Mukhalinga

A form of the linga, the pillar-shaped
object symbolizing the god Shiva. A
mukhalinga has one or more faces
(mukha) sculpted on the shaft of the
linga. According to the manuals detailing the form and construction of Hindu
images, the number of faces on the linga
should not exceed the number of doorways in the temple. Thus, a temple with
one doorway should have a mukhalinga
with one face, and so on, up to four. The
manuals also specify that these faces
should be placed facing the entrances.
For further information see T. A.
Gopinatha Rao, Elements of Hindu
Iconography, 1981.