By Isabella @TheWandCarver

Shiva Lingam come from only one place, the Narmada River in Western India, one of India’s most holy sites. The word ‘Lingam‘ comes from the Sanskrit word for symbol, as these stones are a symbol of Lord Shiva. The Shiva Lingam are an integral part of their worship practises, and have been for hundreds of years. Their colours vary, but they are all a tan colour with various brown, red or grey stripes, spots or patches on the stones.

photo by i.macy

The villagers around the Narmada River gather the stones from the river and hand polish them so that they are a smooth, rounded shape. They are deliberately made into the well-known phallic shape, as this shape has a specific meaning because it is symbolic of the phallus of the Hindu God Shiva, and of his union with his consort Kali…