Path: ultra.sonic.net!not-for-mail From: catherine yronwode Newsgroups: alt.magick.tantra,alt.lucky.w,alt.fan.kali.astarte.inanna,alt.magick.tyagi Subject: Re: Lingam stone? Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 20:03:30 -0800 Organization: Lucky Mojo Curio Co., Forestville, Cal. Lines: 80 Message-ID: <3769C515.612@luckymojo.com> References: <19990617202526.17093.00000873@ng-cs1.aol.com> <7kc4u4$euq$1@nnrp9.crl.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: d135.pm4.sonic.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01-C-MACOS8 (Macintosh; I; 68K) Xref: ultra.sonic.net alt.magick.tantra:9441 alt.lucky.w:3663 alt.fan.kali.astarte.inanna:1919 alt.magick.tyagi:17332 Nirrti (Tzimon) wrote: > > CPU Nutz wrote in message > <19990617202526.17093.00000873@ng-cs1.aol.com>... > > >What is a lingam stone? Where can I get one? > >Thanks, I am just beginning my trek in this area. > > If I understand what you're looking for, it's a naturally-produced > phallus-shaped (more or less) stone. If you live near a river or > ocean, you can find these pretty easily on the bank/beach. It's said > that the best kind are pure white, but any correctly-shaped stone will > do. It's nice if it's one solid color, but even this isn't a > necessity. > > If I'm understanding you, of course. If this isn't it, please explain > further. Those of us who deal with and collect Indian folkloric religious goods will give a slightly differeent answer. A lingam stone is (a) One of a set number (47? i forget) "self created" natural stones in the form of the Siva linga (phallus of Siva). Each one has a temple dedicated to it in India and members of certain Saivite sects make it a point to at least once in their lifetime make a pilgramage to each of the temples. (b) A naturally rounded river rock, usually carved to its final form of a Siva linga with hand-tools. The raw material itself comes from a particular vein of sedimentary rock found only in India, banded in wide layers of medium-grey and thin layers of ocher-red. Lingam stones are always formed so that the layering of colours runs horizontally around the stone when it is set upright. The best (and most costly ones) are mostly grey with a "cloud" of reddish-brown that does not run through the stone (that is, it circles only 1/2 to 2/3 of the circumferance) and is placed at about the 3/4 to the 7/8 mark from bottom to top. If the stone were a human head, the effect should be like the horizontal ash-streaks worn on the forehead by Saivite saddhus -- only colour-reversed, with brownish stripes on a greyish background. If the stone were a penis, the reddish marks might represent the marks of blood left on it after having sex with a menstruating woman. Lingam means both "penis" and "mark" -- so the colour-mark on the lingam stone is a pun on "lingam." These days, such stones are becoming hard to obtain, especially in the larger sizes. They have never been cheap, but the price rises geometrically as the size increases. A well-marked lingam stone the size of a turkey egg -- the average size used on a home altar such as mine -- is going to set you back at least 60 dollars. Tiny ones, made from the scraps left while forming large ones, are very cheap, though -- from 2 to 6 dollars. A lingam stone large enough that you'd need two hands to hold it -- a small temple-sized one -- will cost upwards of 400 to 500 dollars. Stones of the size used in larger Saivite temples are rarely found in the USA collectors' market; expect to pay 800 to 2,000 dollars if you can locate one. The Virashaivite sect has been especially given to using these stones as religious icons and -- despite their weight -- to wearing them in triple-pointed silver holders on cords around their necks. The central point of the holder opens to hold the stone and the two outer points hold sandalwood paste for performing puja. These holders average 4 - 8 inches across and 6 - 12 inches from top to bottom, and are pointed both top and bottom. Wearing them is not comfortable; it is a form of tapas or austerity. One can occasionally find antique examples of elaborate 18th and 19th century silver lingam holders in the USA -- they cost anywhere from 200 to 900 dollars, depending on size and workmanship. The cost of a stone would be additional, and it might take some selction to find a stone to fit any given holder, since the holders were made to fit the stones and not vice versa. . Lest Tzimon flame me for supplying prices in the above information, i hasten to add that at present my company does not sell lingam stones from India. I do have a probable source for them, however, should anyone wish to pursue this topic further by private e-mail. cat catherine yronwode ------------------------ mailto:cat@luckymojo.com Lucky Mojo Curio Co. http://www.luckymojo.com/luckymojocatalogue.html Lucky W Amulet Archive --------- http://www.luckymojo.com/luckyw.html news:alt.lucky.w --- discussions on folk magic, luck, amulets, charms