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

99.70%

Al2o3(max) 500 ppm

500 ppm

150 ppm

99.60% 99%
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500 ppm
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500
700 ppm
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98%
700 ppm
700 ppm

Lumps sizes1" TO 15"

Chips sizes 8mm to 1" in different fractions as required
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Whiteness 95 to 98%
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Jumbo bag, 50 kg, 25 kg paper
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Bulk bag, 50 kgs, 25 kgs
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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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Swimming pool: Swimming pools also make use of quartz

material.

Gem Stones: Gem stones are widely made of quartz material

which looks beautiful to wear.

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Sand provided by us can be availed at market leading price range. Our
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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 HM Symbol 32

a = 4.9133 , c = 5.4053 ; 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
-quartz: trigonal trapezohedral
Crystal system
class 3 2; -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 2.592.63 in impure
Specific gravity
varieties
Optical
Uniaxial (+)
properties
n = 1.5431.545
Refractive index
n = 1.5521.554
Birefringence +0.009 (B-G interval)
Pleochroism
None
1670 C ( tridymite)
Melting point
1717 C ( 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 siliconoxygen 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]

1 Crystal habit and structure

o 1.1 -quartz and -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

7 External links

[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] -quartz and -quartz

Crystal structure of -quartz

-quartz
-quartz crystallizes in the trigonal crystal system, space group P3121 or P3221. -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 -quartz and quartz are examples of chiral crystal structures composed of achiral building blocks (SiO4
tetrahedra in the present case). The transformation between - and -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 350-450C 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 tvrd ("hard"),
Polish twardy ("hard")).[20] Quarz (helpinfo),[21] which is of Slavic origin (Czech miners
called it kemen). 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 passage 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 ,
"ice".) He supported 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 siliconoxygen
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

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: ) 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]