Silver Lingam casket box, South India
Old silver pendant necklace, used as a lingam casket box. These pendants were designed as containers to hold a sacred lingam stone representing the god Shiva.
Very good silver content, at least 900/1000.
In this lingam box, there’s a hidden department inside, that makes it a rare example.
From the 19th Century. In excellent condition.
Lingayats are a Hindu group who believe that Shiva is the only deity, rather than the 3 gods revered by other Hindus. They also believed that the sacred presence of Shiva was not simply confined to the temple, but that it could be held in these pendants for a personal connection to the god.
Length of the chain: 84 cm (33,07 in)
Size of the pendant: 72 mm wide and 60 mm high.
Weight: 160 gr.
References:
“Traditional jewelry of India” Oppi Untracht
IND1165
