Close-up of the national treasure Ekamukhalinga in My Son

(TNO) Ekamukhalinga, a linga shaped like the head of the god Siva, in My Son ( Quang Nam ), was recognized as a national treasure in January 2015 after being found by chance during a heavy rain at My Son E1 tower.

According to researchers, the linga idol with a human face is called Mukhalinga. The lingas with a number of human faces have different names such as: Trimukhalinga (linga with 3 faces), Chaturamukhalinga (4 faces), Panchamukhalinga (5 faces). The treasure discovered at My Son in November 2012 is called Ekamukhalinga, because this is a linga with 1 face of the god Siva.

Thanh Nien Online introduces some information and images related to the process of discovering, preserving and promoting this treasure.

Close-up of the Ekamukhalinga treasure 1 Ekamukhalinga after being discovered, was put into storage at My Son. The artifact dates from the 7th - 8th century, is 126 cm high, and consists of 3 equal sections. The lower section has a square base (Brahmabhaga), the middle section has an octagonal base (Visnubhaga), and the upper section is cylindrical, slightly curved at the top (Rudrabhaga).

Close-up of the Ekamukhalinga treasure 2 The head of the Siva statue is carved in one piece with the linga, 23 cm high, 13.5 cm wide, and the bun is 5.5 cm high. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Ngo Van Doanh (Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences), the face of the god Ekamukhalinga has a wonderful shape, very natural and lively, which is the shaping quality of the My Son E1 sculpture style.

Close-up of the Ekamukhalinga treasure 3 Ekamukhalinga (in glass cage) was first introduced to the public in November 2013, and on January 13, 2015, the Prime Minister signed a decision to recognize it as a national treasure.

Close-up of the Ekamukhalinga treasure 4

Close-up of the Ekamukhalinga treasure 5 The discovery of Ekamukhalinga was considered quite accidental at the northeast corner of tower E1 after a heavy rain. The staff of the My Son Monuments and Tourism Management Board dug carefully so as not to damage the artifacts.