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Home > Temples of Kerala > Sivalinga SivalingaAs regards the Linga, the emblem of Siva universally venerated, some explanation is needed. Literally Siva means auspiciousness and Linga means a sign of symbol. Hence the Sivalinga is just a symbol of the great God of the universe (Mahadeva) who is all auspiciousness. Siva means the one in whom the whole creation sleeps after dissolution. Linga also means the same thing a place where created objects get dissolved during the disintegration of the created universe. Since, according to Hinduism, it is the same God that creates, sustains and destroys the universe, the Sivalinga represents symbolically God himself. Whether the Sivalinga is a phallic emblem or not, is a moot point. Phallic cults have existed in all countries and in all civilizations. It is quite likely that the phallic cults of an aboriginal civilization were absorbed into Hinduism and the worship itself was elevated to honour the Father – Mother – Principle of creation. This is one view. That it is a remnant of the vedic, Yupastambha, to which sacrificial vistims used to be tied, is another view. According to this view, the Hindu temple is a metamorphosis of the Vedic Yagasala (sacrificial shed). That it is an imitation of the Buddhist stupa is another guess that is sometimes hazarded but not substantiated, since Sivalingas have been found even in pre-Buddhistic civilizations of Harappa and Mohenjodaro. Since God is beyond name and form, and since we cannot conceive of an abstract principle like Him, without the aid of concrete symbols, a rounded surface is perhaps the nearest approach to him. Sivalingas may be Cala (movable) or Acala (immovable). The Cala lingas may be kept in the shrine of ones own home for worship or prepared temporarily with materials like clay or dough etc. for worship and dispensed with after the worship or worn on the body as Istalinga as the Virasaivas do. The acala lingas are those installed in temples. They are usually made of stone andhave three parts. The lowest part which is square, is called Brahmabhaga and represents Brahma, the creator. The middle part which is octagonal, is called Vishnu Bhaga and represents Vishnu the sustainer. These two parts are embedded inside the pedestal. The Rudrabhaga which is cylindrical and projects outside the pedestal is the one to which worship is offered. Hence it is called Pujabhaga. The pujabhaga also contains certain lines technically called Brahmasutra, without which the Linga becomes unfit for worship. Article courtsey : Sri Ramakrishna Math Mylapore, Chennai. Related Reading
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