Gudimallam Linga

A particular linga, or symbolic form
of the god Shiva. It is reliably dated
from the second century B.C.E. and is
arguably the oldest existing Hindu
image. It is named after the place in
which it is found, the village of
Gudimallam, which is in the southeastern corner of the state of Andhra
Pradesh, near the border with Tamil
Nadu. Despite its venerable age, the
linga is still enshrined in its original
temple and remains an object of worship. The linga itself is a five-foot pillar of polished stone, which bears a
four-foot-high carving of Shiva on its
front side. The sculptural work is
quite detailed and shows several surprising features. Shiva’s hair is woven
into a turban-like shape, rather than
in the usual matted locks. Shiva has
only two arms, rather than the multiple arms one commonly finds in later
images. He carries a ram in his arms,
rather than a deer—the only sculpture in which a ram appears. Finally,
the figure of Shiva has no sacred
thread (yajnopavit), which became
commonplace later. The linga is also
notable for the detailed work at the
top of the pillar, which exactly models
the head of an erect penis. This is also
a departure from later iconography,
in which the top of the linga is usually smoothly rounded. Although linga
worship should be interpreted symbolically as an homage to the power
behind the universe, the object’s form
is clearly phallic.