Lingam
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The Lingam (also, Linga; Sanskrit लिङ्गं liṅgaṃ, meaning "mark," or "sign," ) is used as a symbol for the worship of the Hindu god Shiva. While its origins are debated, the use of this symbol as an object of worship is a timeless tradition in India; mainstream scholars connect the origin of the lingam to the early Indus Valley civilisation.
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[edit] Etymology
The term, "linga" has many meanings, generally as a mark.It refers to a sign or a mark and can be elaborated as a Godly mark for worship and meditation. Linguistically Sanskrit is a highly inflected language with three grammatical genders (masculine - purusha linga, feminine -sthree linga, neuter -napumsaka linga).Monier-Williams gives "a mark, spot, sign, token, badge, emblem, characteristic" a more acceptable meaning.
Swami Sivananda, said that in Sanskrit,“the linga means a mark”. It is a symbol which points to an inference. When you see a big flood in a river, you infer that there had been heavy rains the previous day. When you see smoke, you infer that there is fire. This vast world of countless forms is a Linga of the omnipotent Lord. The Siva-Linga is a symbol of Lord Siva. When you look at the Linga, your mind is at once elevated and you begin to think of the Lord.
In his book Hindu Dharma, Bansi Pandit said that the word linga is derived from the two Sanskrit words laya (dissolution) and agaman (recreation). Thus, shivalinga symbolizes that entity in which the creation merges at the time of dissolution and out of which the universe reappears at the beginning of the new cycle of creation."
Shivling (6543m) is also a mountain in Uttaranchal (the Garwhal region of Himalayas). It arises as a sheer pyramid above the snout of the Gangotri Glacier. 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.
The word is first attested in the Brahmanas, with general meanings of "sign, mark, characteristic" . Its etymology is uncertain, although related to Sanskrit langala for a plough derived ultimately from a Munda word. It is also related to Proto-Dravidian nan-kol for a plough. Suggestions also include Germanic *leik (English alike) as a cognate.
[edit] 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. It's gravest misinterpretation is to relate it to only phallic symbol by its shape more so by western philosophers.
[edit] Lingam as a symbol of creation
Hinduism conceptualizes Brahman, the supreme power, as having three main roles: that of GOD the Generator, Organizer and Destroyer. This trinity is represented iconically by the deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva respectively. 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.
[edit] Tantra
Tantra is the definition provided by the actual energy of the lord. It may be also reffered to as the energy of Kali yuga. Such as energy is a symptom of kali yuga.
[edit] 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. For example, Arjuna fashioned a lingam of clay when worshipping Shiva. 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.
Sri K. Thirugna Sambantha, in his web site of Saivism, [1], explains that the Siva lingam is the rup-arupa because it is neither a manifested form, nor is it formless. The linga is a tangible piece of stone, and a symbol of God. Thus, it is an intermediate between the formless Absolute, Parasiva, which is beyond the sensory perception of man, and the many manifest forms of Siva.
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 peetham. The Sivalinga is the simplest and most ancient symbol of Siva, especially of Parasiva, God beyond all forms and qualities. The Peetham 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 beads, ashes, sandalwood, darbha grass, a flower garland, or molasses."
As a Veerashaivite follower in this site, [2] 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. Some scholars hold the view that anything that contradicts the Vedas or is inconsistent with its spirit is not authoritative. According to this perspective, the Puranic and Tantric conceptualizations are secondary to the Vedas and the Agamas which are vedic in spirit. In this point of view, the conceptualization of the lingam as a phallic symbol does not carry much weight, since the Vedas & Agamas say nothing in the matter.
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. The sound of 'OM' arises out of silence and at the end merges in silence. The 'silence'compares with attributeless 'PARA BRAHMAN'. 'OM' corresponds to 'SAGUNA BRAHMAN' or 'BRAHMAN' with attributes. 'SAGUNA BRAHMAN' has five attrbutes, namely 1)creation, 2)maintenance, 3)re absorption, 4)ruling or coordination of first three attributes for functioning of the worlds, 5)grace or true knowledge of creation, which raises the individual soul to merge with 'SAGUNA BRAHMAN'. These five attrbutes are indicated in puranas by 1)Brahma, 2)Vishnu, 3)Rudra, 4)Ishwara, 5) Sadasiva respectively. We will use these names for ease of comparison.
'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. 5)the field or localised area in the 'silence' known as 'NADA' in which the 'BINDU' orignates as a sphota.
'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.
[edit] Ancient lingams
Lingams have been recovered from the Indus Valley Civilization archeological sites at Harappa and Mohenjodaro.
[edit] 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. It is very popular with pilgrims.
[edit] References
- Schumacher, Stephan and Woerner, Gert, The encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and religion, Buddhism, Taoism, Zen, Hinduism, Shambhala, Boston, (1994) ISBN 0-87773-980-3
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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.
- Shiva Linga
- A discussion on the Shiv Lingam
- Siva Temple Kuzhalmannam Agraharam
- Veershaivite view of Linga as an abstract symbol of God.
- lingam in Southeast Asia
- Photo Sahasra Linga
- Photo of Mt Shivling
