Shiva-Patra, a Ritual Vessel

The inverted minaret-shaped vessel has a bull-head shaped gargoyle at the lower end from which water filled in the vessel would drip drop by drop. The vessel is hung over a brass or stone linga, the phallus symbol of Shiva, which keeps getting lustrated by water or milk dripping over it from the mouth of the bull attached to the vessel.
Worship of linga, the phallus symbol of Shiva is an ancient Indian religious practice. The adherents of the lingayata sect of Karnataka even wear a miniature linga in a silver casket in their neck. Though the worship of linga is common among the Shaivaite Hindus all over India, it is especially popular in southern India.