SHIVA is also known as Mahadev or Prajapati Shiva, ie. One who is formless and Has Always Been.
If that is so; Why then is SHIVA represented in the form of Shivling? one may ask.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF SHIVLING?
In an effort to understand the concept of Shivling, here are a few points worth looking into.
THE MYTH OF 'LING' and 'YONI'
In the physical context SHIVLING is the male (Ling) and female (Yoni) reproductive organs fused together to create a New Life.
Whereas, in the spiritual context it is a fusion of the physical body (Shiv) with the essence and power of the soul (Shakti).
My Review
I particularly like the spiritual context. Who can deny the fact that 'a body' without 'a soul' is indeed meaningless. It is quite possible this fact is expressed by the 'Lingam' for SHIVA (physical body) and 'Yoni' for Shakti as divine energy or soul. And I think that makes an excellent point.
However, the question is whether or not a SHIVLING is in fact~ male (Ling) and female (Yoni). And so, I researched further... In doing so I read about the JYOTIRLINGAS.
THE 12 JYOTIRLINGAS
A JYOTIRLINGA is said to be the true original and natural forms of SHIVLING, not carved by human hands. There are 12 JYOTIRLINGAS in all at different locations in India and here's how they look:
SOMNATH & NAGESHWAR in Gujarat, SRI MALLIKARJUNA in Andhra Pradesh, MAHAKALESHWAR and OMKARESHWAR in M.P
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| Kedarnath jyotirlinga resembles Mount Kailash and Mahakaleshwar has a simple base |
BAIDYANATH DHAM in Jharkhand, BHIMASHANKAR, TRIMBAKESHWAR and GRISHNESHWAR in Maharashtra, RAMESHWARAM in Tamilnadu, KASH VISHWANATH in U.P. and KEDARNATH DHAM in Uttarakhand.
Also there are other important lingams.
The most popular form of Shivlings in fact represents an infinitely long light pillar. The central portion of these lingams are octogonal and the base is a perfect square and hence neither is in the form of male or female genitalia.
Well then, if that is the case~ when and how did such a concept even originate?
Excellent point. Let's check this further.... Again it brought me back to square one ie. SHIVA, who is formless and still has many forms. And since SHIVA always existed, HE is the beginning of LIFE ie. HIRANYAGARBHA.
The great Rishis of ancient India meditated for answers and in doing so, they saw and understood this through their mind's eye, and saw SHIVA to be PARAMATMA Ie. THE SUPREME BEING.
But since we as ordinary human beings need a symbol to associate with a concept, person or place, how then does one represent THAT which has no shape or form.
They imagined that a mound of Earth (Clay) would need to first take shape to give it a physical form, and thereby the SHIVLING eventually took shape. The word LING in this context basically means 'A Symbol'; in the same way as a 'Couch' or 'Chakra' represents VISHNU.
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| The shore temple at MAHABALIPURAM |
The YONI as called by many, was later carved out at the moat base for the purpose of pure convenience~
1) to drain out the water and milk poured on the SHIVLING and (2) To keep the SHIVLING in a vertical position and thereby provide good support, especially for the ellipsoid lingams.
This clearly busts the 'LING' and 'YONI' myth that was popularized as being male and female reproductive organs.
Thanks for reading. I am a seeker just as you are. If you have anything more to add, please comment and share this with us. Bye for now 🙏
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