The Mark of Lord

[Agnideva]

From Sai Baba

Meaning Of The Linga

"Just as OM is the 'sound symbol' of God, the Linga is 'form symbol' or visible symbol of God - the most meaningful, the simplest and the least endowed with appendages of attributes. The Linga means, that in which this Jagat (world of change) attains laya or mergence or dissolution (leeyate). All forms merge in the Formless at last. Shiva is the Principle of Destruction of all names and forms, of all entities and individuals. So, the Linga is the simplest sign of emergence and mergence.
Sai Baba, SS, 3/99, last cover page

"God resides in everyone as Linga, in the subtle form. In the Anga (body), thereisa Sanga (contact with the outer and the inner world). In the Sanga resides the Jangam (the moving, traversing, changing place). As the basis of the Jangam, there is the Lingam. Linga is a word of two syllables: 'Lin' and 'ga'. 'Lin' means that into which
everything merges (Liyate) 'ga' means that into which everything goes (Gamyate). The Linga is a symbol of the universe into which all particulars merge, from which all particulars emerge. The Linga is the Swa-swarupa, the real form of the Reality."
Sai Baba. SSS. Vol. VI, p. 179

Anda-Pinda Lingam

"The Lingam is just a sign, a sign of endeavor, a sign of success. For example, the Anda-pinda Lingam signifies the egg-shaped universe. You are basically Anda-pinda, with the outer shell of materialism and inner core of Divinity. The body is a vessel to contain the Chaitanya (effulgence of Divinity)."
Sai Baba, SSS, Vol. II. p. 94

Angushta-Maatram Lingam

"Here is this 'Lingam' [in the heart]. In Vedanta, it is described as 'Angushta-maatram (thesizeof the thumb.)"
Sai Baba, SS, 9/91. p. 236

Atma Linga

"Contemplate on the Atma Linga, the Jyotir Linga, which this day emerges from Me. Be convinced that the Linga is in everyone of you, for it is mark of Shiva that resides in the shava (corpse/body). Allow the vision of the Atma Linga to enter into your inner consciousness and elevate it into the divine heights."
Sai Baba, SSS, Vol. IV, p. 284

"Atma Linga, the ultimate phase is the stage of gold when names and forms of gold jewels have been subsumed." "Atma Linga is just a pot that contains sea water, immersed in the self, the same sea."
Sai Baba. SSS, Vol. II. p. 94

Jnana-Linga

"The Jnana-Linga is the sign of the attainment of Jnana. When the last prestige of the delusion of "I" is wiped out, even the feeling "I know." is gone, then you are the Atma, pure and whole, entire and enduring - then your condition is best represented by the symbol of Atma-linga.
Sai Baba, SSS. Vol. 2, p. 104.

"Jnana-lingam symbolizes the Jnana (wisdom/knowledge) that you are Sarvabhuta [all beings] and Sarvabhuta is in you. The Jnana itself is Brahman. Jnana is not a quality of Brahman. It is Brahman itself, for Brahman has no quality."
Sai Baba, SSS. Vol. II, p. 94

Jyotir-Linga

"The Jyotirlinga is represented as hanging in mid-air, between the pull and counter pulls of a magnet from above and magnet from below. Evidently it is of ferrous metal. Man too is like a ferrous Linga drawn upward by the craving for liberation and for merging in the Super-soul and drawn downward by craving for satisfying the senses and earning and possessing things from the nature around him."
Sai Baba, SSS. Vol. VI, p. 181

Sada-Shiva Linga

"Sada-Shiva Linga indicates the person who is ever of the Swarupa (form) of Shiva. Here and everywhere, night and day, in joy and grief, he is Shivam, happy, auspicious and graceful. Ananda (joy) is his breath, his motive force, ims demeanour, his inner and outer expression, always and forever Sada-Shiva. There is no room for controversy, intellectual rivalry and competition."
Sai Baba, SSS. Vol. 2. p. 95 & 96

Source: http://sai_maa108.tripod.com/shiva/shiva-10.htm

[Agnideva]

From the Tirumantiram

They know not what Linga is
Linga is directions eight
Linga is kalās, eight times eight
It is as Linga the world emerged. (VII.1712)

In the World His Sakti He manifested first,
In the World as His Sakti's Form He pervaded
In the World His Sakti's Powers He filled
But He who this World's creation conceived
Was Sadasiva (the Linga). (VII.1713)

The Vimana pure is the Sthula Linga
The Sadasiva enshrined is Sukshma Linga
The Bali-peeta is Bhadra Linga
Thus it is for those who Siva's Form seek. (VII.1718)

The Earth is His Sakti Peetha,
The Heavens the Linga Pure,
The billowing seas His bathing ghat,
The cascading streams on mountain tops
Their cool water laves His crown heavenly,
The countless stars, His garland;
The Eight Directions His limitless raiment. (VII.1725)

The Human Form is unto Siva Lingam
The Human Form is unto Chidambaram
The Human Form is unto Sadasivam
The Human Form is unto the Holy Dance, forsooth. (VII.1726)

He stands
His Form as Uncreated Siva Linga
His Form as Sadasiva Divine
His Form as Sivananda, bliss unalloyed
His Form as Tat-Para Eternal Supreme. (VII.1750)

The Linga's Holy Pedestal is the humming Omkara (AUM)
The Linga's Center part is filled with Akara (A)
The Linga's inner round is with Ukara replete (U)
Linga is Bindu-Nada, Makara (M) pervaded. (VII.1752)

Akaram (A) as beginning, all exist
Ukaram (U) as beginning, all life exists
If Akaram Ukaram are together known
Akaram Ukaram is but Linga divine. (VII.1753)

Bindu is the Support Finite
Nada in Medha as the Supported expanded;
Bindu that is Support is the Pedestal
Nada on to it is conjoint,
That verily is Linga's union. (VII.1754)

Linga that is Sakti-Siva is Static all
Linga that is Sakti-Siva is Kinetic all
Linga that is Sakti-Siva is Sadasiva
Sakti-Siva is Tatpara, the Being Unborn. (VII.1755)

Bindu and Nada together form Linga
Bindu is the Pedestal, Nada the Linga
With them two as support divine
The Five gods arose, their Five functions to perform. (VII.1757)

The goodly pedestal of Sakti holds the Atma Tattvas
The central part of Sakti holds the Vidya Tattvas;
The Linga of Sakti, the Siva Tattvas
Sadasiva is Sakti's Soul Divine. (VII.1758)

Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Mahesa
The five-faced Sadasiva, Bindu and Nada
Sakti and Siva--
All these as Linga His blessings grants,
He is but Nandi that is Para Supreme. (VII.1776)

For the Bounteous Lord
This heart is the sanctum holy,
The fleshly body is temple vast
The mouth is the tower gate;
To them that discern,
Jiva is Sivalinga;
The deceptive senses but the lights that illume. (VII.1823)

Source: Tirumantiram of Mahasiddha Tirumular (Sundaranatha)

OM Namah Shivaya.

[saidevo]

Agnideva is doing an excellent compilation on Shivalingam. Here are a few other details:

From the TempleNet (http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/shivling.htm)

The Shivalingam denotes the primeval energy of the Creator.It is believed that at the end of all creation, during the great deluge, all of the different aspects of God find a resting place in the Lingam; Bhrama is absorbed into the right, Vishnu to the left and Gayatri into the heart. The Shivalingam is also a representation of the infinite Cosmic Column of fire, whose origins, Vishnu and Bhrama were unable to trace.

Legend has it that Parvati fashioned a Shivalingam with a fistful of sand at Kanchipuram and worshipped Shiva; this lingam is known as the Prithvilingam, denoting the primordial element earth. Shivalingams in several temples are swayambus, or that which appeared on their own, or that which is untouched by a chisel. On the other hand, there are temples where the Shivalingam is carved out of stone and installed. The highly polished Shivalingams of the Pallava period bear several stripes, as in the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram.

The bottom of the pedestal [named Avudaiyar in Tamil] represents Bhrama, the octogonal middle represents Vishnu and the upper circular portion represents Shiva. The upper portion of the Shivalingam may be of various shapes, cylindrical, elliptical, umbrella shaped. Images may also be (rarely) carved on a Shivalingam.

Nandi, the bull is depicted facing the sanctum in all Saivite temples, symbolizing the human soul Jeevatma yearning for realizing its oneness with Paramatma, the ultimate reality.

On the Lingam Stones Found on the Banks of the Narmada (http://www.holisticshop.co.uk/itemde...nt-dct-cry-shi)

The stones are made of crypto crystalline quartz and legend has it that they formed when a meteorite fell to earth several million years ago. The natural movement of the river is believed to help create the egg or oval shape of the stones. They're only gathered on one day each year and are hand polished to give them a smooth and gleaming surface.

Shiva Lingam's are said to have one of the highest frequency vibration rates of all the stones on earth. As such, the vibration is said to be perfect for purification purposes, whether at home, work or in an area of sacred space.

The Story about the Bana Lingams
(http://www.salagram.net/sstp-Bana-lingas.html)

There is a story narrated in Aparajita-pariprchchha (205, 1-26) about the origin of the bana-lingas and their association with the Narmada river. Siva wanted to destroy the ‘tri-pura’, which had been obtained as a boon by the arrogant demon Banasura, and he let go a fiery dart from his great bow ‘pinaka’. The dart broke the three ‘puras’ into tiny bits, which fell on three spots: 1, on the hills in Sri-kshetra (of unknown identity), 2, on the peaks of Amarakantaka in the Vindhya ranges, and 3, on the banks of the holy river Narmada. The bits that fell in these places soon multiplied into crores,. each bit becoming a linga. As they formed part of the possession of Banasura, they were called Bana-Lingas.
Amarakantaka, the peak in Madhya Pradesh, is in close proximity to the source of the river Narmada, which according to the puranas, originated in the Vindhya mountains and flowed in the Kalinga country. Padma-purana says that there are along this river as many as sixty crore and sixty thousand holy ghats, all of which are associated with bana-lingas and raudra-lingas.

The lingas are classified into six varieties, depending on how they came into existence: daiva-lingas, asura-lingas, arsha-lingas, purana-lingas, manusha-lingas, and svayambhu-lingas. The Bana-lingas being to the last variety.

There is also reckoning of their relative merits. The lingas of the divya, purana and svayambhu varieties are considered best (uttama), the lingas of the asura and arsha varieties are of middling quality (madhyama), and the lingas of the manusha variety inferior (adhama).

Another classification is based on how it is made: 1, krtima, artificial, made by hands, and 2, akrtrima, natural, bought about by a natural course of events. The bana-lingas belong to the latter group. A further classification has the structural status in focus: 1, chala (mobile) or jangama, and 2, achala (stationary) or sthavara. The latter variety of lingas is what we find in temples, duly installed, consecrated and elabourately worshipped by professional priests. Silpa-ratna describes these lingas.

For more agamic details on Shivalingams, check the link given above.

[atanu]

From the Tirumantiram

------
Akaram (A) as beginning, all exist
Ukaram (U) as beginning, all life exists
If Akaram Ukaram are together known
Akaram Ukaram is but Linga divine. (VII.1753)

------
For the Bounteous Lord
This heart is the sanctum holy,
The fleshly body is temple vast
The mouth is the tower gate;
To them that discern,
Jiva is Sivalinga;
The deceptive senses but the lights that illume. (VII.1823)

Source: Tirumantiram of Mahasiddha Tirumular (Sundaranatha)

OM Namah Shivaya.

Namaskar,

What a beautiful exposition. Akaram Ukaram is but Linga divine. Beyond Akaram Ukaram is only the awareness and the awareness belongs to that indescribable advaita Atma.

To me Linga is the simplest representation. It represents in visible terms what OM is in audible term. Beyond the sound and beyond the form, is the transcendental root of the inverted Ashwatha tree, whose downward branches are the many worlds. Linga is indeed the best meditation device which bridges the Saguna and Nirguna Upasana.

It indicates, from the transcendental perspective, the downward diversification of the ONE into many, only where the transcendent is immersed in Yoni -- The blue throat of Neelkantha, representing the infinite sky. But beyond this infinite sky remains the infinite transcendental pure, without change. From Jagat's point of view, the Atma never bends down and the only constant aspiration is towards the transcendental.

The following sums it up:

Linga that is Sakti-Siva is Static all
Linga that is Sakti-Siva is Kinetic all
Linga that is Sakti-Siva is Sadasiva
Sakti-Siva is Tatpara, the Being Unborn. (VII.1755)


Mother is not Maya. Mother is compassion. Eternally, and from time to time, desires sprout from the Self. Who will fulfill them? Mother. She is one with Shiva Linga but she is separate to mitigate the distress of desires and to lead to freedom.

Namah Maa Anadamayi

[Agnideva]

Namaskar Atanuji,

What a beautiful exposition. Akaram Ukaram is but Linga divine. Beyond Akaram Ukaram is only the awareness and the awareness belongs to that indescribable advaita Atma.

To me Linga is the simplest representation. It represents in visible terms what OM is in audible term. Beyond the sound and beyond the form, is the transcendental root of the inverted Ashwatha tree, whose downward branches are the many worlds. Linga is indeed the best meditation device which bridges the Saguna and Nirguna Upasana.

Thank you. I don’t know which exposition is more sublime – yours or Tirumular’s.

Akara (A), Ukara (U), Makara (M) is the manifest Linga.
The silence that follows the AUM is the unmanifest Linga.

Akara (A) is the Ishta Linga - the physical body, the waking condition.
Ukara (U) is the Prana Linga - the subtle body, the dreaming condition.
Makara (M) is the Bhava Linga - the causal body, the sleeping condition.
The Shanta (silence) is the Atma Linga - the Turiya Avastha; That is Shivo Advaita.

Mother is not Maya. Mother is compassion. Eternally, and from time to time, desires sprout from the Self. Who will fulfill them? Mother. She is one with Shiva Linga but she is separate to mitigate the distress of desires and to lead to freedom.
Namah Maa Anadamayi

AUM is Mother, Mother is AUM. Mother is the conditions three (A, U, M) – Tripurasundari. The fourth, Turiya, is but Shiva, the silent syllable (shanta akshara), the undifferentiated AUM.

shivam shantam jagannatham lokanugraha karakam …

OM Namah Shivaya.

Regards,
A.

[Agnideva]

Namaste Saidevo,

Agnideva is doing an excellent compilation on Shivalingam.

Thank you. I have found more in a book I have at home, but I'm afraid it's too much to type at present, so it will have to wait until I have more time . Please do add any information you can find here, especially if you can find any writings/sayings about the subject from the Kanchi Paramacharya, or other authorities.

Regards,
A.

[Agnideva]

From Ramana Maharshi

The purport of teaching that one should meditate with the 'I am He' thought is this: sahaham: soham; sah the supreme Self, aham the Self that is manifest as 'I'. The jiva which is the Shiva-linga resides in the heart-lotus which is its seat situated in the body which is the city of Brahman; the mind which is of the nature of egoity, goes outward identifying itself with the body, etc. Now the mind should be resolved in the heart, i.e. the I-sense that is placed in the body, etc., should be got rid of; when thus one enquires 'Who am I?', remaining undisturbed, in that state the Self-nature becomes manifest in a subtle manner as 'I-I'; that self-nature is all and yet none, and is manifest as the supreme Self everywhere without the distinction of inner and outer; that shines like a flame, as was stated above, signifying the truth 'I am Brahman'. If, without meditating on that as being identical with oneself, one imagines it to be different, ignorance will not leave. Hence, the identity-meditation is prescribed.

If one meditates for a long time, without disturbance, on the Self ceaselessly, with the 'I am He' thought which is the technique of reflection on the Self, the darkness of ignorance which is in the heart and all the impediments which are but the effects of ignorance will he removed, and the plenary wisdom will be gained*.

Thus, realizing the Reality in the heart-cave which is in the city (of Brahman), viz. the body, is the same as realizing the all-perfect God.

In the city with nine gates, which is the body, the wise one resides at ease**.

The body is the temple; the jiva is God (Shiva). If one worships him with the 'I am He' thought, one will gain release.

The body which consists of the five sheaths is the cave, the supreme that resides there is the lord of the cave. Thus the scriptures declare.

Since the Self is the reality of all the Gods, the meditation on the Self which is oneself is the greatest of all meditations. All other meditations are included in this. It is for gaining this that the other meditations are prescribed. So, if this is gained, the others are not necessary. Knowing one's Self is knowing God. Without knowing one's Self that meditates, imagining that there is a deity which is different and meditating on it, is compared by the great ones to the act of measuring with one's foot one's own shadow, and to the search for a trivial conch after throwing away a priceless gem that is already in one's possession***.

* If meditation in the form 'I am Shiva' (Shivoham bhavana), which prevents the thought going outwards, is practised always, samadhi will come about. - Vallalar.
** In the city that has nine false gates, He resides in the form of bliss. Bhagavad gita.
*** We shall meditate on that which, existing in the form of self, is the atma-tattva, is effulgent, and which residing in all living things always says "I", "I". To seek for a God outside, leaving the God residing in the cave of the heart, is like throwing away a priceless gem and searching for a trivial bead.

Source: http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/selfenquiry.html

[Agnideva]

From the article: Simplistic Image of Lord Shiva

Shiva is called OM which represents the five elements of the process of a life-cycle. OM has three sound elements which give the sounds of vowels, such as 'A', 'U' and 'Ma', and two physical elements, such as a 'dot' (bindu) and a 'crescent' (nada). 'A' represents birth, 'U' life, 'Ma' death, 'dot' disintegration of the body into original five elements, and 'crescent' the soul moving to another physical body or returning to merge with the Supersoul. In the human form, each element of this life-cycle process also represents one face each of the five faces of Shiva. Therefore, OM also stands for Shiva and denotes the Universe.

Shiva is depicted as a five-faced form to represent these five elements that support life on earth. Each face has three eyes, which also represent birth, life and death. Shiva appears as a luminous Lingam. Although it has a special form, the Lingam is considered as a formless and infinite object representing the Lord as the universe. The base of the object representing 'U' is considered to be 'OM' which depicts the Lord and the Universe. Such a set is worshipped as Shiva everywhere in the Hindu world. The Lingam also is believed to have five faces. Four faces are usually carved on all four directions and the fifth, which is not carved, is believed to be facing upwards.

Shiva represents the life-cycle and five life-supporting elements which have a form of five faces representing the five elements. The life-cycle represents the creation of life from five elements such as earth, water, fire, air and ether, then the maintenance of life and the completion of life, i.e. death, which means separating the physical body from the soul. The body disintegrates into five elements and returns to their original elementary forms.

Source: The Simplistic Image of Lord Shiva by D. P. Bhan
http://www.koausa.org/KoshSam/Simplistic.html

[Agnideva]

“OM – Pranava Shabdam"
- Meera Prakash

OM, the Pranava Shabda that is Lord Ganesha
OM, the spark of Lord Shiva's third eye
OM, the universe that is Lord Karthikeya
OM, the energy Goddess Shakti initiates
OM, I bow to That Absolute Truth

AUM, is a cosmic symbol. It is the birth right of every being since it rests in the inhalation and exhalation of breath twenty four hours a day as "Soham" [“I am Him”]. When we inhale, we make the sound "So" and when we exhale we make the sound "hum". Thus all day, the being is vibration with nothing but AUM.

OM is the elementary sound of the universe, and every sound has a physical pattern. It is this sense of pattern underlying everything in the universe that creates rhythm. When Lord Shiva did his cosmic dance of Creation (Tandavam), it was in rhythmical patterns. This rhythm is intrinsic to the beat the universe runs on. He is the Lord of "Omkaara" called Omkaarnath. He is the Lord of creation and dissolution. He is terrible in Pralaya (destruction) form, but gentle in Moksha (liberation). He represents both the energetic spirit (Roudra Tandavam) and the blissful spirit (Ananda Tandavam). He brings ultimate peace to a being.

Lord Shiva is also represented as "Ardhanarishwara" - i.e., half male and half female. The male is Shiva and the female is Parvati [Shakti]. Shiva represents "Vak" (word) and Parvati "Artha" (form). In another sense, word indicates light energy and form indicates sound energy. Their sons, Skanda and Ganesha, are depictive of this. Skanda came out of Shiva and Ganesha out of Parvati. Skanda (one who is emitted from Lord Shiva's powerful third eye as Agni or fire, also known as Karthikeya) becomes light energy; and Ganesha becomes sound energy or Pranava. However Parvati is also called Shakti, which is pure energy, and in that instance, Shiva becomes matter. Because of this interchangeability, it is said that without Shiva there is no Shakti and without Shakti, there is no Shiva.

Lord Shiva is the Absolute Entity. Since Absolute Entity is beyond comprehension, it remains nameless and formless. All forms and all names can be ascribed to the LINGAM. The popular belief is that the Lingam is a phallic symbol, and as such is a symbol of creation. This is at a very earthy level. Linga is derived from the Sanskrit word "Li", which means to merge. It is the form into which everything else merges. The Lingam is shaped more like a cylinder than a phallus. It has been described as a cylindrical darkness, which stretches from end to end and spans the entire universe. It is dark, though it generates all colors of life. It is so powerful, it holds the universe together. Therefore, it is the center of the universe and the entire expanse of the universe. It represents no particular shape, yet all shapes are contained in it.

Lingam is One. It is the symbol of the start of space and time, and it is the symbol where space and time disintegrate and meet the Singularity called OM.

Source: http://www.natyam.com/synopsis_of_om_lingam.htm