A Closer Look At Lingam
The lingam is a mark used in the Hindu religion to represent Shiva who is a Hindu deity used for worship. You can find an old example of lingam at Gudimallam, which is a small village, located in Srikalahasti Mandal. The object has a figure of Shiva curved into its front. According to anthropologists, the object dates back to the 2nd century BC. Lingam massage is a practice that offers holistic healing.
MEANING OF LINGAM
There is a hidden meaning behind the object. If you take a closer look at it, you will find that Shiva is pictured as emerging from the Lingam. This signifies that the object represents a god who is superior than other gods such as Vishnu and Brahma.
Linga Purana, a Hindu scripture also supports the argument that Lingam represents a superior god. According to the scripture, Lingam is a symbol of a formless universe bearer where the oval shape of the object resembles the shape of the universe and its bottom represents the supreme power holding the entire universe.
There is also a similar interpretation in the Skanda Purana. Here the Lingam is said to be the endless sky while the earth is its base.
From all the explanations, it’s wise to conclude that Lingam represents a powerful god who is believed to control the world.
MIXED INTERPRETATIONS
Although, holy scriptures have shown that the object is a representative of a powerful god, there are some people who believe otherwise. For example, some people believe that the object represented a human organ that aroused erotic emotions to the people who devoted to it.
Other people such as Jeaneane Fowler believe that the Linga is “a phallic” symbol that represents the potent energy found in cosmos.
NATURALLY OCCURRING LINGAMS
There are times when objects similar to Lingam are formed. A great example is the ice Lingam at Amarnath (western Himalayas). This object forms every winter when ice drips on the floor of the cave and freezes like a stalagmite. Due to this, the site is frequented by pilgrims.
Shivling is a mountain in Uttarakhand that rises as a sheer pyramid above the snout of the Gangortri Glacier. The mountain usually resembles Shiva Linga when you view it at certain angles. The view is excellent when you are travelling from Gangotri to Gomukh.
