Shrine

Item number Ef315 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

Item Records

This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.

The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.

These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.

Data
Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Shrine that has a rectangular base with arch at back surmounted by umbrella-like motif. A variety of figures are seated or otherwise disposed about the base: five-headed cobra rises in centre of arch; other figures include a bull, a lingam, another cobra, a pile of stones, the elephant god Ganesh, and four female figures, one at each corner.

History Of Use

Dedicated to the god Shiva; probably the centerpiece of a small shrine.

Cultural Context

daily worship

Iconographic Meaning

Umbrella - royal symbol, five-headed cobra is an attendant of Shiva; lingam, a phallic form, is a symbol of Shiva; Nandi is the bull vehicle of Shiva; Ganesh is the son of Shiva and Parvati; piled stones called pancha-pinda represent Vishnu Surya Parvati.