Bust of a Shaiva Figure with Shiva Lingam, Nandi, and Serpent Motif

Shiva is a paradox. He is a source of all creation as well as the means of destruction. He is a formless entity, an unchanging consciousness. His existence is beyond time and space. That’s why he is revered in his abstract form the Shiva Lingam. However, Shiva also manifests himself in many forms. It is visible from his various iconographies. He is a complete spectrum of life. His dual form makes him the ultimate reality. The manifestation of both forms in one iconography is rare. One such example comes from the Head of Shiva, dating back to the 13th-15th century. Currently housed at the Rissala Collection, this sculpture must be from South India, probably from the late Chola to Vijayanagara periods. This head most likely graced a temple sanctum or was worshipped in a ceremonial setting. It might have belonged to a full-bodied representation of Jogi Shiva or a Shaiva guardian of a temple. The serene face exudes realism, enhancing divinity. On top of his head, a prominent Shiva lingam, flanked by two Nandi bulls, under the canopy of a multi-hooded serpent, makes it a rare masterpiece.