Shiva Lingam; Thap Mam style, Champa, 12th-14th centuries.

Shiva Lingam; Thap Mam style, Champa, 12th-14th centuries.
Carved stone.
Attached certificate of authenticity from the specialist Le My Hao.
It has slight damage.
Measurements: 44,5 x 30,5 x 35,5 cm.
A lingam sometimes called linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. It is often depicted within a disc-shaped platform, the yoni - its female counterpart. consisting of a flat, horizontal element compared to the vertical lingam, and designed to allow liquid offerings to drain for collection. Together, they symbolize the merging of the microcosm and macrocosm. Shiva is one of the gods of the Trimurti or main trinity of Hinduism. He is the destroyer god, together with Brahma, the creator god, and Vishnu, the preserver god, although he does not incarnate meaningless destruction, but that which also allows regeneration, change and rebirth. Together with his consort Parvati (goddess with dual aspect: maternal and demon slayer) he is the father of Ganesha (god of wisdom) and Kartikeia (god of war).Champa was a Southeast Asian civilization that flourished along the coasts of what is now central and southern Vietnam during a period of approximately one thousand years, between 500 and 1700 AD. The Cham created freestanding sandstone sculptures in round bulk, as well as high and low relief sandstone carvings. In general, they seem to have preferred to sculpt in relief, and excelled especially in high relief sculpture. Cham sculpture went through a marked succession of historical styles, the main one of which produced some of the finest works of Southeast Asian art.