Indian Iron Tantric Lingam

A black egg with squared-off shoulders, perched on a tiny disc and looking quite pleased.

This tantric lingam is from Narmada River, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is quartz crystal & iron. Dams planned along the Narmada since the 1940s have steadily removed the dry season that harvesting depends on, so gathering genuine lingams from the riverbed has become close to impossible. Seen head on, it is a stout oval with a flattened top and slightly broad shoulders. The dark surface is smooth, with mirrored highlights on the upper half and a few light scratches along the left side. A narrow black ring supports the base. It is 8 inches high and 4.25 in diameter.

Dignified posture for an object with no neck.