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Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Miniature Linga

Southern Vietnam

7th century

Not on view

The Indian prescriptive Shastric texts, the Agamas, describe a variety of lingas, both immovable (acalalinga) and movable (calalinga). The former were nearly always of stone, while an almost infinite variety of materials could be employed for the portable ones, ranging from sand and stone to bronze, jewels, and precious metals. Rock crystal was widely used in the early Khmer-speaking regions of mainland Southeast Asia. These portable lingas were probably made by devotees who carried them as they journeyed to sites (tirtha) sacred to Shiva in the Khmer landscape.

cat. no. 82b

Miniature Linga, Rock crystal, Southern Vietnam — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Miniature Linga, Rock crystal, Southern Vietnam

Miniature Linga, Rock crystal, Southern Vietnam

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Miniature Linga

Date: 7th century

Culture: Southern Vietnam

Medium: Rock crystal

Dimensions: Approx. H. 3/4 in. (1.8 cm); W. 1 1/8 in. (3 cm); D. 2 in. (5 cm)

Classification: Hardstone

Credit Line: Lent by An Giang Province Museum, Long Xuyen, Vietnam

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