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A 7th Century Mukha Linga on Display in Vietnam - First Intact Mukha Linga Discovered In Southeast Asia


The formless Supreme Truth, Shiva appeared in the form of Shivling to satisfy His devotees. There are several types of Shivlings and one of the rare forms is the Mukha Linga with face of Shiva carved on the lingam. An 7th Century Mukha Linga was recovered from the complex of Cham temple ruins in Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam recently. It is now on display My Son Champa.

The Shivling on display is made from a block of brownish gold sandstone. It is 1.46 meters high. The Shiva bust on the round head of the Shivling.

This is the first intact Mukha Linga discovered in Southeast Asia.
Thanh Nien reports 
 Doctor Ngo Van Doanh from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies at Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences called the mukhalinga special, and the first intact one of its kind to be discovered in Southeast Asia
Nguyen Cong Huong, chief manager of My Son, said mukhalingas were only known in Vietnam through images and documents. 
“The display has been a big surprise to visitors,” Huong said.