Lingam

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"Linga" redirects here. For other uses, see Linga (disambiguation).

"Shivling" redirects here. For mountain, see Shivling (Garhwal Himalaya).

Traditional flower offering to a Lingam in Varanasi

The Lingam (also, Linga, Ling, Shiva linga, Shiv ling, Sanskrit लिङ्गं liṅgaṃ, meaning "mark" or "sign") is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples.^[1] The Lingam has also been considered a symbol of male creative energy or of the phallus.^[2][3] The lingam is often represented with the Yoni, a symbol of the goddess or of Shakti, female creative energy.^[2] The union of lingam and yoni represents the "indivisible two-in-oneness of male and female, the passive space and active time from which all life originates".^[4] A complementary theory suggests that the Lingam represents the beginningless and endless Stambha pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva.^[5][6]

Contents [hide] 1 Definition 2 History 2.1 Origin 2.2 Historical period 2.2.1 Shaiva siddhanta 2.2.2 Sculpture 2.3 Modern period 3 Naturally occurring lingams 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External links