Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c7.12

v1.c7.12

The oldest piece of sculpture, in South India distinctly Hindu in character, is, as far as it is known now, the Liṅga at Guḍimallam. From the features of the figure of Śiva carved thereon in half relief, from the ornaments worked out on the figure, from the arrangement of the drapery, from the battle-axe upon the shoulder, and many other characteristics, it may be put down to belong to the period of Bhaurhat sculptures, that is, to the second century before Christ. This remarkable piece of sculpture is interesting in two ways; it at once assures us of the exact nature of early Liṅga worship and also affords us a lower limit of time in relation to the worship of Śiva in the form of a Liṅga. From this Liṅga we may safely conclude that Liṅga worship is at least as old as the 2nd century B.C.