A Shiva lingam is a river-tumbled, egg-shaped stone from the Narmada River in India, mostly chalcedony stained by iron oxides. Carved or machine-polished pieces are sometimes sold under the name. We do not carry it.
Quartz (cryptocrystalline) · Chalcedony
Shiva Lingam
Shiva Lingam
- Palette
- Brown Gray Red
- Mined in
- India
- Hardness
- Mohs 7.0 ?
- See-through
- opaque
- Known since
- Prehistoric
- Named for
- Sanskrit linga, a sign or mark; the emblem of Shiva
- Also sold as
- Narmada stone, Narmadeshwar lingam, banalinga, bana linga, Narmada lingam
- Intention
- Protection Calm
- Looking for
- Protection Rest and meditation
- Water
- Fine with water and mild soap
- Dye or finish
- A Shiva lingam is usually a river-tumbled egg-shaped stone, mostly chalcedony, but many on the market are shaped and polished copies, and some are waxed for shine. Varies by lot.
Not in our pieces now
1,312 KM
The Narmada River, whose bed holds the sacred banalinga stones, runs about 1,312 kilometers (815 miles) across India to the Gulf of Khambhat.
BANALINGA
Banalinga are naturally shaped lingam stones found on the bed of the Narmada River in India.
GUDIMALLAM
The oldest known lingam is the Gudimallam Lingam in Andhra Pradesh, dated most widely to the 3rd to 1st century BCE.
What it is
A Shiva lingam is an egg-shaped or cylindrical river-tumbled stone, usually brown, gray, red or beige, with bands, streaks or darker markings. It is mainly cryptocrystalline quartz (chalcedony) stained by iron oxides and other inclusions, and the river does the shaping. Some sellers describe it as a jasper, so the labels are not consistent.
Where it comes from
They are collected from a stretch of the Narmada River bed in Madhya Pradesh, India.
What's said about it
In Hindu tradition, these stones are sacred: natural ones are regarded as forms of Shiva that arose without human hands. This belongs to the faith, and we pass it on with respect.
In crystal lore, people keep one in a place of honor and meditate with it, and it is thought of as a stone for protection.
It is kept in a quiet spot, in the hand or on a shelf.
How people wear or keep it: In a place of honor, in the hand while meditating, or on a shelf in a quiet space.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, shiva lingam is paired with the root chakra, so practitioners rest it there during meditation or lie down with it in place for a few quiet minutes. Day to day, the same tradition suggests keeping it close: in a place of honor, in the hand while meditating, on a shelf in a quiet space. People reach for it when they want protection, rest and meditation, and many set an intention when they put it on. Most practitioners cleanse a new stone first (running water only if the stone can take it, otherwise smoke or moonlight) and set it aside now and then to rest.
These are beliefs people have held and still hold about the stone, reported as such. Nothing here is a promise or a medical claim. We sell stones as jewelry, not for these effects.
Associations
The chakra and star sign this stone is usually matched with. These are popular traditions, not facts about the stone.
ChakraRoot
ZodiacScorpio
ElementFire
Also calledNarmada stone, Narmadeshwar lingam, banalinga
Care
- Chalcedony is hard (about 7) and not porous, so a quick rinse in water is fine; dry it afterward.
- Keep it away from hard knocks; a river-polished surface can chip at an edge.
- Polished or oiled pieces can differ from raw river stones, so avoid solvents and harsh cleaners.
- If it is a devotional object for you, many people keep it in a clean, quiet place and handle it respectfully.
How to tell what you have
- A bead or stone sold under this name may be a true river stone (chalcedony, hardness about 7), a carved copy, or dyed or waxed stone.
- Natural stones have an egg or cylinder shape with brown, grey, or red-brown banding and streaks that run through the stone.
- Look out for a greasy black shine that rubs off, drawn-on-looking patterns that stop at chips, and a weight that feels too light for a stone.
Rules and sourcing
Many Shiva lingam stones on the market are shaped and polished copies, and some are waxed for shine. The FTC jewelry guides call for a seller to disclose a wax and to say what the stone is.
Questions people ask at our table
What is a Shiva lingam stone?
It is an egg-shaped chalcedony pebble, a form of cryptocrystalline quartz, shaped naturally by the Narmada River in India. In Hindu tradition it is a sacred object connected to Shiva.
Is it a sacred object?
Yes, for Hindus who worship it, and we describe it as that tradition holds it, not as a claim of ours. It deserves respect as a religious object and not only as a decorative stone.
Is a Shiva lingam natural?
Stones from the Narmada River are natural, tumbled by the current. Pieces that are carved or machine-polished may be sold under the same name, so ask where a piece came from.
Is it a jasper?
Sellers disagree. Most describe it as chalcedony with iron-oxide staining and inclusions; some call it jasper. Both are quartz, so the difference is mostly in the label.
Do you carry Shiva lingam?
No, we do not carry it. Wood jasper, brown aventurine and muddy jasper are the earthy brown stones in our pieces.
Not in our pieces right now
Stones we do carry that are close to it are listed under related stones.
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