Sphatik Details i64e

According to the Indian astrology quartz crystal is called Sphatik. The name Sphatik comes from German word "Quartz", which is also called Slavic origin - Czech miners called it krem. Some of people say about the name arises from Saxon word "Querkluftertz" which means cross-vein ore. This Crystal is from the Greek word krystallos means ice. Some of the believer says that rock crystal was formed from ice. According to the Australian native mythology Sphatik is known as magical substance "maban". A Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder supposed that Sphatik was permanently frozen ice quartz which was originated near glaciers in the Alps and large crystals. They were formed into spheres to cool the hands.

Sphatik or quartz crystal is supposed to be the purest gem amongst all other Gems.

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Quartz

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We are one of the prime Manufacturers and Exporters of high quality Quartz. Our highly sophisticated manufacturing unit enables us to produce high quality end product which is in match with international standard. To ensure its quality, we conduct strict quality checks under the company norms. Our wide range of offerings includes Quartz Grits, Quartz Silica Sand, Quartz Powder and Transparent Quartz Lumps. We provide Quartz at highly affordable price range to suit the client’s requirement.

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Quartz o

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MANTRA MINERALS PVT. LTD. QUARTZ A grade Physical CLEAN STONE WITHOUT Apperance BLACK, RED & MUD PATCHES ON THE SURFACE & OTHER

B grade C grade THE RAW SURFACE UNTREATED MAY STONE AS IT CONTAIN IS MINED

Transparent Quartz Lumps Quartz Powder Quartz Silica Sand Quartz Grits

VISIBLE IMPURITIES Types

Transparent

SOME RED &

FROM THE QUARRY

Semi Milky transparent White

Chemical Specs SiO2 (min) 99.80% Fe203 100 ppm (max)

99.70%

Al2o3(max) 500 ppm

500 ppm

150 ppm

99.60% 99% 200 500 ppm ppm 500 700 ppm ppm

98% 700 ppm 700 ppm

Lumps sizes1" TO 15" Chips sizes 8mm to 1" in different fractions as required 0.1-0.4mm, 0.3-0.7mm, 0.61.2mm, 1.2-2.5mm, 2.530-80#, 50-150#, 16-32# ; Grits sand 4.0mm, 4.0-6.0mm, 5.0-8.0mm 3 to 150 mesh as per sizes ; 3 to 150 mesh as per customer requirements customer requirements Powder 150 to 500 mesh ; upto 37 150 to 500 mesh ; upto 37 sizes micron micron Whiteness 95 to 98% 92% + 88% + Jumbo bag, 50 kg, 25 kg paper Packing Bulk bag, 50 kgs, 25 kgs bags

Industrial applications of Quartz  

Engineering stone: Quartz is widely made into use for Engineeringn stone. Refractories: Refractories have been putting into use quartz at a large scale which increases its value.

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Glassmaking: Quartz sand is the primary component of all types of standard and specialty glass. It provides the essential SiO2 component of glass formulation and its chemical purity is the primary determinant of color, clarity and strength.

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Solar Glass: Quartz has also been put into use for making Solar Glass.

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Metal Casting: Quartz is an essential part of the ferrous and non-ferrous foundry industry. Metal parts ranging from engine blocks to sink faucets are cast in a sand and clay mold to produce the external shape, and a resin bonded core that creates the desired internal shape.

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Metallurgical: Quartz plays a critical role in the production of a wide variety of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. In metal production, Quartz sand operates as a flux to lower the melting point and viscosity of the slags to make them more reactive and efficient. Lump Quartz is used either alone or in conjunction with lime to achieve the desired base/acid ratio required for purification. These base metals can be further refined and modified with other ingredients to achieve specific properties such as high strength, corrosion resistance or electrical conductivity. Ferroalloys are essential to specialty steel production, and industrial sand is used by the steel and foundry industries for de-oxidation and grain refinement.

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Chemical Production: Silicon-based chemicals are the foundation of thousands of everyday applications ranging from food processing to soap and dye production. In this case, SiO2 is reduced to silicon metal by coke in an arc furnace, to produce the Si precursor of other chemical processes. Quartz is the main component in chemicals such as sodium Quartzte, silicon tetrachloride and silicon gels. These chemicals are used in products like household and industrial cleaners, to manufacture fiber optics and to remove impurities from cooking oil and brewed beverages.

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Building Products: Quartz is the primary structural component in a wide variety of building and construction products. Whole grain Quartz is put to use in flooring compounds, mortars, specialty cements, stucco, roofing shingles, skid resistant surfaces and asphalt mixtures to provide packing density and flexural strength without adversely affecting the chemical properties of the binding system.

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Paint and Coatings: Paint formulators select micron-sized industrial sands to improve the appearance and durability of architectural and industrial paint and coatings. High purity Quartz contributes critical performance properties such as brightness and reflectance, color consistency, and oil absorption.

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Ceramics & Refractories: Ground Quartz is an essential

component of the glaze and body formulations of all types of ceramic products, including tableware, sanitary ware and floor and wall tile. In the ceramic body, Quartz is the skeletal structure upon which clays and flux components attach. Quartz products are also used as the primary aggregate in both shape and monolithic type refractories to provide high temperature resistance to acidic attack in industrial furnaces. 

Epoxy molding component: Quartz is widely used in manufacturing Epoxy molding components.

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Cement: In cement firms also quartz is made into use widely.

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Swimming pool: Swimming pools also make use of quartz material.

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Gem Stones: Gem stones are widely made of quartz material which looks beautiful to wear.

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Quartz From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the mineral. For the quartz-based component in a crystal oscillator, see Crystal oscillator. For other uses, see Quartz (disambiguation).

Quartz

Quartz crystal cluster from Tibet General Category Silicate mineral Formula Silica (silicon dioxide, SiO ) 2

(repeating unit)

Strunz

04.DA.05

classification Dana classification Crystal symmetry Unit cell

75.01.03.01 Trigonal H–M Symbol 32

a = 4.9133 Å, c = 5.4053 Å; Z = 3 Identification From colorless to black, through Color various colors 6-sided prism ending in 6-sided Crystal habit pyramid (typical), drusy, finegrained to microcrystalline, massive α-quartz: trigonal trapezohedral Crystal system class 3 2; β-quartz: hexagonal 622[1] Common Dauphine law, Brazil law Twinning and Japan law Cleavage {0110} Indistinct Fracture Conchoidal Tenacity Brittle Mohs scale 7 – lower in impure varieties hardness (defining mineral) Vitreous – waxy to dull when Luster massive Streak White Diaphaneity Transparent to nearly opaque 2.65; variable 2.59–2.63 in impure Specific gravity varieties Optical Uniaxial (+) properties n = 1.543–1.545 Refractive index ω nε = 1.552–1.554 Birefringence +0.009 (B-G interval) Pleochroism None 1670 °C (β tridymite) Melting point 1717 °C (β cristobalite)[1] Insoluble at STP; 1 ppmmass at Solubility 400 °C and 34 bar to 2600 ppmmass at 500 °C and 103 bar[1] Piezoelectric, may be Other triboluminescent, chiral (hence characteristics optically active if not racemic) [2][3][4][5] References

Quartz is an abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz, several of which are semi-precious gemstones. Throughout the world, varieties of quartz have been, since antiquity, the most commonly used minerals in the making of jewelry and hardstone carvings.

Contents [hide]

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1 Crystal habit and structure o 1.1 α-quartz and β-quartz 2 Occurrence o 2.1 Related silica minerals o 2.2 Synthetic quartz 3 Uses o 3.1 Piezoelectricity o 3.2 Gemstone and lapidary varieties  3.2.1 Coarsely crystalline varieties  3.2.1.1 Citrine  3.2.1.2 Ametrine  3.2.1.3 Rose quartz  3.2.1.4 Amethyst  3.2.1.5 Smoky quartz  3.2.1.6 Milky quartz  3.2.2 Microcrystalline varieties  3.2.3 Varieties (according to microstructure)  3.2.4 Synthetic and artificial treatments 4 History of naming and usage 5 See also 6 References

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7 External links

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[edit] Crystal habit and structure Quartz belongs to the trigonal crystal system. The ideal crystal shape is a six-sided prism terminating with six-sided pyramids at each end. In nature quartz crystals are often twinned, distorted, or so intergrown with adjacent crystals of quartz or other minerals as to only show part of this shape, or to lack obvious crystal faces altogether and appear massive. Well-formed crystals typically form in a 'bed' that has unconstrained growth into a void, but because the crystals must be attached at the other end to a matrix, only one termination pyramid is present. There are exceptions as doubly terminated crystals do occur. An occurrence in Herkimer County, New York is noted for these Herkimer

diamonds with terminations at both ends. A quartz geode is such a situation where the void is approximately spherical in shape, lined with a bed of crystals pointing inward.

[edit] α-quartz and β-quartz

Crystal structure of α-quartz

β-quartz α-quartz crystallizes in the trigonal crystal system, space group P3121 or P3221. β-quartz belongs to the hexagonal system, space group P6222 or P6422.[6] These space groups are truly chiral (they each belong to the 11 enantiomorphous pairs). Both α-quartz and βquartz are examples of chiral crystal structures composed of achiral building blocks (SiO4 tetrahedra in the present case). The transformation between α- and β-quartz only involves a comparatively minor rotation of the tetrahedra with respect to one another, without change in the way they are linked, this process is called the quartz inversion.

[edit] Occurrence Quartz is an essential constituent of granite and other felsic igneous rocks. It is very common in sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and shale and is also present in variable amounts as an accessory mineral in most carbonate rocks. It is also a common constituent of schist, gneiss, quartzite and other metamorphic rocks. Because of its resistance to weathering it is very common in stream sediments and in residual soils. Quartz, therefore, occupies the lowest potential to weather in the Goldich dissolution series. Quartz occurs in hydrothermal veins as gangue along with ore minerals. Large crystals of quartz are found in pegmatites. Well-formed crystals may reach several meters in length and weigh as much as 1,400 pounds (640 kg).[7] Naturally occurring quartz crystals of extremely high purity, necessary for the crucibles and other equipment used for growing silicon wafers in the semiconductor industry, are expensive and rare. A major mining location for high purity quartz is the Spruce Pine Gem Mine in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, United States.[8]

[edit] Related silica minerals Tridymite and cristobalite are high-temperature polymorphs of SiO2 that occur in highsilica volcanic rocks. Coesite is a denser polymorph of quartz found in some meteorite impact sites and in metamorphic rocks formed at pressures greater than those typical of the Earth's crust. Stishovite and Seifertite are yet denser and higher-pressure polymorphs of quartz found in some meteorite impact sites. Lechatelierite is an amorphous silica glass SiO2 which is formed by lightning strikes in quartz sand.

[edit] Synthetic quartz Most quartz used in microelectronics is produced synthetically. Large, flawless and untwinned crystals are produced in an autoclave via the hydrothermal process. The process involves treating crushed natural quartz with hot aqueous solution of a base such as sodium hydroxide. The hydroxide serves as a "mineralizer", i.e. it helps dissolve the "nutrient" quartz. High temperatures and pressures are required, typically 350-450°C and 1000-1500 atmospheres[9]. The dissolved quartz then recrystallizes at a seed crystal at slightly lower temperatures. Approximately 200 tons of quartz were produced in the US in 2005; large synthesis facilities exist throughout the world. Synthetic quartz is often evaluated on the basis of its Q factor, a measure of its piezoelectric response and an indicator of the purity of the crystal.[10]

A synthetic silicon dioxide crystal grown by the hydrothermal method, about 19 cm long and weighing about 127 grams High-temperature glass composed of silicon dioxide with no (or only small amounts of) other components is referred to as "quartz glass" or fused quartz, although it is amorphous in structure, rather than crystalline.

[edit] Uses Quartz is the source of many silicon compounds such as silicones (e.g. high performance polymers), silicon (e.g. microelectronics), and many other compounds of commercial importance. Quartz in the form of sand is reduced by carbothermic reaction as a first step in these energy-intensive processes.

Owing to its high thermal and chemical stability and abundance, quartz is widely used in many large-scale applications related to abrasives, foundry materials, ceramics, and cements.[10]

[edit] Piezoelectricity Quartz crystals have piezoelectric properties: they develop an electric potential upon the application of mechanical stress. An early use of this property of quartz crystals was in phonograph pickups. A common piezoelectric use of quartz today is as a crystal oscillator. The quartz clock is a familiar device using the mineral. The resonant frequency of a quartz crystal oscillator is changed by mechanically loading it, and this principle is used for very accurate measurements of very small mass changes in the quartz crystal microbalance and in thin-film thickness monitors. Quartz's piezoelectric properties were discovered by Jacques and Pierre Curie in 1880. The quartz oscillator or resonator was first developed by Walter Guyton Cady in 1921.[11] George Washington Pierce designed and patented quartz crystal oscillators in 1923.[12] Warren Marrison created the first quartz oscillator clock based on the work of Cady and Pierce in 1927.[13]

[edit] Gemstone and lapidary varieties The most important distinction between types of quartz is that of macrocrystalline (individual crystals visible to the unaided eye) and the microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline varieties (aggregates of crystals visible only under high magnification). [edit] Coarsely crystalline varieties Pure quartz, traditionally called rock crystal (sometimes called clear quartz), is colorless and transparent or translucent. Common colored varieties include citrine, rose quartz, amethyst, smoky quartz and milky quartz. [edit] Citrine

Citrine "Citrine" redirects here. For other uses, see Citrine (disambiguation). Citrine is a variety of quartz whose color ranges from a pale yellow to brown. Natural citrines are rare; most commercial citrines are heat-treated amethyst. Citrine contains

traces of Fe3+ and is rarely found naturally. The name is derived from Latin citrina which means "yellow".[14] [edit] Ametrine

For more details on this topic, see Ametrine. Ametrine (also trystine or amethyst citrine) is a bi-coloured quartz, composed of citrine and amethyst.[15] [edit] Rose quartz

Rose quartz crystals, Minas Gerais Rose quartz is a type of quartz that exhibits a pale pink to rose red hue. The color is usually considered as due to trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese in the massive material. Some types of quartz contain microscopic rutile needles that produce an asterism in transmitted light. Recent X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the color is due to thin microscopic fibers of possibly dumortierite within the massive quartz.[16] In crystal form (rarely found) it is called pink quartz and its color is thought to be caused by trace amounts of phosphate or aluminium. The color in crystals is apparently photosensitive and subject to fading. The first crystals were found in a pegmatite found near Rumford, Maine, US, but most crystals on the market come from Minas Gerais, Brazil.[17] [edit] Amethyst

Amethyst is a form of quartz that ranges from a bright to dark or dull purple color. [edit] Smoky quartz

Smoky quartz is a gray, translucent version of quartz. It ranges in clarity from almost complete transparency to a brownish-gray crystal that is almost opaque. [edit] Milky quartz

Milky quartz sample Milky quartz may be the most common variety of crystalline quartz and can be found almost anywhere. The white color may be caused by minute fluid inclusions of gas, liquid, or both, trapped during the crystal formation. The cloudiness caused by the inclusions effectively bars its use in most optical and quality gemstone applications.[18] Milky quartz is widely used as a decorative landscaping material by gardeners. [edit] Microcrystalline varieties The cryptocrystalline varieties are either translucent or mostly opaque, while the transparent varieties tend to be macrocrystalline. Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of silica consisting of fine intergrowths of both quartz, and its monoclinic polymorph moganite.[19] Other opaque gemstone varieties of quartz, or mixed rocks including quartz, often including contrasting bands or patterns of color, are agate, onyx, carnelian, and jasper. [edit] Varieties (according to microstructure) Although many of the varietal names historically arose from the color of the mineral, current scientific naming schemes refer primarily to the microstructure of the mineral. Color is a secondary identifier for the cryptocrystalline minerals, although it is a primary identifier for the macrocrystalline varieties. This does not always hold true. Macrocrystalline varieties Rock crystal Clear, colorless Amethyst Purple, transparent Citrine Yellow to reddish orange to brown, greenish yellow Prasiolite Mint green, transparent Rose quartz Pink, translucent Rutilated quartz Contains acicular (needles) inclusions of rutile Milk quartz White, translucent to opaque Smoky quartz Brown to gray, opaque Microcrystalline varieties Cryptocrystalline quartz and moganite mixture. The term is generally only Chalcedony used for white or lightly colored material. Otherwise more specific names are used.

Agate Onyx Jasper Aventurine Tiger's Eye Carnelian

Multi-colored, banded chalcedony, semi-translucent to translucent Agate where the bands are straight, parallel and consistent in size. Opaque cryptocrystalline quartz, typically red to brown Translucent chalcedony with small inclusions (usually mica) that shimmer. Fibrous gold to red-brown colored quartz, exhibiting chatoyancy. Reddish orange chalcedony, translucent

[edit] Synthetic and artificial treatments Not all varieties of quartz are naturally occurring. Prasiolite, an olive colored material, is produced by heat treatment; natural prasiolite has also been observed in Lower Silesia in Poland. Although citrine occurs naturally, the majority is the result of heat-treated amethyst. Carnelian is widely heat-treated to deepen its color.

[edit] History of naming and usage

Quartz crystal showing transparency The word "quartz" is derived from the German word "quarz" and its Middle High German ancestor "twarc", which probably originated in Slavic (cf. Czech tvrdý ("hard"), Polish twardy ("hard")).[20] Quarz (help·info),[21] which is of Slavic origin (Czech miners called it křemen). Other sources attribute the word's origin to the Saxon word Querkluftertz, meaning cross-vein ore.[22] Quartz is the most common material identified as the mystical substance maban in Australian Aboriginal mythology. It is found regularly in age tomb cemeteries in Europe in a burial context, such as Newgrange or Carrowmore in the Republic of Ireland. The Irish word for quartz is grian cloch, which means 'stone of the sun'. Quartz was also used in Prehistoric Ireland, as well as many other countries, for stone tools; both vein quartz and rock crystal were knapped as part of the lithic technology of the prehistoric peoples.[23] Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder believed quartz to be water ice, permanently frozen after great lengths of time. (The word "crystal" comes from the Greek word κρύσταλλος, "ice".) He ed this idea by saying that quartz is found near glaciers in the Alps, but not on volcanic mountains, and that large quartz crystals were fashioned into spheres to

cool the hands. He also knew of the ability of quartz to split light into a spectrum. This idea persisted until at least the 17th century. In the 17th century, Nicolas Steno's study of quartz paved the way for modern crystallography. He discovered that no matter how distorted a quartz crystal, the long prism faces always made a perfect 60° angle. Charles B. Sawyer invented the commercial quartz crystal manufacturing process in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. This initiated the transition from mined and cut quartz for electrical appliances to manufactured quartz. Most Quartz Crystals are worth as much as a grain of sand. Most sand is composed of minute crystals of Quartz. The make-up of Quartz is found in the Chemical formula of Silica or (silicon dioxide, SiO2). Pure quartz is colorless or white; colored varieties include rose quartz, amethyst, smoky quartz, milky quartz, and others. Quartz goes by an array of different names. The most important distinction between types of quartz is that of macrocrystalline (individual crystals visible to the unaided eye) and the microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline varieties (aggregates of crystals visible only under high magnification). Chalcedony is a generic term for cryptocrystalline quartz. The cryptocrystalline varieties are either translucent or mostly opaque, while the transparent varieties tend to be macrocrystalline. Although many of the varietal names historically arose from the color of the mineral, current scientific naming schemes refer primarily to the microstructure of the mineral. Color is a secondary identifier for the cryptocrystalline minerals, although it is a primary identifier for the macrocrystalline varieties. This does not always hold true. So in truth, Quartz is one of the most plentiful substances on Earth! Sphatikam (Quartz) also spelled as Sphadikam, pronounced/spelt as 'Spatika'/'Spatikam' in the South Indian/Dravidian languages, is the mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. Sphatikam is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. In short it comprise one part silicon and two parts oxygen. Quartz belongs to the trigonal crystal system. The ideal crystal shape is a six-sided prism terminating with six-sided pyramids at each end.

Sphatika Mala Sphatikam is the semi-precious gemstone. There are many different varieties of sphatikam. High quality quartz crystals are single-crystal silica with optical or electronic properties that make them suitable for hardstone carvings. The Hindu temples in South India use this semi-precious mineral for making Shiva Lingams. Sphatikam beads are made from translucent rose quartz are cut and polished as beads. Each bead is about ten millimeters in diameter. It is good conductor of heat. Hence people wear sphatikam jewelry (mala) to keep their body cool. Some other people claim that these beads have healing properties.

Contents [hide]       

1 Sphatika Lingam 2 Thillai Natarajah Temple, Chidambaram 3 Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai 4 Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram 5 Ekambaranathar Temple, Kanchipuram 6 Swetharanyeswarar Temple, Thiruvenkadu 7 Sankara Narayanan temple, Sankarankovil

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8 References

[edit] Sphatika Lingam In Hindu Shiva temples, Saiva Agamas allow to worship Lord Shiva in the form of Sphatika Lingam. Sphatika Lingam is representing the icon of Lord Nataraja. The Sphatika Lingams are protected in the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Shiva. Hindu priests offer Milk, Water, or Vhibuti consecrations to the Sphatika Lingam. They also chant 108 times Shiva Panchakshari Mantra. It is believed that Sphatika Lingam removes all curses and negative karma and will enhance ones confidence and power.

[edit] Thillai Natarajah Temple, Chidambaram

Chidambaram Temple Thillai Natarajah Temple, Chidambaram (Chidambaram Thillai Natarajar-Koothan Kovil or Chidambaram temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the town of Chidambaram (city), East-Central Tamil Nadu, South India. Chidambaram temple is considered as one of the most ancient and most celebrated of Shiva temples in India. Saivites attach great religious as well as historic and cultural significance with this temple. In this temple Lord Shiva is an embodiment of the infinite SKY. Chidambaram temple is associated with Lord Nataraja, or Shiva in his Ananda Tandava pose (the Cosmic Dance of bliss) in the cosmic golden hall (Ponnambalam) and the hall of consciousness (Chit Sabha). Lord Shiva is also worshipped in this temple as "formless form" and this fact is being understood as Chidambara Rahasyam. This temple is known for its Akasa Lingam, an embodiment of Shiva as the formless Space. The word "Koyil" or temple in the Tamil Saivite tradition refers to none other than the Chidambaram Nataraja temple.[citation needed] The Hindu monk Adi Sankara is said to have presented a Sphatika Lingam which is still under worship in this temple. This Sphatika Lingam, instituted at Chitsabha, is being represented as Lord Chandramauleeswara (A form of Lord Shiva). Also in the Chitsabha are images of Ratnasabhapati (Nataraja of Ruby), Swarnakarshana Bhairavar, Mukhalingam etc.

[edit] Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai

Madurai Meenakshi Temple

Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple[1][2] is a historic Hindu temple located in the south side of river Vaigai[3] in the temple city[4] of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Parvati who is known as Meenakshi and her consort, Shiva named here as Sundareswarar(beautiful deity). The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2500 year old city[5] of Madurai.[citation needed] The centuries old Sphatika Lingam held in this temple has developed cracks and hence a new six inch tall Spatika Lingam with the right specification has been brought from Himalayas. It is learned that this Lingam is worth over Rs.7.5 lakh. The new Sphatika Lingam will be the companion (Udaiyavar) to Lord Sundareswarar. The existing brass container of the Lingam will be replaced with golden container. The new silver consecration base (abhisheka peedam) weighing about 12 kg. is also getting ready for the formal ‘Prathishtam. The new Sphatika Lingam is getting consecrated on March 16, 2012.[6][7][8]

[edit] Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram Ramanathaswamy Temple Corridor

Ramanathaswamy Temple Gopuram Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the island of Rameswaram in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The Temple is also one of the 12 Jyothirlinga temples, where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam meaning "pillar of light". The temple is located in Rameshwaram, an island town in South India, considered a holy pilgrimage site for both Shaivites and

Vaishnavites.[citation needed] Ramanathaswamy temple was built during the 12th century[citation needed] and widely expanded during the Nayak period in the late 16th century. Ramanathaswamy temple is known for its longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India.[citation needed] In the first inner corridor, devotees offer worship to the venerated white Sphatika Lingam. The Sri Chakra (Sethu Peetam) and the Sphatika Lingam were instituted by the Hindu monk Adi Sankara. Sphatika lingam darshan is offered to the pilgrims during early morning hours i.e., morning between 5 and 6 am. It is a great experience.[9]

[edit] Ekambaranathar Temple, Kanchipuram

Ekambaranathar Temple, Kanchipuram Ekambaranathar Temple (Tamil: ஏககாம்பரநகாதர கககாயில) or Ekambareswarar Temple is a Saivite Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Kanchipuram in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Ekambaranathar Temple is the largest temple and is located in the northern part of the temple town Kanchipuram.[10] The temple gopuram (gateway tower) is 59m tall, which is one the tallest gopurams in India.[citation needed] This Saivite temple is one of the five major Shiva temples or Pancha Bootha Sthalams (each representing a primordial element) representing the element - Earth.[citation needed] The ursava deity Lord Ekambareswarar is seated in a glass sanctum sactorum with a roof decorated with rudraksha beads. Just in front of this shrine on the corridor, there another shrine with Sphatika Lingam along with the vehicle Nandi (Holy Bull). Offering prayer to this Sphatika Lingam will bring better appearance, confidence and fair thinking.[11]

[edit] Swetharanyeswarar Temple, Thiruvenkadu

Swetharanyeswarar Temple is the Hindu Shiva temple located in the town of Thiruvenkadu near Sirkazhi. The prime deity is Lord Swetharanyeswarar (lord of white forest) or Lord Shiva and His consort is goddess Brahma Vidya ambal. There is a separate Sannidhi for Bhudhan (mercury (planet). The temple is quite larger premises and all four important Saivite saints have sung hymns in praise of this lord.[citation needed] This temple has one rare Sphatika Lingam. Special worship services are offered to Natarajar and the associated Sphatika Lingam, as in Chidambaram.[12]

[edit] Sankara Narayanan temple, Sankarankovil Sankara Narayanan temple is located in the town Sankarankovil, Tirunelveli District and 56 km away from Thirunelveli City. It was built by Ukira Pandiyan AC 900. It houses the deity by the name Sankara Narayanan, which is half - Lord Shiva and the other half Lord Vishnu. "Adi Thabasu" is main festival at this temple. In older times, the city was called as Sankaranayinar kovil. Even now it is called as Sankaran Kovil. The deities of this temple are Sri Sankareswarar, Sri Gomathi Amman and Sri Sankara Narayanar.[citation needed]

Lord Shiva has agreed to perform consecration to Lord Vishnu. Therefore consecration is performed to the Sphatika Lingam present inside the sanctum sanctorum. One view is that the Sphatika Laingam was instituted by Adi Sankara and yet another view states that the Sphatika Lingam was established by Sri Narasimha Bharathi Swamy of Shringeri Mutt.[13]