Linga Cover with Four Faces of Shiva (Caturmukhalinga)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Metal linga covers (kosha; literally, "sheath") have played a part in the worship of the Hindu deity Shiva since antiquity. The four faces of Shiva on this cover, each pointing toward a cardinal direction, evoke different aspects of the deity. This type of cover is sometimes described as a five-faced linga (ekhamukhalinga); the fifth face is understood rather than represented and thought to be facing skyward.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art