Shiva Linga Folklore and Mythology

The Shiva Linga, which is also known as Lingam is considered to be a symbolic representation of the great Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology.

A large number of temples are built in his honour and are present in almost every part of India. The Shiva Linga is also present in each temple and is considered to be a representation of all the energies which are present in the world.

It is considered to be the primary image that is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is also found in some of the smaller shrines or the form of a self-manifested natural object. He considered being one of the most powerful deities.

History and Folklore of Shiva Linga

It is believed that the stones which were found in the excavation of Mohenjo-Daro were the phallic stones. They were discovered on the date of somewhere around 2300 BCE.

A similar type of stone was found in the excavation at Harappa in the form of small terracotta which was considered to be the replica of the Shiva Linga.

Various people believe that the stones which were found at Harappa were short cylindrical pillars with round tops.

It has also been believed that the Buddhist stupa is very similar to the shiva linga and various comparisons have been drawn between the two by very famous personalities including Swami Vivekananda.

Many people also believe that the shiva linga is a representation of the phallus, which is the emblem of the generating power in nature.

People also believe that this particular comparison of the shivalinga with the emblem of generating power is a very big blunder and mistake.

The evidence of this can be easily found in the various teachings which were given by Swami Sivananda.

In the Hindu tradition, the shivalinga has also been adopted by various metaphysical disciplines and for various purposes of studies.

It is believed to be a stone that has originated from an Indian river and is considered to have mind-blowing healing powers for the body, soul, and the mind of the individual or the sufferer.

Talking about the present scenario, the shiva linga is installed in various temples all around India and is worshipped and prayed by thousands of devotees every day.

Symbolism of Shiv Linga

The word Shiva Linga is derived from a Sanskrit word where the term Linga means a symbol or a mark. The symbol or mark is something that points to inference and conclusion.

Thus, it is considered to be a symbol or a part of Lord Shiva himself and marks the fact that the lord is omnipotent and is also omnipresent.

The lord is formless and can attain the shape and size of anything.

It is believed that the Shiva Linga connects and communicates with the devotees by the language of silence.

It is believed that Lord Shiva is the undying soul and eternal and is always seated in the chambers of the heart of his devotees.

He is considered to be a symbol of the formless being. It is believed that Lord Shiva is present in the heart and soul of every person and forms the innermost part of the individual which is the Atman.

He is also considered to be equal and identical to the Supreme Brahman.

Lord Shiva is also considered to be a symbol of aggressive nature and the one who punishes those who you are not ethical and harm other people or the living creatures on earth.

Meaning of Shiva Linga

The shiv linga is believed to be a stone that is found in the Narmada river. The shape of the shivalinga a symbol of an egg of fertility and also represents the bonding of the male and female which is necessary for the survival of the earth.

The three horizontal lines, which are present on the shivalinga are symbolic of the three lines which are similar and are present on the forehead of Lord Shiva himself.

This stone is considered to be the material representation of Lord Shiva and is worshipped and prayed by thousands of devotees all around the world.

The stone is installed in various temples and various offerings like milk and holy water are poured on it by the devotees.

Hindu Shiv Lingam or Linga

For the Hindu devotees, the Shiva Lingam is of great importance and various religious believes are associated with it.

It is considered to be a source of incredible and mysterious power or Shakti.

It is believed by millions of people that the shivalinga helps in inducing concentration and also at the same time improves the focus and the attention span of an individual.

This particular fact is also written in various sacred texts and has been a part of the Indian mythology where the ancient sages and the Sadhu of India prescribed the shivalinga to be installed in the various temples of Lord Shiva.

For the people who are just religious and not very close to Lord Shiva, the shivalinga can be seen in the form of just a block of stone.

But for the sincere devotes, it is considered to be a radiant stone which throws out positive vibes and energy in all the direction.

They believe that the stone talks to them and also helps in overcoming and raising them above the body consciousness and become the source for communicating with God.

The Indian mythology also shows that even Lord Rama used to worship the shiva linga at Rameshwaram.

The great Ravana, who was believed to be a very learned scholar and a great man also used to worship a golden-colored shivalinga for obtaining his strength and mystical powers.

Quartz Shiv Lingam

The small-sized Shiva linga, which is made up of Quartz is considered to be very auspicious and religious by the Hindu devotees.

This special shivalinga has the name of Sphatika Linga. It is highly recommended for those people who are the deep devotees of Lord Shiva and like to be in this company.

It does not have any color but can take the color of that particular substance that comes in contact with it.

It is a representation of the Nirguna Brahman and the formless Shiva, who is considered to be the attribute-less supreme self.

The quartz shivalinga is kept by various devotees in their temples and homes for good luck and praying to Lord Shiva. It is easily available on the religious stores and also available online on different portals.

This type of shivalinga is very delicate and should be handled with the utmost care and concern by the devotees as it can easily break even if it is exposed to a minor jerk.

Also, if a shiva linga gets broken, it is considered to be a very bad omen.

Shiva Lingam: The Creator

It is believed that Lord Shiva is the one who is also famous by the name of the destructor.

He is considered to be the one who punishes all the people who are doing evil deeds and the earth will come to an end when Lord Shiva opens his third eye.

The shiva linga is considered to be a symbol of creation.

It is written in various ancient Hindu texts and mythology like the Linga Purana, which states that the foremost Linga is devoid of taste, smell, color, etc. and spoken in the form of Prakriti or nature itself.

The shape of the Linga is considered to be in the form of an egg and it represents the Brahmand or the Cosmic egg.

Linga also signifies that the creation of the earth is affected by the bonding of the Purusha and nature or Prakriti which are considered to be the male and female flowers of nature.

It is also a symbol of Satya, Jnana, and Anant which are also translated as true knowledge and infinity.

Lingam of Metaphysical Discipline

Linga or Shiv Lingam is considered to be a source of metaphysical disciplines. It is written in various sacred texts and also Hindu people believe that the Shiv Lingam is referenced by the metaphysical disciplines.

Stone is believed to have strong healing powers that can cure any kind of chronic disease and is considered very special for the case of sexual fertility and potency.

It is also looked upon as a source for the overall wellbeing of an individual and also as a source of energy and power for mankind.

Various scientists and practitioners who are dealing with rocks and healing crystals have a strong belief that the Shiva Lingam is amongst the most powerful stones which are present in the world.

These people also believe in the fact that these stones bring balance and harmony in the world and also to the people who carry it with them or keep them in their houses.

As they have a high amount of positive energy and healing power which is very good for all the seven chakras of the body.

Holiest Shiva Lingam of India

Various shivalinga which are very famous are present in India and all around the world.

But the holiest Shiva Lingam which are present in India and are the major source of attraction not only to the Indian devotees but from all around the world are present at some certain places.

People come every year and visit these places for getting the blessings of Lord Shiva. These places stand out as holding the most important shiva linga in history.

The temple of Lord Maha Linga, which is situated at Tiruvidaimarudur, which is famous by the name of Madhyarjuna is regarded as the greatest Shiva temple of South India.

A total of 5 Panch Bhuta Lingas are present in India along with 12 Jyotir Lingas. Some of them are as follows:

Jyotir LingT- these are found in Kashi Vishwanath, Kedarnath, Somnath, Rameshwar, Bheem Shanka, Ghrusenswar, Tryambakeshwar, Mahakal, Mallikarjun, Marleshwar, Nageshwar, and Baijnath.

Pancha Bhuta Linga- These are found in Jambhukeshwar, Kalahastishwar, Arunachaleshwar, Ekambareshwar of Kanjivaram, and Nataraja of Chidambaram.

Physical Appearance of Linga

The physical appearance and the shape of shiva lingam are very different from that which is described in the Hindu tradition.

It is actually in the form of an egg that is made up of brown shades and is gathered from the Narmada river which is present in the sacred mountains of Mardhata.

These stones are then gathered by the local people and are polished for giving them a fine look.

After polishing, the stones are then sold to the spiritual seekers and the devotees of Lord Shiva all around the world.

These stones vary in size and come in a range that can fit even in the palm of an individual and go on to the length of several feet.

The three lines which are present on the shiva lingam are considered to be the one which is also found on the forehead of Lord Shiva.

People believe that the physical shape of the shiva lingam is a symbol of fertility and also represents the male and the female egg together.

It represents the fundamental creation of life and also maintains the fundamental spiritual balance on the earth.

The stones are also used for meditation and are carried by the people in their pockets and kept in the houses for prosperity and luck.

10 Lord Shiva Temples in India

Various Lord Shiva temples are present in India and all around the world. These temples vary in size. The list of some of the most visited temples in India are as follows:

S No.	Temple Name	Location
1	Lingaraja Temple	Bhubaneshwar
2	Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple	Haridwar
3	Annamalaiyar Temple	Thiruvannamalai
4	Vadakkunnathan Temple	Thrissur, Kerala
5	Bhavnath Mahadev Temple	Junagadh, Gujarat
6	Kandariya Mahadev Temple	Madhya Pradesh
7	Bhojpur Shiva Temple	Madhya Pradesh
8	Tungnath Temple	Uttarakhand
9	Kailashnath Temple	Aurangabad
10	Amarnath Temple	Kashmir

Conclusion

The Shiva Linga is considered to be the holy stone which is directly related to Lord Shiva. It is believed to possess strong healing powers and also the power of fertility and potency for the woman and men.

People install these stones in the temples and worship them by pouring holy water and milk on it and also decorate it with the help of flowers and other holy materials.

These Lingas are also kept in the houses by the devotees as it is believed that it brings luck and prosperity to the person and acts as a lucky charm.

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