India 17th - 18th c Hindu Shiva Lingam sculpture in marble

Indian Hindu pre 18th c grey marble sculpture of a shiva lingam , this piece was used for centuries in a shrine and the erosion on the Yoni top attests to its great age. A bit of information of this type of sculpture. For a sincere devotee, the Linga is not merely a block of stone. It is all-radiant - talks to him, raises him above body-consciousness, and helps to communicate with the Lord. Lord Rama worshiped the Shiva Linga at Rameshwaram. Ravana, the learned scholar, worshiped the golden Linga for its mystical powers.Based on the teachings of Swami Sivananda. size L12" W 7" H 9" weight 18 pounds. This is from a California collection we purchased 15 years ago and it was formed in the 1960s