The principal symbolic representation of the Hindu deity Shiva, a phallic-shaped emblem. The female equivalent is the yoni, the shaped image of the female genitalia.
The Lingam (also, Linga; Sanskrit लिङ्गं liṅgaṃ, meaning "mark," or "sign," ) is used as a symbol for the worship of the Hindu god Shiva.
Etymology
The term, "linga" has many meanings, generally as a mark.It's gravest misinterpretation is to relate it to a penis by its shape more so by western philosophers.But strictly it refers to a mark and can be elaborated as a Godly mark - the Lingam itself or mark of man - purusha linga or mark of a woman - sthree linga (yoni).
Swami Sivananda, said that in Sanskrit,“the linga means a mark”.
In his book Hindu Dharma, Bansi Pandit said that the word linga is derived from the two Sanskrit words laya (dissolution) and agaman (recreation).
Shivling (6543m) is also a mountain in Uttaranchal (the Garwhal region of Himalayas).
The word is first attested in the Brahmanas, with general meanings of "sign, mark, characteristic" .
Interpretations
Various interpretations on the origin and symbolism of the Shiva lingam obtain. While the Tantras and Puranas deem the Shiva lingam a phallic symbol representing the regenerative aspect of the material universe, the Agamas and Shastras do not elaborate on this interpretation, and the Vedas fail altogether to mention the Lingam.
Lingam as a symbol of creation
Hinduism conceptualizes Brahman, the supreme power, as having three main roles: that of God the Creator, God the Preserver and God the Destroyer. Thus, it is Shiva, the destructive form of the Almighty, who is represented by the Lingam or Mark, which is manifestly the CREATIVE power of Divinity. This points to an origin of the tradition of using the Lingam as a divine symbol that is utterly sublime Light(Jyoti) in its philosophical underpinnings.
Tantra
Tantra is the definition provided by the actual energy of the lord.
Lingam as an abstract symbol of God
Some knowledgeable interpreters of Hindu scripture believe the lingam to be merely an abstract symbol, and point out that Lingams in many of the more important temples are not of the shape described above. Furthermore, many are the instances in Hindu lore where a sundry rock or pile of sand has been used by heroic personages as a Lingam or symbol of Shiva.
Sri K. Thirugna Sambantha, in his web site of Saivism, , explains that the Siva lingam is the rup-arupa because it is neither a manifested form, nor is it formless.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami explains in the lexicon section of his book, Dancing with Siva, that "Sivalinga is the most prevalent icon of Siva, found in virtually all Siva temples.
As a Veerashaivite follower in this site, said, "Linga is the amorphous representation of Shiva and can be regarded as the highest emblem of Shiva because of its least anthrophomorphic nature."
Swami Sivananda, states that the linga represents the formless, attributeless Nirguna Brahman or the formless Supreme Being Lord Siva, who is the indivisible, all-pervading, eternal, auspicious, ever-pure, immortal essence of this vast universe, the undying soul seated in the chambers of your heart, and the Indweller, innermost Self or Atman and who is identical with the Supreme Brahman.
He further holds that although the Agamas do not derive their authority from the Vedas, the two are not mutually antagonistic. In this point of view, the conceptualization of the lingam as a phallic symbol does not carry much weight, since the Vedas &
This interpretation came to a lay devotee researching on Siva linga.Briefly, the Siva Linga is the figurative representation of 'OM', which is the sound representation of Brahman.The detailed
explanation is as follows.
'OM' has five attributes namely1)A, 2)U, 3)M, 4)the sound sphota or 'BINDU' which takes on the first three letter sounds due to a coordinated action in the mouth.
'LINGA'has five attributes namely, 1)the bottom portion usually square section .This is 'BRAHMA' portion and equivalent to sound 'A' in 'OM'.,2)the middle circular portion.This is 'VISHNU' portion, and equivalent to sound 'U' in 'OM'.,3)the top cylindrical portion ending in an approximate spherical shape at the top.This is 'RUDRA' portion and equivalent to sound 'M'in 'OM'.,4)the topmost point in the spherical shape which is in contact with space. It can be imagined that a single dot or 'BINDU' emerged in Akasa and traversed to make the figure of 'LINGA' as a whole.This is 'ISHWARA' portion and equivalent to 'BINDU' in "OM'.5)the SPACE containing only the LINGA figure is 'SADASIVA'portion and is equivalent to 'NADA' in 'OM'.
The space of the Universe in which the LINGA exists ,is 'PARA BRAHMAN' and corresponds to the SILENCE in which 'OM" emanates.
Ancient Lingams
Lingams have been recovered from the Indus Valley Civilization archeological sites at Harappa and Mohenjodaro.
A naturally occurring lingam
A lingam at Amarnath in the western Himalayas forms every winter from ice dripping on the floor of a cave and freezing like a stalagmite.
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