Sandstone Hindu Temple at The British Museum, London

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This miniature temple consists of three distinct sections, showcasing the typical characteristics of later north Indian or nagara style temple architecture. Rising above a molded foundation, the central shrine of a Hindu temple features a small, square chamber with a single entrance. Inside stands an image of the temple's deity, in this case a linga, the symbolic phallic emblem of Shiva. Above the doorway is a small representation of Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, who often appears at the entrance to temples. Above the main shrine rises the shikhara or tower of the temple. The basic form of the tower is repeated in miniature on each side and at the diagonals, following the typical north Indian pattern. Designed to represent the sacred Mt. Meru, the cosmic mountain at the centre of the Hindu universe, the tower is a prominent feature of this temple. Groups of small shrines like this are frequently situated near rivers or other sacred places, representing donations by pious individuals with modest means. This shrine was likely purchased new by a European in Benares (Varanasi), the sacred Hindu city on the River Ganga, and was never consecrated. It was part of the museum of the East India Company by the 1850s and transferred to The British Museum in 1880. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory that creates a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open source community effort where anyone can contribute interesting items by emailing stw@myminifactory.com to find out how they can help.