified form cast in fine brass not betraying a lump or air bubble despoiling its natural glow and purity, this artifact with an antique look, represents not only Shiva in his aniconic ‘ling’ form but on one hand it represents one of the two early sectarian lines that the devotional mind took to interact with the Supreme, and on the other, manifests the mystery of procreation: the visualisation of the ultimate cosmic act – the creative principle manifesting in all things live or otherwise. The Rig-Veda seems to identify the unity of this procreative principle as ‘Hiranyagarbha’ – a golden egg that consisted of ‘prana’ – life, and ‘bhuta’ – matter, in one – the Cosmic Seed. In the entire Indian tradition ‘ling’ is seen contextually to Shiva, not merely as his aniconic manifestation as against his anthropomorphic form but rather as his totality. ‘Yoni’, its base, is its integral part.
