The linga or male sex organ represents spirit or consciousness, says M N KUNDU
Linga puja is widely prevalent all over India in many of our temples. Even when other images of God are there, the lingam is worshipped alongside with equal prominence. Elsewhere in the world, many might consider this odd, even downright obscene, and describe it as a remnant of primitive phallic worship, but it is based on the highest philosophy of creation and culmination of Self-realisation. Hindus have always kept it at the heart of their ancient spiritual culture and never taken it as obscene or sexual, especially when you understand that highly spiritual symbolism is involved in it. Linga puja is prehistoric in origin and was prevalent during the ancient Harappan civilisation.There is mention of it even in the Atharva Veda. But its profound spiritual significance has been highlighted by the Shaivites, a prominent sect of the Hindus who worship Shiva as an embodiment of the Absolute. The Sanskrit word lingam means an emblem or symbol. It has been derived from the words lina, meaning complete union and gam, meaning to go.Thus lingam that presents the union of male and female sex organs really signifies movement for union of the dual scales of delusion, negative and positive, jivatma and Paramatma, and spirit and nature.
While yoni, the female sex organ on which linga is set represents universal energy behind everything in Creation, the linga or male sex organ represents spirit or consciousness. Shiva also manifests merger of dualities of various sorts. He is an ascetic and a family man, most disciplined and an intoxicant, god of destruction and the ultimate refuge of gods. He is not merely an aspect of the Trinity but god of all gods as well. That is why he is also called Shankara, which means amalgamation. Lingam also symbolises Shiva- Shakti, the spirit and nature, the primordial polarity principle of creation evident in the universe. Nothing exists in this phenomenal universe without spirit manifesting through nature. The apparent sex symbol presents this in a unique manner, as the sexual union is invariably at the root of procreation and union with the Absolute is also the culmination of spiritual realisation. It stretches far beyond to symbolise union of all dualities in creation, the complete merger of which with spirit leads to the realisation of Shiva, the Absolute Nothingness or the Ultimate Being. The lingam is the basic form or structure behind the creation of the cosmos. It is mathematical in form and an ellipsoid, and at the root of all matter at the level of atom where electrons apparently move elliptically as do the planets in the solar system. The first manifestation and final extinction of light is also elliptical.The Absolute is beyond all polarity and hence it is represented perfectly by the sphere. But when it divides itself into two we get the ellipsoid. The Absolute manifests as Shiva-Shakti or spirit and nature, the consciousness and power principle. The profound spiritual significance behind the concept of lingam or sex worship nullifies the western notion that it is merely an extension of primitive phallus worship.When we ponder over the deeper connotation of the emblem, it attunes us with cosmic energy and consciousness that the lingam symbolises.
Eternal Wisdom
Thus the lingam facilitates us to merge with it and feel what Shankara has narrated in Nirvanashatakam, “I am all-pervasive without any form or attributes. I have neither attachment to the world nor to liberation. I have no wishes for anything as I am everything, everywhere in every time. I am always in equilibrium. I am that eternal wisdom and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness. I am He, I am He, blessed Spirit I am He.” ■ Post your comments at speakingtree.in
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