Pink Granite Shiva Raksha Lingam 48"

This is a unique Shiva Lingam. The three sections that usually comprise a typical Lingam are all exposed. The Lingam is comprised of three vertical sections which represent each God of the Hindu Trimurti. Shiva is represented by the round, uppermost level. The middle octagonal section represents Vishnu and the lower square level represents Lord Brahma. The lower level has beautiful floral decorations on it. Beneath the entire Lingam is a square version of a yoni to collect the liquids poured over the Lingam during a puja ceremony. There is a small spout to dispense the liquid to a vessel. the stone used in this sculpture is beautiful! The pink granite's polished surface embodies the Gods it is made to represent.

The Story of the Shiva Lingam:  Shiva saw not sense in the transitory pleasures of life,  so he rejected samsara, smeared his body with ash, closed his eyes and performed austerities.  Shiva's tapas generated so much heat that his body transformed into a pillar of fire - a blazing lingam that threatened to destroy the whole world.  The gods did not know how to control Shiva's fire.  Suddenly there appeared a yoni -  the divine vessel of the mother-goddess.  It caught the fiery lingam and contained its heat, thus saving the cosmos from untimely destruction.

About Pink Granite:  Pink granite is seldom used in sculpture in south India.  Lotus Sculpture has acquired pink granite stone solely for a limited number of statues.  The Lingam's smooth surfaces really show off the beauty of the stone.  Like Indian black granite it is possible to see 4-5 different colors on a single piece depending on the degree of polish or roughness of the stone.  The stone is extremely hard and durable and can be left outside in extreme heat and extreme cold for years without care.

Shiva the Destroyer (Sanskrit: Auspicious One), or Siva, is one of the main Deities of Hinduism, worshipped as the paramount lord by the Saivite sects of India. Shiva is one of the most complex gods of India, embodying seemingly contradictory qualities. He is the destroyer and the restorer, the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the benevolent herdsman of souls and the wrathful avenger.
Shiva was originally known as Rudra, a minor deity addressed only three times in the Rig Veda.  He gained importance after absorbing some of the characteristics of an earlier fertility god and became Shiva, part of the trinity, or trimurti, with Vishnu and Brahma.
Shiva wears a snake coiled around his upper arms and neck symbolizing the power he has over the most deadly of creatures. Snakes are also used to symbolize the Hindu dogma of reincarnation. Their natural process of molting or shedding their skin is symbolic of the human soul's transmigration of bodies from one life to another.
Shiva's female consort and wife is Parvati; because of his generosity and reverence towards Parvati, Shiva is considered an ideal role model for a husband. The divine couple together with their sons - the six-headed Skanda and the elephant headed Ganesh - reside on Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas. 
His guardian is Nandi (the white bull), whose statue can often be seen watching over the main shrine.  The bull is said to embody sexual energy, fertility.  Riding on its back, Shiva is in control of these impulses.
He often holds a trident, which represents the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu.  It is also said to represent the threefold qualities of nature: creation, preservation and destruction, although preservation is usually attributed to Vishnu.
As the destroyer, Shiva is dark and terrible, encircled with serpents and a crown of skulls.
Shiva often wears sacred Rudaksha beads, perhaps a reference to his earlier name Rudra.
The crescent moon Shiva wears on his crown, besides being a symbol of Kama the goddess of nightly love, also represents the bull, Nandi, a fertility symbol.
Shiva holds a skull that represents samsara, the cycle of life, death and rebirth.  Samsara is a central belief in Hinduism.  Shiva himself also represents this complete cycle because he is Mahakala, the Lord of Time, destroying and creating all things.
Shiva is represented in a variety of forms.  One such form is as a lingam.  The ovoid shape is a representation of the absolute perfection of Lord Shiva - if that which is beyond form had to be given form, the lingam would be the closest form to the mystical experience of the absolute perfection of Shiva.   Shiva is often pictured in a pacific mood with his consort Parvati, as the cosmic dancer Nataraja, as a naked ascetic, as a mendicant beggar, as a yogi, and as the androgynous union of Shiva and Parvati in one body (Ardhanarisvara).
Another example of Shiva's apparent synthesis of male and female attributes is seen in his earrings.  He wears one earring in the style of a man and the other as a female.
Shiva's third eye is a symbol of higher consciousness.  It is also a weapon he uses to destroy his enemies by emitting a fire missile which has the power to incinerate the three worlds.  He can also kill all the gods and other creatures during the periodic destruction of the universe.  Shiva's third eye first appeared when Parvati, his wife, playfully covered his other two eyes, so Shiva opened his third eye emitting his destructive missile endangering the three worlds.

Granite statues from India do not need much maintenance.  The best way to maintain the statue is to simply dust the piece periodically to keep any dirt from accumulating.  They can be used for both indoor and outdoor use. 

Soap and warm water is the best way to maintain the statue.  You can use a small brush to get into the small crevices of the statue like the hands and hair. 

Granite's durability makes it perfect for cold winters and hot summers of any climate.  The stone can stand up to the harshest conditions of heat and bitter cold.  We suggest you bathe the sculpture at least once a year so that dirt does not collect on the sculpture.  This will maintain the sculpture for your grandchildren and then their grandchildren!

If you have any questions concerning your Indian granite statue please email us at info@lotussculpture.com or call us at 1(760) 994-4455.

Here are some testimonials we have had from some of our customers who have bought our stone Hindu statues.  We are so happy to be sharing these statues with the world!  We welcome you to share your photos of our statues.  Please email them to info@lotussculpture.com

This 4 foot marble Shiva was installed in a Shiva temple in Hyderabad from Lotus Sculpture. Hello Kyle   Shiva arrived intact. He has been Installed with full of Life and Glory in the presence of 125 Pandits (gurus) and 350 Guests. Thank you May the Lord Shiva's choicest best blessings be on Lotus sculpture your and your family cheers Srikanth

The Calgary Zoo purchased this 9 foot tall dancing Ganesh statue for the entrance to their 'Elephant Crossing' exhibit. Hello Kyle Thank you so much for making the Ganesh a reality!  It arrived with perfect timing right before the opening!  Don

Namaste Kyle, I took a pic of Ganesha for you this weekend, once again Thank you very much! Thanks Aaron

Yes, the Ganesh arrived in perfect condition and has been installed. Here are some pictures to prove it. We are so delighted to have him! Leslie

Hello Kyle, Welcome back from your trip! I hope you had a great time. I'm trying not to be envious of your frequent visits to Tamil Nadu! Attached is a photo of the Ganesha from last night's Ganesha Chathurthi Puja at my house. It's a beautiful statue and I'm very grateful to have it in my care. paul

We look forward to carving many new statues, large and small, for years to come giving our artists work and promoting this beautiful art form and religious values.

USA Shipping

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This sculpture is in our Oceanside, California store and ready for immediate packing. Shipping is calculated from Oceanside, California after the purchase. This piece is too heavy to ship via UPS ground and will be shipped using R&L Freight Carriers. Approximately 3 working days are needed to pack the sculpture in its own custom wood crate. If you place your order online shipping will show in the order as $0. Shipping will be calculated based on the weight of the sculpture and the distance from Oceanside, CA to determine the shipping price. Shipping will then be added to the total after the order is placed. Please call 760-994-4455 or email us info@lotussculpture.com for a shipping quote.

International Shipping

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This sculpture is in our Oceanside, California store and ready for immediate packing. Shipping is calculated from Oceanside, California after the purchase. This piece is too heavy to ship via UPS ground and will be shipped using an international freight service. Typically we use TNT Special Services as they give the most competitive rates. Approximately 3 working days are needed to pack the sculpture in its own custom wood crate. If you place your order online shipping will show in the order as $0. Shipping will be calculated based on the weight of the sculpture and the distance from Oceanside, CA to determine the shipping price. The shipping quote will be emailed to you and no charge will be made without your approval. Shipping will then be added to the total after the order is placed. Please call 760-994-4455 or email us info@lotussculpture.com for a shipping quote.