Studies in Indian Art c13.s2.17

Language: English

c13.s2.17

The iconographic form of the Ekamukhi and Pañchamukhi Śiva-liṅgas had been developed as early as the Kushāṇa period, but in the Gupta period the former became much more popular and was extensively installed by the Māheśvara teachers in the shrines established under their inspiration. In the five-faced form, the five faces correspond to the five elements as follows:

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