Shiva Lingam

Shiva Lingam is a smooth, egg-shaped stone of cryptocrystalline quartz, in the jasper and chalcedony family, collected from the Narmada river near the holy city of Omkareshwar (Ondkar Mandhata) in India. It is tied closely to Hindu worship and tradition, and it is prized by collectors for its earthy patterns and its story. See our Shiva Lingam collection for pieces.

In crystal lore, Shiva Lingam is a stone to carry through your day as a reminder to follow your natural intuition. People also keep one on a desk during work or study as a focus object, and it stands for balance across the chakra system. These are beliefs and traditions, not claims about what the stone does.

1. The Physical Properties of Shiva Lingam

Shiva Lingam is from the sedimentary rock family, composed of primarily silicon dioxide. It is a very hard stone coming to a seven on the Moh's hardness scale. The tones in which you will find this rock are generally earth tones such as brown, tan, Auburn, and creamy-white shades. Its physical characteristics make it similar to Chalcedony, Agate, and Jasper. These stones are often found in oval shapes and are hand polished and treated with oil before being sold. Its transparency is opaque, its luster is earthy and its gravity usually around 2.7.

2. The History of Shiva Lingam

This rare stone can be found only in the Narmada river in India. It is named after the god Shiva. The meaning of the name Shiva is the one in whom all creation sleeps after dissolution. It has a few others as follows; Banalingam, Bana Lingam, Banashivalingas, Bana Shiva Lingas, and Narmadeshvara. It values highly in India because of its history. People believe it is somehow a gift sent from the heavens. Collectors pride themselves in having this stone among their collection because of its engaging story and because of its rarity.

In Hindu tradition, the goddess Parvati is said to have shaped the Shiva Lingam stone out of the sand to the worship Shiva.

3. The Lore of Shiva Lingam

It is said that 14 million years ago a meteorite hit the area where Shiva Lingam is now found. It is the reason why it is considered to be a holy stone. It is said that the heat and force of the meteorite impact welded together the meteorite material and the natural rock where it made an impact.

What makes these stones so unique is that they are only gathered one day every year, and even then, only by respected community leaders who have ancestral rights. The day they are collected is at the start of the monsoon season.

4. The Metaphysical Properties of Shiva Lingam

In crystal lore, Shiva Lingam is a symbol of focus and concentration, and a reminder to listen to your intuition when you make a decision. Some people keep one as a touch of calm and energy on the desk. Because the stone represents Shiva, the one who gives and takes away, it is also a symbol of the creator inside each of us.