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Lingam or Linga is the Sanskrit word for mark. As well as being used as a symbol for the worship of the Hindu God Shiva, the term is also used for a representation of the male sexual organ. A stone lingam is a naturally occurring ovular stone, also associated with Hinduism. The term is not used in the Vedas but used frequently in the Mahabharata.

The linga (sign) is a symbol of Shiva, just as the cross (logos) is a symbol of Christ. The linga is not a symbol of the penis, but instead represents the fertility of Nature.

Since God is without form, the linga represents Shiva or God. Many educated Hindus consider it wrong to worship images of Shiva himself. Other occurences of this practise occur in Arabia with the Black Stone of Mecca, the Omphalos of the Greeks, and the Ben Ben stones of Heliopolis, Egypt.

Commentary

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. It is a rounded, elliptical, aniconic image, usually set on a circular base, or pitha. The Sivalinga is the simplest and most ancient symbol of Siva, especially of Parasiva, God beyond all forms and qualities. The pitha represents Parashakti, the manifesting power of God. Lingas are usually of stone (either carved or naturally existing, svayambhu, such as shaped by a swift-flowing river), but may also be of metal, precious gems, crystal, wood, earth or transitory materials such as ice. According to the Karana Agama (6), a transitory Sivalinga may be made of 12 different materials: sand, rice, cooked food, river clay, cow dung, butter, rudraksha seeds, ashes, sandalwood, dharba grass, a flower garland or molasses."

As Shri K. Thirugna Sambantha, in his excellent web site of Saivism, , explains it, the Siva linga is the ruparupa aspect because it is not any manifested form of Siva, nor is it formless, because the linga is a concrete piece of stone, that is an emblem of God. Thus, it is intermediate between the formless Absolute, which is beyond the sensory perception of man and manifest forms of Siva.

See also yoni.

External links

Swami Sivananda's explanation about Linga being a Symbol of Shiva:

• The Siva-Linga: A Symbol Which Points To An Inference.
• Linga, symbol of Shiva, God who is formless, attributeless and omnipresent.

References

• Schumacher, Stephan and Woerner, Gert The encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and religion, Buddhism, Taoism, Zen, Hinduism Shambala, Boston, (1994) ISBN 0-87773-980-3

• Hinduism
• Shaivism