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    Shiva Linga Is The Holy Symbol of Lord Shiva That Is Considered Sacred by The Devotees of Lord Shiva

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    abhadrike
    Shiva Linga is considered the holy symbol of Lord Shiva and is most sacred to his devotees. It has been worshipped in Hinduism for ages. The Linga has no definite form but represents God without attributes. It is typically an elliptical stone image on a circular base and can be made from various natural or crafted materials. Scholars have proposed different interpretations of the Linga's symbolism over time, including representing the male reproductive organ, the cosmic soul, or an abstract symbol of the formless divine.

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    Shiva Linga Is The Holy Symbol of Lord Shiva That Is Considered Sacred by The Devotees of Lord Shiva

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    abhadrike
    72 views2 pages
    Shiva Linga is considered the holy symbol of Lord Shiva and is most sacred to his devotees. It has been worshipped in Hinduism for ages. The Linga has no definite form but represents God without attributes. It is typically an elliptical stone image on a circular base and can be made from various natural or crafted materials. Scholars have proposed different interpretations of the Linga's symbolism over time, including representing the male reproductive organ, the cosmic soul, or an abstract symbol of the formless divine.

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    Shiva Linga is the Holy Symbol of Lord Shiva That is Considered Sacred by the Devotees of Lord Shiva

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    Shiva Linga is considered the holy symbol of Lord Shiva and is most sacred to his devotees. It has been worshipped in Hinduism for ages. The Linga has no definite form but represents God without attributes. It is typically an elliptical stone image on a circular base and can be made from various natural or crafted materials. Scholars have proposed different interpretations of the Linga's symbolism over time, including representing the male reproductive organ, the cosmic soul, or an abstract symbol of the formless divine.

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    72 views2 pages

    Shiva Linga Is The Holy Symbol of Lord Shiva That Is Considered Sacred by The Devotees of Lord Shiva

    Uploaded by

    abhadrike
    Shiva Linga is considered the holy symbol of Lord Shiva and is most sacred to his devotees. It has been worshipped in Hinduism for ages. The Linga has no definite form but represents God without attributes. It is typically an elliptical stone image on a circular base and can be made from various natural or crafted materials. Scholars have proposed different interpretations of the Linga's symbolism over time, including representing the male reproductive organ, the cosmic soul, or an abstract symbol of the formless divine.

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    Shiva Linga is the holy symbol of Lord Shiva that is considered sacred by the devotees of

    Lord Shiva. The word, ‘Lingum’ in Sanskrit means, ‘symbol’. Shiva Lingum, therefore means
    symbol of Lord Shiva and is therefore considered most sacred by Shaivaites. Siva Linga has
    been worshipped in Hinduism since ages. Worship of Shiva Linga is regarded sacred and
    superior Shiva Mahapurana. This is because the form makes worship simple while
    maintaining the truth that God does not have any definite form. 
    Structure of Shiva LingaMost prevalent icon of Shiva and virtually found in all Shiva temples,
    Shiva Linga is a rounded, elliptical, an-iconic image that is usually set on a circular base or
    peetham. According to some scholars the Peetham represents Parashakti, the manifesting
    power of God. Shiva Lingas are usually made of stone that may either be carved or naturally
    existing - svayambhu, such as shaped by a swift-flowing river. Shiva Lingas may also be
    made of metal, precious gems, crystal, wood, earth or transitory materials such as ice. Some
    scholars say that transitory Shiva Linga may be made of 12 different materials such as sand,
    rice, cooked food, river clay, cow dung, butter, rudraksha seeds, ashes, sandalwood, darbha
    grass, a flower garland or molasses. 
    Various Interpretation of Shiva LingaBesides regarding Shiva Linga as the symbol and form
    of Lord Shiva, religious scholars have given various interpretations of Shiva Linga. Here is
    the brief description of some of the popular theories and interpretations related to Shiva
    Linga and its origin: 

    Worship of the Phallus


    According to some scholars, worship of Shiva Linga in effect means worship of the
    reproduction function. For, they say that the other meaning of the Sanskrit word ‘Linga’ is
    gender in general and phallus (the male reproductive organ) in particular. They believe that
    the base of the Lingam corresponds to the Yoni which mean vagina or the female
    reproductive organ. Correspondence of Linga and Yoni in a Shiva Linga is therefore
    interpreted as the representation of the process of copulation. Scholars further opine that
    the Kalash (container of water) that is suspended over the Shiva Linga from which water
    drips over the Linga also correspond to the idea of intercourse. 

    Connecting the origin of Shiva Linga to the early Indus Valley civilization, scholars opine that
    tribes of the Indus Valley took to the togetherness of Lingam and Yoni in a Shiva Linga as
    the point of energy, creation and enlightenment. 

    Interpretation in Tantra
    According to Tantra, Lingam is a symbol of Shiva's phallus in spiritual form. They say, the
    lingam contains the soul-seed within which lies 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 others. 

    Interpretation in Puranas
    Puranas, especially the Vamana Purana, Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana,
    Matsya Purana and Visva-Sara-Prakasha attribute the origin of Shiva Linga to the curse of
    sages leading to the separation of and installation of the phallus of Lord Shiva on earth.
    Some also refer to the endlessness of the lingam to be linked to the egos of Lord Vishnu and
    Lord Brahma. 

    Interpretation of Shiva Linga as an Abstract Symbol of God


    Some scholars of the Hindu scriptures say that Linga is merely an abstract symbol of the
    God. They point towards several legends in Hinduism where a sundry rock or even a pile of
    sand has been used by as a Lingam or the symbol of Shiva. Citing a particular instance they
    say, Arjuna once fashioned a linga of clay when worshipping Shiva. Scholars of Puranas,
    thus argue that too much should not be made of the usual shape of the Lingam. Scholars
    say that the interpretation of Shiva Linga as an abstract form of God is also consonant with
    philosophies that hold that God may be conceptualized and worshipped in any convenient
    form. The form itself is irrelevant, as the divine power that it represents is all that matters.
    Scholars thus say that Sivalinga represent the formless Nirguna Brahman or the formless
    Supreme Being.

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