Re: The Mark of Lord
Originally Posted by
sm78
This thread is for discussion of the most enduring & popular yet rarely properly understood symbol of the Shiva Lingam.
The origin of this symbol of Godhead is beyond the pale of history, with evidence found of its worship in the Harrapan (or Sindhu Saraswati) civilization. Some scholars point out that the origin of the shiva lingam lies in the artharvanic samhitas ~ though vedas do not explicitely mentions this symbol.
The word lingam render itself into many meanings. The most common is "a mark" or "symbol". Thus Shiva Lingam means the symbol or mark of Lord Shiva. This seems to be the view of the saiva sects in brief.
However some shakats seem to propagate the idea of lingam as a symbol of creative force of shiva in the material world ~ they claim shiva lingam is a direct representation of the male regenerative organ and the peetham is the yoni.
Then there are yogic interpretations as well which are more concrete and esoteric at the same time.
Please feel free to post all different views and understanding we have about this great symbol of our dharma which has stood the test of time and is a very powerful "Yantra" or tool for meditation. Please cite appropriate evidence if possible. Shastra pramAna helps to weed off our own imaginations on sacred symbols of our rishis which were certainly not imaginations. I will post what little I know as I find time. Time constraint has prevented me to do my own research into the topic which interests me immensely. I hope the more knowledgeable members here can provide interesting hints and evidence of this supreme symbol of God.
Namaskar All,
Surely Lord has no solid phallus.
In Rig Veda there is a reference that 'three mothers do not weary Him'. It is the ascent -- always, Gunas do not weary it. Never down. Physically, it is Agni, which is hidden in the bosom of mother earth. It is the Atma in beings that is Na Lipayate always -- though immersed in Prakriti. Agni is known to have made a small hole in the sacrifice -- the Jiva, for its own ascent. And at the highest level, it represents the Achala, with Purusha and Prakriti differentiated as well as united. The SELF with its Prakriti -- the awareness, which together truly is the creative principle. Lord thinks: May it be so and so it is.
And Vishnu manifested from Shiva Linga for Madhavacharya.
The following link gives some information
http://www.indiatravelogue.com/sacr/refl/linga.html
Om Namah Shivaya
That which is without letters (parts) is the Fourth, beyond apprehension through ordinary means, the cessation of the phenomenal world, the auspicious and the non-dual. Thus Om is certainly the Self. He who knows thus enters the Self by the Self.
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