The German missionary to India Ferdinand Kittel (1832-1903), presented in 1876 with his Ueber den Ursprung des Lingakultus in Indien a study on the origins of the cult around the lingam in India. The lingam is a sacred object in Hinduism that represents the god Shiva and is considered a symbol of generative power. It is commonly found in Shaivite temples and private shrines across India and is often placed in the centre, surrounded by other deities. Unlike the sacred images of deities (murtis), the lingam is aniconic, being simply a cylindrical shape. It is typically paired with the yoni, a disk-shaped emblem of the goddess Shakti, to symbolize the union of the male and female principles and all of existence. T
Ferdinand Kittel was a missionary of the Basel Mission who made significant contributions to the study of the South Indian language Kannada through his linguistic work. Between the ages of 17 and 21, Kittel attended the Basel Mission Seminary. In 1853, he was sent to India. Unlike other missionaries, he focused more on the language and culture of the local population, leading to the creation of a Kannada dictionary that was published in 1894 with around 30,000 entries.
The upper bolts have remained unopened. Slightly browned and foxed throughout, including the wrappers. Overall in good condition. WorldCat 7523778.