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| Shiva lingam embodies trinity gods. quora.com/ |
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| A lingamwith 1001 carved lingam.wikipedia.org |
The worship of Linga or Lingam is an integral part of the Hinduism and has been around since the time of the Upanishads. The worship is wide spread across India and there are countless historical Hindu temples dedicated to God Shiva who is worshipped in the form of Linga. In southern India, especially Tanil Nadu, the Chola and Pandya dynasties patronized Shiva worship. So were many rulers in Karnataka and Andhra. There is a large community in Karnataka known as Lingayats who worship mainly God Shiva and it is mandatory for them to wear small Linga image as a garland or mala. Founded by social reformer Sri Basava (12th century), to the Lingayats, Shiva is a formless entity (ishta linga).
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| A typical lingamen.wikipedia.org |
On the other hand ''Yoni'' is simply a representation of Goddess (feminine power) Shakti, the creative force that permeates through out the universe and the concept of ''Linga'' itself is about the merging of two cosmos - macro and micro entities involving creation and recreation. As a whole linga represents the natural and eternal process of creation, recreation and destruction (denudation),thus balancing the creative and destructive forces - "the totality of all existence". The interlocking of two aniconic forms implies the interdependent union of the feminine and masculine energies for creation and destruction of existence. It is a mutual dependence between Shakti and Shiva, if one is missing, the other can not exist. The Trinity gods are represented in the Linga- God Brahma (Creator) in the root, Vishnu (Sustainer) in the middle and Rudra (Shiva -Destroyer) at the top. The shape itself has philosophical connotation implying that God has no ''Aathi and no Antham''- no beginning and no end (formless) - omnipresent, the divinity is every where. He is the absolute reality, the timeless, formless and space less.
The word lingam is not found in the Rigveda and other Vedas we do not find any reference to Lingam. However the Rudra (proto-Shiva) is mentioned the Vedic literature. It is mentioned in the early Upanishads. The oldest lingam dating back to the 3rd-century BCE or the 2nd century BCE that is still being worshipped is in the Parashurameshwara temple, Gudimallam, in a hilly wooded place about 20 km (12 mi) east of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.
The lingam iconography has many forms and their design is described in the Agama Sasatras and the material it is made of. It includes many forms based on carved faces. Ashtottara-sata linga with 108 miniature lingas carved on thepujabhaga (main linga), Sahasra linga with 1001 miniature lingas carved on the main linga, Both of them follow certain specified geometric pattern. The famous one being being Lingodbhavamurti in which Shiva is seen emerging as a flame. Its representation can be seen on the western wall of the sanctum/gribagriha of most Shiva temples. Karthigai Deepam festival is associated with Shiva who is associated with fire. It is a major temple festival at Arunachaleswar temple, Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. An Ekmukha Lingam with a single face is the main deity in the sanctum of most temples across India. Panchamukha Lingam lingam has five faces, presumably representing Pancha Bootha - five elements essential for survival f life on earth.
A lingam is normally made of stone and there are idols made of clay, metal, wood or mineral (spatika - pure quartz). The Shaiva Agama texts explain the construction of Shiva - proportion and size As for the pit in the center, Yoni or Pindika symbolizing female energy, Shakti, the shape may be circular, square, octagonal, hexagonal, triangular, etc. In Kadavul Temple, Hawaii, USA has a rare 700-pound, 3-foot-tall, naturally formed Spatika (quartz) lingam is installed - it is the largest known spatika self formed (Swayambhu) lingams.in the world being managed by Kadavuel Hindu Monastery. Spatikam is the highest form of Shiva lingam.
According to Wendy Doniger, researcher for many Hindus, the lingam is not a "male sexual organ", rather it is a spiritual icon exemplifying the coexistence of male and female power; it is like the Christians' cross, a symbol of Christ, of faith and compassion. It is foolish to look upon it as an "instrument of execution", The unique aspect about Lingam is in most of the Hindu temples, the idol /murthi is anthropomorphic ( carries human traits). The aniconic Shiva Linga is an important exception and does not show any human traits, according to Anthropologist Christopher John Fuller. But the images of goddess in such temples exhibit human trait.
Countries like Vietnam, Cambodia,Thailand and Indonesia have historic stone temples with Shiv Linga in panel reliefs and images.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoni
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingam
https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-of-the-most-interesting-facts-about-the-worlds-famous-Tanjore-big-temple-built-by-Raja-Raja-Chola
