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"Linga" redirects here. For other uses, see Linga (disambiguation).
Somnath Jyotirlinga
Somnath Jyotirlinga

The Lingam (also, Linga, Shiva linga Sanskrit लिङ्गं liṅgaṃ, meaning "mark," or "sign,") is a symbol for the worship of the Hindu god Shiva. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva While its origins are debated, the use of this symbol for worship is an ancient tradition in India extending back at least to the early Indus Valley civilization. This article refers to the religious act For the album by Michael W India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Indus River { Sanskrit: सिन्धु Sindhu; Urdu: urd {{Nastaliq سندھ}} Sindh; Sindhi: snd

Contents

Etymology

The Sanskrit term लिङ्गं liṅgaṃ, transliterated as linga has many meanings, generally as a mark, sign, characteristic or phallus. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical [1][2] It has a number of specific uses in Sanskrit that are derived from this general meaning. Vaman Shivram Apte's dictionary gives seventeen definitions of the term, including these examples:

Nepalese stone linga dated 900-1000. On display at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, California.
Nepalese stone linga dated 900-1000. On display at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, California.

An example of the use of the word linga in general Sanskrit usage to represent the concept of "sign" occurs in this passage from the Bhagavad Gita:

kair liṅgais trīn guṇān etān | atīto bhavati prabho || 14. The word phallus can refer to an erect Penis, or to an object shaped like a penis 21 ||

This is translated by Swami Gambhirananda as "O Lord, by what signs is one (known) who has gone beyond these three qualities?"[3] and by Winthrop Sargeant as "By what marks is he recognized, Who has transcended these three qualities, O Lord?". [4] In this quotation the word liṅgais is the instrumental plural form of liṅga, so liṅgais means "by marks" or "by signs".

An example of use of the word linga as a technical term in philosophy is given in this passage from the Sāṃkhya-Kārikā which describes the role of attributes in recognition of objects perceived by the senses:

Perception is the ascertainment of objects [which are in contact with sense-organs]; inference, which follows on the knowledge of the characteristic mark (liṅga) [i. e. , the middle term] and that which bears the mark. . . . "[5]

The term lingam is sometimes used synonymously for shivalingam, a specific type of icon or altar representing the god Shiva. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva [6]

In Tamil ilingu literally means "home is here", denoting a mound of clay Goddess Uma made to symbolize Mount Kailas and worship God Siva in it.

Lingam as a symbol of Shiva

Stone lingam, Siemreap, Cambodia, 10th century (Musée Guimet, Paris)
Stone lingam, Siemreap, Cambodia, 10th century (Musée Guimet, Paris)

A. L. Basham says that linga have been found in the Harappan remains, and provides these comments relating to the antiquity of the symbol:

". Siem Reap City is the capital of Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. The Guimet Museum (French Musée national des Arts asiatiques-Guimet or Musée Guimet) is a museum of Asian art located at 6 place d'Iéna in the Professor Arthur Llewellyn Basham (24 May 1914&mdash27 January 1986 was a noted historian and Indologist and author of a number of books Harappa ( Urdu:, Hindi: हड़प्पा) is a City in Punjab, northeast Pakistan, about 35km (22 miles southwest . . Shiva was and still is chiefly worshipped in the form of the liṅga, usually a short cylindrical pillar with rounded top, which is the survival of a cult older than Indian civilization itself. . . . The cult of the liṅga, at all times followed by some of the non-Āryan peoples, was incorporated into Hinduism around the beginning of the Christian era, though at first it was not very important. "[7]

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami explains in the lexicon section of his book, Dancing with Shiva, that "Shivalinga is the most prevalent icon of Shiva, found in virtually all Shiva temples. An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. It is a rounded, elliptical, aniconic image, usually set on a circular base, or peetham. The lingam is the simplest and most ancient symbol of Shiva, especially of Parasiva, God beyond all forms and qualities. In Hinduism, Parasiva is the aspect of Siva, the Absolute which is beyond human comprehension and is beyond all attributes The Peetham represents Parashakti, the manifesting power of God. Pithe or Piţha are a kind of rice cuisine of Assam, Orissa, Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and the general Northeast Indian Shakti, meaning sacred force, power, or energy, is the Hindu concept or personification of the divine feminine aspect sometimes referred Lingas are usually of stone (either carved or naturally existing, swayambhu, 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. Swayambhu (also spelt Svayambhu) means Self-manifested or that which is created by its own accord According to the Karana Agama (6), a transitory Shivalinga may be made of 12 different materials: sand, rice, cooked food, river clay, cow dung, butter, rudraksha beads, ashes, sandalwood, darbha grass, a flower garland, or molasses. Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many Cow dung is the Waste of bovine animal species These species include domestic Cattle ("cows" Bison ("buffalo" Butter is a Dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented Cream or Milk. Rudraksha (Sanskrit rudrākṣa) ("Rudra-eyed" is the name of the dark berries of Elaeocarpus ganitrus, used to make prayer beads (Sanskrit for the film industry in India see Cinema of Karnataka Sandalwood is the name for several fragrant Woods and their Essential Cynodon dactylon ( Syn Panicum dactylon, Capriola dactylon) also known as dūrvā grass Bermuda Grass, Dubo Molasses or Treacle is a thick Syrup by-product from the processing of the Sugarcane or Sugar beet into Sugar. "

Furthermore, there are instances in Hindu lore where a rock or pile of sand has been used by heroic personages as a Lingam or symbol of Shiva. For example, Arjuna fashioned a lingam of clay when worshipping Shiva. Arjuna or Arjun ( Sanskrit: अर्जुन arjuna) is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, whose name Thus, it is argued, too much should not be made of the usual shape of the Lingam. This view is also consonant with philosophies that hold that God may be conceptualized and worshipped in any convenient form; the form itself is irrelevant, the divine power that it represents is all that matters.

Hindu interpreters often use the underlying meaning of "sign" or "mark" for the Sanskrit word linga as the basis for their commentaries. For example:

Western commentators often use the concept of "male generative organ" as the basis for their interpretations. For example: - - *Monier-Williams provides one definition for lingam as: "The male organ. . . esp. that of Siva worshipped in the form of a stone or marble column. . . "[9]. - - *Gavin Flood's An Introduction to Hinduism refers to the worship of Shiva "in his form as the Śiva liṅga or 'icon' found in most Hindu temples. The linga represents a phallus. . . "[10]

Interpretations

In Hindu Dharma, Bansi Pandit explains that "Shivalinga consists of three parts. The bottom part which is four-sided remains under ground, the middle part which is eight-sided remains on a pedestal and the top part which is actually worshipped is round. The height of the round part is one-third of its circumference. The three parts symbolize Brahma at the bottom, Vishnu in the middle and Shiva on the top. The pedestal is provided with a passage for draining away the water that is poured on top by devotees. The linga symbolizes both the creative and destructive power of the Lord and great sanctity is attached to it by the devotees. "

An open-air Hindu Lingam from Lepakshi
An open-air Hindu Lingam from Lepakshi

In Veerashaivism, Siva divides from His Absolute state into Linga (Supreme Lord) and anga, individual soul, the two eventually reuniting in undifferentiated oneness. Lepakshi is a small village located in the Anantapur District, in Andhra Pradesh, India. Lingayatism or Veerashaivism is a Hindu religious sect in India but a Dharma. There are three aspects of Sivalinga.

The soul (anga) merges with Siva(Linga) by a progressive, six-stage path called shatsthala. Shatsthala The concept of Shatsthala or six Phases/States/Paths is pivotal to the Lingayat philosophy This is called Shunyasampadane- earning eternal nothingness. Shunyasampadane are collected works of various Veerashaiva saints

According to Swami Dharmananda,[11] there is a mysterious power in the Linga, its shape has been designed to induce concentration of the mind. Just as the mind is focused easily in crystal-gazing, so also the mind attains one-pointedness, when it looks at the Linga. That is the reason why the ancient Rishis and the seers of India have prescribed Linga for being installed in the temples of Lord Shiva. [12]

The great warrior Arjuna in epic Mahabharata worshipped Linga for acquiring Pashupatasthra, great vedic scholar Ravana in epic Ramayana worshipped Shiva to present his mother Atmalinga, legendary rishi Markandeya and numerous rishis spread across timezones have worshipped the simplest looking Linga. Arjuna or Arjun ( Sanskrit: अर्जुन arjuna) is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, whose name For the South Indian film see Ravana (film. Ravanaa, also transliterated as Raavana, Ravan or The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki Markandeya ( Sanskrit: मार्कण्‍डेय is an ancient Rishi (sage from the Hindu tradition born in the clan of Brigu Rishi A rishi (ṛṣi denotes a Vedic poet by whom Vedic hymns were composed or according to post-Vedic tradition a "sage" to whom they were "originally revealed" (Ṛṣis Rishis used to leave all materialism to attain spirituality and a lump of soil in forest was what was required to worship and meditate.

Naturally occurring lingams

1008 Lingas carved on a rock surface. Photograph is taken at the shore of the river Tungabhadra, Hampi, India
1008 Lingas carved on a rock surface. Photograph is taken at the shore of the river Tungabhadra, Hampi, India

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. The Tungabhadra River is a sacred river in Southern India that flows through the states of Karnataka and part of Andhra Pradesh to merge with the larger Hampi ( Kannada: ಹಂಪೆ is a village in northern Karnataka state India. A stalagmite (from the Greek stalagma ("Σταλαγμίτης" "drop" or "drip" is a It is very popular with pilgrims.

There is a great connection in marking the forces of nature to be worshipped. The following description has various forms of nature being worshipped as Linga. Nature, in the broadest sense is equivalent to the natural world, physical universe, material world or material universe.

The Vedas speak of the Ashta Murthys’ (forms) of Lord Shiva. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. Sarva, Bhava, Rudra, Ugra, Bheema, Pasupathi, Mahadeva, Eashana are the eight Murthys of Shiva. Puranas explain the Adhistanas for these eight forms, which are Sarva for earth, Bhava for water, Rudra for fire, Ugra for wind, Bheema for space, Pasupathi for yajamana, Mahadeva for moon and Eashana for Sun. Shiva is also called Pasupathi i. e. Lord Shiva with his enormous grace on the Jeeva means pasu, cuts the Pasa or the string and makes it move free to join him with devotion. In this way, his name Pasupathi is more meaningful. Each of the following Kshethras (places) in India & Nepal connected to the Lord ’s eight forms, so that the devotee can know clearly how the ancient puranas took care to locate these places both geographically and spiritually. Shiva, Brahma puranas are the main sources .

The following forms or forces of nature are worshipped in their primal form only without any special idols representing them. Nature, in the broadest sense is equivalent to the natural world, physical universe, material world or material universe.

  1. Sarva :- Bhoomi Linga, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. Sarva is a Sanskrit word meaning all or everything and whole, complete. Kanchipuram, Kanchi, or Kancheepuram is a city and a Municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of It is in Shiva Kanchi Kshetra, where the Lord is in the form of Kshiti Linga in the Ekamra tree ( Aamra ( Mango in Sankrit) tree, which yield only one fruit per year). Parvathi worshipped this form first. There is no Abhisheka done with water at this shrine, jasmine oil is used instead. The Devi’s name here is Kamakshi. The goddess Kamakshi is a form of Tripura Sundari, who in turn is a form of the universal mother Goddess worshipped by Hindus. All the desires of the devotees are fulfilled with her gracious eyes.
  2. Bhava :- Jala Linga, Tiruvanaikoil, (Jambukeswaram), Tamil Nadu. Bhava is the Sanskrit and Pāli word for "becoming" in the sense of 'ongoing worldly existence' from the root bhū "to become" Thiruvanaikal or Thiruvanaikaval is a famous Shiva temple in Tiruchirapalli or Trichy India and adjacent to the Ranganathaswamy temple This temple is located on the outskirts of Trichy, where Lord Jambukeswara is seated and showers all his blessings to his devotees. This Kshethra is called Jambhukeswara Kshetra, also known as Jala Linga. The devotees can see from the outside of Garbha Gruha the water bubbles coming out from Panipetham. There is a Jambu tree, which is very old and very big. The legends say Lord Shiva wanted to stay here along with the Jambu tree. So the devotees treat this tree as sacred as the Lord.
  3. Rudra:- Agni or Thejo (Divine Light) Linga, Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu – Arunachaleswara. Rudra ( Sanskrit: रुद्रः is a Rigvedic god of the storm the wind and the hunt Agni is a Hindu and Vedic deity. The word agni is Sanskrit for "fire" (noun cognate with Latin ignis WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Thiruvannamalai (திருவண்ணாமலை is a pilgrimage town and Municipality in Thiruvannamalai In Tiruvannamalai, Lord Shiva is seated in the form of Thejolinga. The whole mountain appears to be a Linga. As a result of Parvathi’s great penance, a sharp spark of fire came from Arunachala and took shape as Arunalinga.
  4. Ugra:- Vayu Linga, Sri Kalahasti, Andhra Pradesh. In Hinduism Vayu ( Sanskrit: वायु, IAST: Vāyu Malay: Bayu Thai: Phra Pai is a primary deity the father of WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Srikalahasti is a town and a Municipality near Tirupati in the Indian state The Sri Kalahasteeswara temple is situated on the banks of Swarna Mukhi River in Sri Kalahasti. Spiritually elevated souls only can see that there is a strong wind blowing around the Linga. Bhakta Kannappa story is connected to this temple. Even animals got salvation by worshipping this Lord. Three animals – Cobweb (Sree), Kala (snake), Hasthi (elephant) prayed to God with utmost faith and devotion and attained Moksha. One can see the symbols there on the Shiva Linga even today
  5. Bheema:- Akasha Linga, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. Vedic Meaning Akasha (or Akash, Ākāśa, sa आकाश is the Sanskrit word meaning " aether " in both WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Chidambaram is a Municipality and taluk ( Tehsil) headquarters in the Cuddalore district This Kshetra is on the banks of Cauvery. We don’t see any Murthy in the temple Garbha Gruha. The puranas speak of this Kshetra very highly. No one can see the Lord’s Murthy, except the highest spiritual souls. There is a space in the Garbha Gruha and many Abharanas are decorated and the devotees assume the God is seated there. A very beautiful Nataraja murthy is in outer Garbha Gruha for worship and for the satisfaction of the devotees.
  6. Pasupathi:- Yajamana(Lord) Linga, Kathmandu, Nepal. Shree Pashupatinath ( Hindi / Nepali: श्री पशुपतिनाथ is an Avatar of Hindu Lord Shiva. Kathmandu (काठमांडौ येँ is the Capital and the largest city of Nepal. In Nepal, Pasupathinadha Kshetra is famous and the Lord here is in human form. The devotee can see the God up to his waist only. The Murthy is decorated with Gold Kavacha always. Nobody can enter into the Garbha Gruha except the Archaka (not even the King of Nepal). Many devotees from all over the globe pray to this Lord with highest devotion and get their wishes fulfilled.
  7. Mahadeva:- Chandra Linga, West Bengal. In Hinduism, Chandra (lit "shining is a Lunar deity and a Graha. West Bengal ( Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchim Bônggo poʃtʃim bɔŋgo is a state in eastern India. Chandra natha Linga is situated in West Bengal 34 miles away from Chatagav City. Many sacred thirthas surround this Kshetra. Devi purana lauded this Kshethra greatly. Devi ( Devanagari: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism.
  8. Eashana:- Surya Linga, Konark Temple, Orissa. In Hinduism, Surya ( Devanagari: सूर्य sūrya, lit "the Supreme Light" Malay: Suria; Thai: WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Konark ( Sanskrit: कोनार्क) is a small town in Puri district of Orissa (ଓଡ଼ିଶା is a state located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. This Kshetra is in Orissa state near Puri Jagannath Kshetra. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Puri is a city in the east Indian state of Orissa. Konark is now in ruins and the temple is in fragments and now, devotees can’t see any God or Goddess here. The legend says that Sri Krishna’s son Samba suffered once from leprosy and was cured by worshipping the Sun God and the Linga here and since then this Kshetra became a remedy center for all diseases. Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism Even in these days the worship is going on with same faith and devotion.

The Bijileshwar Mahadev[13](incidence of Vasishta in Rigveda) absorbs lightening and breaks into pieces, is then restored by butter every 12 years. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Vasistha ( Sanskrit: वसिष्ठ in Hindu mythology was one of the Saptarishis (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in the seventh i The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge"

Shivling (6543m) is also a mountain in Uttarakhand (the Garwhal region of Himalayas). Shivling is a mountain in the Gangotri Group of peaks in the western Garhwal Himalaya, near the snout of the Gangotri Glacier. Uttarakhand ( Hindi: उत्तराखण्ड or उत्तराखंड Uttar + Akhand i It arises as a sheer pyramid above the snout of the Gangotri Glacier. Gangotri Glacier is located in Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand, India in a region bordering China. The mountain resembles a shivling when viewed from certain angles, especially when travelling or trekking from Gangotri to Gomukh as a part of a traditional Hindu pilgrimage.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Vaman Shivram Apte. Over the millennia of its development Hinduism has adopted several iconic symbols, forming part of Hindu iconography, that are imbued with spiritual meaning based Lingayatism or Veerashaivism is a Hindu religious sect in India but a Dharma. The word yoni (Sanskrit योिन yoni) is the Sanskrit word for "divine passage" "place of birth" "womb" in the sense of 'source In the Devanāgarī script, the danda (दंड daṃḍa lit The axis mundi (also cosmic axis, world axis, world pillar and center of the world) is a ubiquitous symbol that crosses human cultures A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary. pp. 816-17.
  2. ^ Monier-Williams. A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. p. 901. view page online
  3. ^ Swami Gambhirananda. Bhagavadgītā. With the commentary of Sankaracarya. (Advaita Ashrama: Calcutta, Fourth Reprint 1997) ISBN 81-7505-150-7.
  4. ^ Sargeant, Winthrop. The Bhagavad Gītā. (State University of New York Press: Albany, New York, 1994). ISBN 0-87395-830-6.
  5. ^ Quotation from the Sāṃkhya-Kārikā as translated in: Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and Charles A. Moore. A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy. (Princeton University Press: Princeton, New Jersey, 1957; Twelfth printing 1989) ISBN 0-691-01958-4. p. 428.
  6. ^ Monier-Williams. A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. p. 901. view page online
  7. ^ Basham, p. 308.
  8. ^ Sharma, p. 301.
  9. ^ Monier-Williams. A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. p. 901.
  10. ^ Flood, Gavin. An Introduction to Hinduism. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1996). ISBN 0-521-43878-0. p. 151.
  11. ^ Swami Dharmananda. Swami Dharmananda. Retrieved on 2007-02-12. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the
  12. ^ Shiva Linga. Swami Dharmananda. Retrieved on 2007-02-12. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the
  13. ^ Bijileshwar. www. tourtravelworld. com. Retrieved on 2007-02-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols

References

Dictionary

lingam

-noun

  1. The penis or phallus, especially when worshipped as a symbol of or in connection with Shiva.
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