SIVA LINGAM

            

         THE CONCEPT OF  SIVA LINGAM  - J K SIVAN

The  holy and sacred symbol of Lord Shiva   (Shiva means auspicious)  is worshipped since ages in the form of a lingam. It is  a simple icon to remind God has no definite form. It is intended to bring the shapeless unknown into our attention.   The peetam of Linga represent, Parashakti, the manifesting power of God. In Sanskrit, lingam  also means “mark”  Most of the lingams are natural formation of stone,  svayambhu, such as shaped by a swift-flowing river.  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.

What is Shiva Lingam ?

--   It represents the "column of light" appeared during the debate of Brahman and Vishnu.
-    A subtle representative of God that is present in our body. Kundalini is coiled with it in three and half coils. This is what Shiva Lingam and snake coiled round it  depicted  in our temples. It shows Paramatman in the form of Atman and Shakti in the form of Kundalini.
-    The Moola Prakriti that absorbs all the Vikriti came from it finally.
-  The  formless Lingam represents the formless power of this universe that is the origin of all the matter and the events..

We should worship Shiva Lingam because Bharg (Shiv) is the the masculine power known as Purusha.  Parvati is the feminine power (Bhargaa) called Prakriti. Formless kind of thing that is the base of this universe is Lingam(Shiva) and the origin of the creation that bring this universe in to existence is Yoni(Paravati). Both Prakriti and Purusha are the reason of this visible world we are watching. This is what Lingam and Yoni represents.

The soul is again and again sent here by Purusha and again and again preserved in Maya(prakriti).

So SHIVA LINGAM IS THE PARENTAL MANIFESTATION OF THIS UNIVERSE.

Human body is made of 5 kalas while  Brahman (Krishna and Shiva) contains 16 kalas that is why we worship them. But they are not confined to only 16 kalas. They are also beyond them. That is why we called them (Nishkala)  which means without kalas.  SIVALINGA  IS A FORMLESS REPRESENTATION OF GOD.

SHIVA LINGAM IS THE ONLY NIRAKARA REPRESENTATION IN SCULPTURES OTHERWISE YOU WILL SEE THAT ONLY SAKARA BRAHMAN IS WORSHIPED IN SCULPTURES(LIKE SHIVA, RAMA, KRISHNA, GANESHA ETC.)

Once an argument took place between Brahma and  Vishnu as to  “who Shiva is?”. Just then a "Column of light" appeared in front of them on the Hindu month of Margasheersha and Hindu date Poornima or Pratipada. When both Brahma & Vishnu failed to find the origin and end of this column, Shiva appeared in his visible form. He preached both of them the real meaning of Shiva Lingam.

He said,    " I have two forms , Sakala(with form) and Nishkala (with out form). This column of light is my real form. Brahman is my Nishkala form and Maheshwara is my Sakala form. When I come with sixteen kalas, I become Sakala and when I present in the crude energy, I am called Brahman. Brahman means the most enormous(Brihat) . Lingam depicts my formless Brahman power. This is my Lingam(symbol). Lingam(Braman) and Lingee(Atman) are same. One who has established Shiva Lingam somewhere in his life, he gets Sayujya Moksha(eternal company of Shiva). The yoni upon which the lingam often sits represents the manifest universal energy. From the unmanifest comes the manifest energy, through which all other things are created. The yoni, which is a symbol of Shakti, combined with the lingam, is a symbol of the eternal union of the paternal and maternal principles, or the positive and negative, or the static and dynamic energies of the Absolute Reality. It is the communion of the eternal consciousness and dynamic power of the Shakti, the source of all actions and changes. It is also the symbol for the creation of the universe through the combination of the active energy of Lord Shiva and his Shakti. This is how Lord Shiva and Durga are considered the parents of the universe.

The symbolism of the lingam and yoni also represents the base of the spine, meaning the Muladhara chakra, upon which the kundalini is resting, waiting for awakening.

A Baana linga is egg-shaped and is meant to show that Ishvara has neither beginning nor end.
The Lingobhavamurti form of the linga is the prime manifestation of the formless, which Shiva is said to have manifested exactly at midnight on Shivaratri. This is why everyone stays up until midnight and then worships that form during the Shivaratri festival. A representation of the Lingobhavamurti can often be found in a niche on the outside wall of the sanctum in any important Shiva temple.

The lingas in the temples are often formed in three parts. The lowest part is the base square called the Brahmabhaga or Brahma-pitha, which represents the creator Brahma. The next part in the middle is the octagonal Vishnubhaga or Vishnu-pitha, which signifies Lord Vishnu the sustainer. Both of these parts form the pedestal. The top cylindrical portion is the Rudrabhaga or Shiva-pitha, which is also called the Pujabhaga since this is the worshipable part. The top portion is also meant to symbolize the projecting flame of fire. This flame also represents the destructive aspects as well as the preserving power of God.

There are 12 important Jyotirlinga (self-manifested linga) temples scattered across India. They are found at Kedarnatha, Kashi Visvanath, Somnath, Baijnath, Ramesvaram, Ghrisnesvar, Bhimasankar, Mahakala, Mallikarjuna, Amalesvar, Nagesvar, and Tryambakesvar. The five Pancha Bhuta lingas in India are located at Kalahastisvar, Jambukesvar, Arunachalesvar, Ekambesvara at Kanchipuram, and Nataraja at Chidambaram. The temple of Lord Mahalinga at Tiruvidaimarudur (Madhyarjuna) is also a great temple in South India.

The reason Lord Shiva is often worshiped by pouring Ganges water over the lingam is that it represents the Ganges descending from heaven on to Shiva’s head.  Pouring of ghee on the sacred fire in Homam/Yagnam  is the symbolic offering of ourselves to God.

Mercury Shiva lingas are known to be especially potent. Mercury is known as parad or para in Hindi. It is also known as Shivadhatu  literally Shiva's metal.   Shiva lingas made from a variety of stones are held in great reverence.  Shiva linga made of mercury  is said to possess divine qualities. Whenever a deity is made ceremoniously with a combination of mercury, it is said to be very effective. It is believed that whoever offers prayers to the mercury Shiva linga will be blessed and considered as having offered prayers to all Shiva lingas in the universe.  These blessings are equivalent to those from hundreds of Ashwamedha yajnas. Even the blessings gained from giving millions of cows in Go Dhaanam  cannot equal this.  It is said that in homes where prayers are offered regularly to the mercury Shiva linga, all kinds of comforts are available. Success reigns there as Shiva resides in these homes. In such places vaastu shortcomings will be overlooked. Offering prayers every Monday to the mercury Shiva linga can also ward off tantric spells.

 Shiva Purana   says: “Whatever blessings are showered upon you on making offerings to millions of different Shivalingas, these can be multiplied manifold when you personally offer prayers to the mercury Shiva linga. By a mere touch of the mercury Shivalinga one can achieve salvation.”