Shiva Linga

To many people, Hindus included, the worship of the Shiva Linga is a puzzling aspect of the religion. They find it even stranger that devotees would pray to an idol that looks like a phallus! Yes, you read right. A phallus and for those who do not know what that means, a phallus is a penis.

The Shiva Linga is shaped like an erect penis and it sits on a base that resembles a yoni - a vagina.

Have you keeled over and died? No? Good. Now read all about it to understand why it is shaped like a genitalia.

This unusual shape for the Divine is the perfect representation of the ultimate balance in the universe; The male and the female, the yin and the yang, matter and energy, purush and parkirti. However, that would be a simplification of the meaning of the Linga. The Linga also stands for creation and perpetuaty of life through the ultimate union - sex. Without sexual union life cannot come into being.

But first, you need to read a puranic tale that explains the origins of the Linga from www.templenet. com

"Vishnu was engaged in his yoganidhra - the slumber of yoga - at the end of a kalpa, in the waters of the great deluge, when there appeared before him, Bhrama emerging from a great illumination. Bhrama introduced himself to Vishnu as the Creator of the Universe, to which Vishnu replied that he was the architect of the Universe. An argument ensued between both as to their superiority over one another, when there appeared before them - a huge lingam of fire - with tongues of flames blazing out of it.

Curious to trace the origins of this column of fire, Bhrama assumed the form of a swan and flew upwards, while Vishnu assumed the form of a boar, and burrowed down into the earth. Days of search in either direction proved futile, and hence the duo surrendered to this column of fire with prayers. Shiva then appeared out of this column of fiery lingam, with a thousand arms and legs, with the sun, moon and fire as his three eyes, bearing the pinaka bow, wearing the hide of an leephant, bearing the trishul, and addressed Vishnu and Bhrama in a thunderous voice, explaining that the two were born out of him, and that the three were then separated out into three different aspects of divinity.

The non-anthropomorphic (non-human) form Shivalingam is a representation of this infinite cosmic column of fire, whose origins were not tracable by Bhrama or Vishnu. The Shivalingam is the center of reverence and worship in all Saivite temples."

This tale also sets the stage for the lack of any temple worship for Brahma in Hinduism. Brahma, in his quest to seek out the top of the pillar of fire, chanced upon a flower that was falling down Lord Shiva's hair. Brahma in cohoots with the flower decided to lie by sayig he has seen the top and the proof is the flower. Lord Shiva realising the deceit cursed Brahma to never have anyone worship him in a temple and the flower never to be used as an offering.

I think the flower is called thalampoo in Tamil and Ketaki in Sanskrit.