NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Shivling

Lingam or Linga (Sanskrit: Gender as in purusha-linga : male sexual organ) is used as a symbol for the worship of the Hindu God Shiva. A stone lingam is a naturally occurring oval stone. The term is not used in the Vedas but used frequently in the Mahabharata. Of the naturally occuring lingam, A lingam at Amarnath in the western Himalayas formed every winter by dripping water freezing into the large lingam is very popular with pilgrims. Download high resolution version (509x701, 78 KB)Estate of Harlen and Cynthia Welsh File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (509x701, 78 KB)Estate of Harlen and Cynthia Welsh File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Sanskrit language ( संस्कृता वाक्) is one of the earliest attested members of the Indo-European language family and is not only a classical language, but also an official language of India. ... Gender, for the purposes of this article, is the perceived or projected (self-identified) masculinity or femininity of a person or characteristic. ... For the Jewish ritual of mourning, see Shivah. ... Sedimentary, volcanic, plutonic, metamorphic rock types of North America. ... The Vedas are part of the Hindu Shruti; these religious scriptures form part of the core of the Brahminical and Vedic traditions within Hinduism and are the inspirational, metaphysical and mythological foundation for later Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra and even Bhakti forms of Hinduism. ... The Mahabharata (Devanagari: महाभारत, phonetically Mahābhārata - see note), sometimes just called Bharata, is the great religious and philosophical epic of India. ... The Himalaya is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. ...

The linga (sign) is a symbol of Shiva and means "mark," according to Swami Sivananda. The linga, by some is seen as a phallic symbol, and represents the fertility of Nature. Many Hindus consider it to be liturgically incorrect to worship images of Shiva himself, and thus use the lingam to represent Lord Shiva. For the Jewish ritual of mourning, see Shivah. ... Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887-1963), as he is known under his monastic name, was born Kuppuswami in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India. ... The phallus usually refers to the male penis, or sex organ. ... The deepest visible-light image of the universe, the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. ... From the Greek word λειτουργια, which can be transliterated as leitourgia, meaning the work of the people, a liturgy comprises a prescribed religious ceremony, according to the traditions of a particular religion; it may refer to, or include, an elaborate formal ritual (such as the Catholic Mass), a daily activity... For the Jewish ritual of mourning, see Shivah. ... This article is about the Hindu God. ...

Interpretations

Different interpretations on the origin, symbolism of the Shiva lingam are prevalent. While the Tantras and Puranas consider the Shiva lingam to be a phallic symbol and a representation of fertility of Nature, the Vedas, Agamas and Shastras make no mention of this aspect. Additionally, the traditional view of Lord Shiva as the destructor, also adds to the controversy. According to Swami Sivananda, although the Agamas do not derive their authority from the Vedas, they are are not antagonistic to them but are all Vedic in spirit and character and are hence authoritative. According to rules of interpretation in Hinduism held by many religious scholars, anything that contradicts the Vedas or is inconsistent with its spirit is not deemed authoritative or is treated as secondary. Accordingly, according to this interpretation, the Puranic and Tantric views, are subordinate to the Vedas and the Agamas which are vedic in spirit. Hence, such views are secondary and are not deemed as authoritative by many religious scholars. With this point of view, then the view of the linga as a phallic symbol does not carry much weight. Tantra (Sanskrit: loom), tantric yoga or tantrism is any of several esoteric traditions rooted in the religions of India. ... The Puranas are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss devotion and mythology. ... The deepest visible-light image of the universe, the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. ... The Vedas are part of the Hindu Shruti; these religious scriptures form part of the core of the Brahminical and Vedic traditions within Hinduism and are the inspirational, metaphysical and mythological foundation for later Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra and even Bhakti forms of Hinduism. ... Species See text. ... Shastra is a Sanskrit word used to denote education/knowledge in a general sense. ... This article is about the Hindu God. ... This is an article on Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. ...

Accordingly, many traditional Hindu scholars simply explain the Siva Linga to be an abstract symbol of God. 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." Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927 - 2001), affectionately known as Gurudeva, was born in Oakland, California on January 5th, 1927. ... The Savior Not Made By Hands (1410s, by Andrei Rublev) An icon (from Greek εικων, eikon, image) is an artistic visual representation or symbol of anything considered holy and divine, such as God, saints or deities. ... This article is about the Hindu God. ... Parasiva is the aspect of Siva, the Absolute which is beyond human comprehension and is beyond all attributes. ... This article is about the Hindu religious concept. ...

As Shri K. Thirugna Sambantha, in his excellent web site of Saivism, [1] (http://www.geocities.com/shivaperuman/main.html), 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, which is an emblem of God. Thus, it is intermediate between the formless Absolute, Parasiva, which is beyond the sensory perception of man and manifest forms of Siva. Siva manifests Himself in form for the grace of the embodied human devotee. Shaivism, also Saivism, is a branch of Hinduism that worships Siva as the Supreme God. ... Parasiva is the aspect of Siva, the Absolute which is beyond human comprehension and is beyond all attributes. ...

There have been other views which connect the origin of the lingam to the early Indus Valley civilisation. The Indus (सिन्‍धु नदी) (known as Sindhu in ancient times) is the principal river of Pakistan. ...

See also yoni. The word yoni is the Sanskrit word for female reproductive organ. ...

Tantra

The Tantras consider the lingam to be a phallic symbol and to be the representation Shivas phallus, in its erect form. Accordingly, the lingam contains the soul-seed containing within it the essence of the entire cosmos. The lingam arises out of the base (Yoni) which represents Parvati according to some or Vishnu, Brahma in female and neuter form according to some. Tantra (Sanskrit: loom), tantric yoga or tantrism is any of several esoteric traditions rooted in the religions of India. ... For the Jewish ritual of mourning, see Shivah. ... The word yoni is the Sanskrit word for female reproductive organ. ... For other uses of the name Vishnu, see Vishnu (disambiguation). ... This article concerns the Hindu creator god, Brahma. ...

Puranas

The puranas especially the Vamana purana, Shiva purana, Linga purana, Skanda Purana, Matsya Purana and Visva-Sara-Prakasha have narratives of the origin and symbolism of the Shiva lingam. Most of the puranas attribute the origin to the curse of sages leading to the seperation of and installation of the phallus of Lord Shiva on earth, many also refer to the endlessness of the lingam, linked to the egos of Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. In Hinduism, Vamana is the fifth avatar of Vishnu, a dwarf. ... For the Jewish ritual of mourning, see Shivah. ... Linga worship (Estate of Cynthia and Harlen Welsh) Lingam or Linga is the Sanskrit word for mark. ... In Hinduism, Kartikeya (also Murugan, Subrahmanya, Skanda, Kumaran, Swaminanda) is a deity born out of a magical spark created by Shiva. ... In Hindu mythology, Matsya (Sanskrit for fish) was the first avatar of Vishnu. ... This article is about the Hindu God. ... Vishnu (Hindi: (विष्‍णु) is a form of God, whom Hindus pray to. ... This article concerns the Hindu creator god, Brahma. ...

In popular culture

Something that resembled a Siva linga was called the Sankara Stone in the movie, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, first released in the United States on May 23, 1984, was a prequel to the hugely successful action movie Raiders of the Lost Ark. ...

References

See also

External links

Sivananda's explanation about Linga being a Symbol of Shiva: Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887-1963), as he is known under his monastic name, was born Kuppuswami in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India. ...

Categories: Shaivism | Concepts in Hinduism This article is about the Hindu religion; for other meanings of the word, see Hindu (disambiguation). ... Shruti (what is heard) is a canon of Hindu scriptures, early forms of which may have existed as early as 1500 BC, with most scholarship favoring dates between 1200 and 800 BC. Shruti is said to have no author; rather, it is believed to be a divine recording of the... The Vedas are part of the Hindu Shruti; these religious scriptures form part of the core of the Brahminical and Vedic traditions within Hinduism and are the inspirational, metaphysical and mythological foundation for later Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra and even Bhakti forms of Hinduism. ... The Upanishads (उपनिषद्, Upanişad) are part of the Hindu Shruti scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and philosophy and are seen as religious instructions by most schools of Hinduism. ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... Itihasa (Sanskrit: thus verily happened) refers collectively to the epic Hindu scriptures, detailing the actions of divine incarnations on earth while interspersing them with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse. ... Lord Ram, Laxman, Sita and Hanuman(crouching) The Ramayana (Sanskrit: march (ayana) of Rama) is part of the Hindu smriti, written by Valmiki (c. ... The Mahabharata (Devanagari: महाभारत, phonetically Mahābhārata - see note), sometimes just called Bharata, is the great religious and philosophical epic of India. ... The Agamas are sectarian and monotheistic texts dedicated to worship of Vishnu, Shiva or Devi. ... Smriti (what is fit/deserves to be remembered) refers to a canon of Hindu religious scripture. ... The Tantras (Looms or Weavings), written between 500 and 1800, are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss rituals and meditation. ... Sutra (सूत्र) in Sanskrit is derived from the verb √siv, meaning to sew. ... The Puranas are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss devotion and mythology. ... The Brahma sutra is the nyaya prasthana, the logical text that sets forth the philosophy systematically (nyaya - logic/order). ... Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a classic Sanskrit manual on Hatha Yoga, written by Swami Svatmarama. ... Smriti (what is fit/deserves to be remembered) refers to a canon of Hindu religious scripture. ... Tiruvalluvar statue at Kanyakumari Tirukkural (திருக்குறள் in Tamil) is an important work of Tamil literature by Tiruvalluvar written in the form of couplets expounding various aspects of life. ... This article is in need of attention. ... In Hinduism, an avatar is the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of an Immortal Being, or of the Ultimate Supreme Being. ... In the Vedantic (and subsequently Yogic) schools of Hinduism, Brahman is the signifying name given to the concept of the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality that is the Divine Ground of all being. ... Dharma - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Karma first came into being as a concept in Hinduism, largely based on the Vedas and Upanishads. ... Moksha (Sanskrit: liberation) or Mukti (Sanskrit: release) refers, in general, to liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. ... Maya, in Hinduism, is many things. ... Ishta-Deva, or Ishta Devata is a term from Hinduism that means chosen Deity or revered aspect of God by a devotee and is a widely held concept in Smartism. ... Murti Worship Different sects of Hinduism, especially devotional/bhakti and tantric ones, have their own particular monotheistic conception of supreme Godhead from whom all other deities and principles emanate (such as Vishnu or Shiva, Krishna or Devi). ... Reincarnation, also called transmigration of souls, is the rebirth in another body (after physical death), of some critical part of a persons personality or spirit. ... For the movie by this title, see Samsara (2001). ... In Hinduism, the Trimurti (also called the Hindu trinity) are three aspects of God in His forms as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. ... In early Hindu philosophy, turiya (also called caturtha) is a state of Pure Consciousness, or the experience of ultimate reality and truth. ... Hindu philosophy (one of the main divisions of Indian philosophy) is traditionally seen through the prism of six different systems that are listed here and makes up the main belief systems of Hinduism. ... There exist many schools and diverse movements of Hinduism. ... Early Hinduism is a term used to designate the religious development of India before the historical period. ... Samkhya, also Sankhya, (Sanskrit: सांख्य) is a school of Indian philosophy, and is one of the six astika or Hindu philosophical schools of India. ... Nyaya is the name given to one of the six orthodox or astika Hindu schools of Philosophy - specifically the history of logic. ... Vaisheshika, also Vaisesika, (Sanskrit: वैशॆषिक)is one of the six Hindu schools of philosophy (orthodox Vedic systems) of India. ... Hatha Yoga posture Yoga is a form of mysticism that developed on the Indian subcontinent in the Hindu cultural context. ... The main objective of the Purva (earlier) Mimamsa school was to establish the authority of the Vedas. ... Vedanta, literally meaning the end section of the Vedas, is a branch of Hindu philosophy. ... Tantra (Sanskrit: loom), tantric yoga or tantrism is any of several esoteric traditions rooted in the religions of India. ... Bhakti yoga is the Hindu term for the spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti Traditionally there are 9 forms of bhakti yoga. ... Jyotish, referring to jyot, or light and isha, or lord, is the contemplation of the divinity expressing as time and space. ... Ayurveda (आयुर्वेद Sanskrit: ayu—life; veda—knowledge of) or ayurvedic medicine is a more than 2,000 year old comprehensive system of medicine based on a holistic approach rooted in Vedic culture. ... A ritual is a formalised, predetermined set of symbolic actions generally performed in a particular environment at a regular, recurring interval. ... Aarti, ãrti, arathi, or ãrati is a Hindu ritual in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities. ... A Bhajan is a Hindu devotional song, often but not necessarily of ancient origin. ... Darshan is a Sanskrit Hindu term meaning sight or a glimpse of the divine. ... In Hinduism, diksha is the ritual of initiation into a monastic order. ... In Tibet, many Buddhists carve mantras into rocks as a form of devotion. ... Puja (alternative transliteration poo, Sanskrit: reverence or worship, loosely) is a religious ritual which most Hindus perform every morning after bathing, dressing and wanking but prior to taking any food, drink or dope. ... The company of the highest knowledge and Truth; the company of a Guru; contact with a person or an assembly of persons who listen to, talk about, and assimilate the Truth. ... Stotras are Hindu prayers that praise aspects of God, such as Devi, Siva, or Vishnu. ... In Hinduism, Yajna or Yagya (Sanskrit yajñá worship, prayer, praise; offering, oblation, sacrifice) is a ritual of sacrifice performed to please the Devas. ... A guru (गुरू Sanskrit) is a teacher in Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. ... General definition of saint In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ... Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (Shri Shankaracharya, Adhi Shankaracharya; the first Shankara in his lineage), reverentially called Bhagavatpada Acharya (the teacher at the feet of Lord) (Look below for Birth Dates) was the most famous Advaita philosopher, who had a profound influence on the growth of Hinduism through his non-dualistic... Sri Ramanuja Acharya (1017 - 1137 AD) was an Indian philosopher and is recognized as the most important saint of Sri Vaishnavism. ... Shri Madhvacharya,(1238-1317), was the chief propounder of the Dvaita or dualistic school of Hindu philosophy, one of the three influential Vedanta philosophies. ... Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (February 18, 1836 - August 16, 1886) was a Bengali religious leader. ... Introduction Swami Vivekananda (Narendranath Dutta) (January 12, 1863 - July 4, 1902) is considered one of the most famous and influential spiritual leaders of the Hindu religion. ... Narayana Guru Narayana Guru (नारायण गुरु) (1856 - 1928) was a great sage and social reformer of India. ... Śrī Aurobindo Śrī Aurobindo (August 15, 1872–December 5, 1950) was an Indian nationalist, scholar, poet, Hindu mystic, evolutionary philosopher, yogi and guru. ... Ramana Mahrishi as portrayed in a loving oil painting by Jayalakshmi Satyendra Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi is regarded by some as one of the greatest saints of Hinduism in the 20th century. ... This is an article on Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. ... Swami Chinmayananda (स्‍वामी चिन्‍मयानन्‍द) (1916-1993) was born Balakrishna Menon (Balan) in Ernakulam, Kerala in a very devout Hindu family. ... Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927 - 2001), affectionately known as Gurudeva, was born in Oakland, California on January 5th, 1927. ... Swaminarayan (April 2, 1781 - 1830) was born Ghanshyam Maharaj to a brahmin family in the village of Chhapaiya, Uttar Pradesh. ... Hinduism like any other major religion has many sects or denominations. ... Hinduism like any other major religion has many sects or denominations. ... Vaishnavism is the branch of Hinduism in which Vishnu or one of his avatars (i. ... Shaivism, also Saivism, is a branch of Hinduism that worships Siva as the Supreme God. ... Shaktism is a denomination of Hinduism that worships Shakti, the Divine Mother, in all of her forms whilst not rejecting the importance of masculine and neuter divinity. ... Smartism is a denomination of the religion of Hinduism and is closely affiliated with the Advaita tradition. ... Agama Hindu Dharma is the formal name of Hinduism in Indonesia. ... Hinduism is going through a phase or regeneration and reform through the vehicle of several contemporary movements. ... A Survey of Hindu Organisations Scope The article presents a comparitive overview of the leading Hindu organisations of India. ...

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