Brahmanical Triad

early 8th century

The Hindu gods Brahma and Vishnu are depicted here flanking the god Shiva, who appears in the form of the lingam, his phallic emblem. The placement of the Shiva lingam in the center emphasizes the god’s importance. Shiva is a quintessentially masculine deity, symbolizing physical power, energy, and self-discipline. Despite Shiva’s defining role as Destroyer, however, he is also a physically powerful progenitor; the phallic symbol represents his ability to “inseminate” and provide the seeds for new creation. It is believed that the lingam offers a more evocative emblem of Shiva’s power than a figural representation of him could because human qualities would limit the viewer’s understanding of the god’s abstract yet generative potency.