Shiva Lingam Excavated in Southern India

News July 10, 2024

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ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA—According to a report in The Times of India, a Shiva lingam dated to the fourteenth or fifteenth century was unearthed during a construction project near southern India’s Srisailam Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort, the goddess Parvati. An inscription in Telugu was found near the artifact and is expected to date to the same period. The inscription suggests that the lingam, a symbol of Shiva and his power, was installed by Kampilayya, a disciple of a local saint named Siddhadeva. Construction has been paused so that the lingam can be studied and preserved. To read about southern India's medieval city of Hampi, go to "Letter from India: Living Heritage at Risk."

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