Eight popular tall Shiva Lingams in India.

Lingam or linga in Hinduism is distinctively aniconic and a votary object symbolic of God Shiva being a source of energy and an emblem of generative power. Often found set in the center of a disk-shaped object called Yoni, a female energy representation of his consort -Parvati/Shakti, lingm - a cylindrical mass, embodies the other Trinity gods Brahma and Vishnu, God Shiva is all pervading balancing creation and destruction to maintain equilibrium across the universe. This way he controls the totality of existence of the universe. lingam is venerated in all Shaivite temples often surrounded by other deities (murthis). In all these temples one can see his mount holy Nandi (bull) right before his shrine and also demi god Arthanarisvarar. A common icon in South India is the lingodbhavamurti, Shiva emerging out of a fiery lingam. The following eight Shiva Lingams are unusually large in size enshrined mostly in historical temples.Some are monolith - made from a single block of stone and a few are self manifested - svayambhuva. The world's tallest Lingam at Maheswaram Shiva-Parvati temple, Kerala state is excluded and not discussed here. Refer: https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2020/09/awe-inspiring-worlds-tallest-shiva.html.

01. Sidheshvar Nath Temple, Arunachal Pradesh

Shiv Lingam Sidheshvar Nath Temple,Arunal Pradesh . you tube.

Self-manifested in 2004 it was accidentally found by a worker in a private property in the picturesque town of Ziro in Lower Subansiri district. In the Sidheshwar Nath Temple are found the idol of goddess Parvati and lord Ganesha with his trunk turning leftwards.Further details about this Shiva Lingam are not available.

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02. Badavilinga Temple, Hampi – Karnataka

Badavilinga Temple, Hampi – Karnataka pinterest.ru

Badava Lingam Humpi, Karnataka. picxy.com

The Linga is housed inside a chamber with an opening in the front and a close look at the idol will reveal the presence of three eyes (depicting the three eyes of Shiva) carved on it. The third eye is called the eye of wisdom (in Tamil Gana Kann). It is believed to have been commissioned by a poor peasant woman, hence the name Badava -meaning poor.in local parlance. The distinctive feature is the sanctum/girbagraha is always filled with water that flows into the chamber through a channel connected to a water source. This huge lingam is made from monolithic black stone.and is close to Lakshmi Narashimha (god Vishnu) idol.

https://www.hellotravel.com/india/badavilinga-temple

http://hampi.in/badavilinga-temple

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03. Bhuteshwar Mahadev, Chhattisgarh

Bhuteshwar Mahadev, Chhattisgarh patrika.com

Self-manifested, gently inclined
Bhuteshwar Mahadev Shiva Lingam is in the midst of a dense forest close to Marauda village, Chhattisgarh which is 3 km from Gariaband. This place becomes vibrant on Mahashivratri and on Mondays, I understand the local people Sawan (Kawariya) visit this place. That it this lingam made of hard rock grows every year is not yet corroborated. It is a self-manifested object gently inclined toward one side.

https://gariaband.gov.in/en/tourist-place/bhooteshwarnath-temple/

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04. Baba Bhusandeswar Temple, Balasore, Odisha:

Baba Bhusandeswar Temple, Balasore twitter.com

Baba Bhusandeswar Temple at Bhogarai village of Balasore district,Odisha has one of the tallest Shiva Lngms in India and it measures 12 feet long and 14 feet wide. Only half of the image is visible as it is buried in the ground for a long time. This monolith lingam is carved out of black granite which is available in plenty. Octogonal in shape in the middle, it has three parts. The base is about 4 feet in height.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_Bhusandeswar_Temple

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05. Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur Tamil Nadu

Thanjavur Big temple, TN native planet.com

Huge lingam of Brihadeeswara temple, Thanjavur, TN google.com

Thanjavur Brihadeeswara temple, TN, monolithic lingam Alamy.com

The huge Shiva Lingam is in the tall sanctum of Brihadeeshvara Temple of Thanjavur city, TN and is perhaps the oldest Shiva Lingam in India. It was installed by the Chola ruler Sri Rajarajan II with help from Siddhar Karurar more than 1000 years ago. Also called Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyār Kōvil, the entire temple is made of granite related rocks and is a UNESCO recognized world heritage site along with near-by Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple near Kumbakonam. built by later Chola rulers who patronized God Shiva. The monolithic lingam is 8.7 m (29 ft) high, Occupying two story-tall sanctum, it is one of the largest monolithic linga in an ancient temple. in India.:The tall linga is right below the richly sculptured gopuram, tower that is 216 feet tall

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brihadisvara_Temple,_Thanjavur

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06. Bhojeshwar Temple, Madhya Pradesh:

Monolith tall Shiva Lingam, Bojeswar temple,MP. traveltwosome.com

Unfinished Bojeshwar temple, Madhya Pradesh.tourmyindia.com

The temple' construction work that was begun in the 11th century, during the reign of the Paramara king Bhoja, had been given up midway for unknown reasons. One reason attributed is natural disaster when the construction was in progress. From the ruins the scholars recovered the temple drawings engraved on the rocks etc and from the construction materials strewn around the temple, they understood the techniques employed by the rulers of past era..The inscriptions on the walls positively suggest the date as 1035 CE Apparently, Raja Bhoj built the temple between 1010 BC and 1055 BC. and it is designated as a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The monolithic Shivling in the sanctum is 18-feet long and it’s diameter is 7.5 feet. It is well placed in the middle of the temple with the carved columns and beautifully-decorated ceiling. It is in the Raisen District.

https://www.tourmyindia.com/blog/bhojeshwar-temple-facts-must-know/

https://visitworldheritage.com/en/buddha/bhojeshwar-temple/e472887d-a3fb-4533-a5d9-7761dd09d3b0

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07. Kotilingeshwara Temple, Karnataka:

Kotilingeshwara Templenea KGF, KAkarnataka.com

Kotilingeshwara Temple,Kammasandra,KA travel2karnataka.com

Kotilingeshwara Temple in the village of Kammasandra in Kolar district, Karnataka, India. has one of the largest Shivalingams in the world. Bhakta Manjunatha, an atheist turned Shiva Bhakta, is believed to have got the help from the ruler Maharaja Ambikeshwaravarma and his family whom he insulted. He built 10 million lingams, hence the name Kotteswara. The main attractions here are the huge linga measuring 108 ft (33 m) tall and also 35 ft (11 m) tall Nandi (bull) - God Shiva's mount.surrounded by lakhs of small lingas spread over an area of 15 acres. Nandi idol is on a platform measuring 60 feet (18 m) in length, 40 feet (12 m) in width and 4 feet (1.2 m) in height. There are about eleven other temples for different deities on the temple premises. .Devotees can perform abhishekam to the lingam and for this purpose a water tank is set close to the image. Further, if the devotees' wishes are fulfilled after making wishes here, they revisit the temple and install a Shiva linga in their name. Prices of lingas vary from Rs 3000 - Rs 50,000. depending on the size, decoration and material used to make them. It is located 6 km from KG bus stand.

https://travel2karnataka.com/kotilingeshwara_temple_kolar.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotilingeshwara

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08. Amareshwar Mahadev Temple:

Amereswar Mahadev temple Pinrest

Located at the junction of the Vindhya mountains and and the Satpura Ranges, Amereswar Mahadev temple is an important pilgrimmage center . It is in the middle of a woodd area in a serene environment accentuated by fine greenery. close to the Rathambhore National park. Surprisingly, it is 1200 years old as that of Ranthambhore Fort. This temple is close to Sawai Madhopur. The annual Shivaratri festival is a main event here and is well- crowded.

https://www.hellotravel.com/india/amareshwar-mahadev-temple

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