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Shiva Linga – why worship the Shiva phallus?
Posted on January 10th, 2011 18 comments
It really has not been that long, when I came to know, we Hindu worship a Shiva’s Linga (Shiva Lingam); Lord Shiva in the form of a phallus (penis). But, this knowledge made my skin crawl shiver in sheer disgust.One of my friends, who is devoted to Shiva, tried to make me understand her side of story, a good side to that story. But I was so disgusted; my mind refused to understand the good-good things she was telling me. My mind simply rejected to hear her version of the worship culture. I am a Hindu by birth but, I have lost the respect for the religion due to absurd things like worshiping the Shiva Linga. Going temple every morning to worship somebody’s phallus (who cares even if belongs to a god) is just too much in the name of Dharma. Give me a break. I am not that type.
I don’t care what you do in your bedroom. You are free to explore your wild side but, do me one favor and don’t tell me all about that.
I am not a temple visitor, as it requires me to walk around the temple area on bare feet and temples are not that clean do to so. But, it’s been decades since I have visited a temple.
Wait a minute; do I need to enter temples?
Most of the time it’s on the roadside to see how clean the area is! Some says Pashupati is cleaner than before. But, I don’t wants to know. After knowing what exactly in the temple, I am not sure about others but, I am least interested to visit it.
One of my good friends once said about ‘Unmatta Bhairav’ that, it’s image boosted his mood occasionally; and time and again he used to go to see the image just to recharge him.
I am wondering: What does worshiping Shiva Linga teach us? What should we be learning from this worship? Why do thousands of people visit Pashupati Naths’ temple every morning? What’s in their mind ? Why is it so important to visit that place that houses Shiva Linga?In the Shiva Puran, a book written about lord Shiva, says, ‘The linga of Shiva, cursed by the sages, fell on the earth and burnt everything before it like fire. Parvati took the form of a yoni and calmed it by holding the linga in her yoni’. The shiva linga seen in the first photo is the symbolic sculpture of that procedure. The religious pundits believe it to be the symbol of creation.
It is not only Pashupati Nath Temple that houses Shiva’s Linga. There are many other sexual sculptures in our temples.
In fact, the sexual representation in our religious destinations are more than such books we can buy from the Nepali market (Ok, let me admit one thing here, this kind of book is some thing I don’t go for hunting and blue movies do not appeal to me either). There are few explanations on why such erotic images of gods and goddess in the temple like -to ward off the bad intentions in people; don’t make sense.I wonder, what kind of bad intention people might get while visiting temples? Or, is it an advertisement – so that people visit temples more often?
I wonder, what image comes in those people’s mind when they really cry and need to reach out for the God and pray ‘Oh God’!
Just wondering !
(In the photo above, a women stares at a realistic Shiva Linga for sale on the streets near Pashupanti Nath temple during Teej festival. Photo credits – izahorsky, from Flickr)
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Thoughts | Author: sunita Kal Bhairav, Kathmandu, Lord Shiva, Parbati, Pashupati, Shiva Linga, Shiva Lingam
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the writer of this article is Mudha meaning Fool. Continue sleeping until Lord decends himself to awaken you. lol..
Hinduism is taught as an animistic cult in Western Religions courses in the US. It is a religion created by aBrahmin or Priest, Upper Caste, to lure and seduce women of lower economic status. Even today in Varanasi Temples, devdasis are nothing but, sex-slaves of the sanyasis and yogis. In a modern world, such denigration of women as a mere piece of meat is appalling.
Writer,
Now, let us suppose that it is Shiva’s penis. Will that make it obscene? The fact that 830 some million Hindus, educated and uneducated, sophisticated and simple, at least most of them, do not think as such, is beside the point. Is the human body, male or female or a part thereof, obscene? If it is, then God is the biggest pornographer.
In Michealangelo’s painting, Creation, Adam is stark naked with his genital fully exposed. Does anyone think that that is an obscene painting? The largest number of nude paintings, in any one place, is on the ceilings of Sistine Chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Are they obscene?
What make something obscene or not, is its intended purpose or motivation for displaying it. Do you get the same feelings when you look at the above mentioned paintings, as when you look at Playboy or Playgirl or Hustler Magazines?
Are the feelings we get when watching a woman dancing in a club, topless, with firm or not so firm breasts (if they are two sagging pouches, forget it, the owner of the club lost his investments) and watching another woman, lifting her blouse and the bra to feed her infant? Absolutely not, although both are the same organ. One is obscene. The other is not.
In Hindu philosophy, it is the duty of all living things to procreate. When, where, why, and with whom it is done make it right or wrong.
1. In the world the most important thing is regeneration or reproduction.
2. Birth is said to be the most sacred thing which living organism can have.
3. No matter how much intelligence is with any living organism, the living ones always try to protect the birth of their next generation. E.g. Even the birds and snakes find out the safest place to put their eggs. All living bodies try to protect and generate the next generation.
4. With one drop of sperm, the whole body of baby is formed – Life is born. (Amazing ..!). The regeneration happens only when one achieve the highest satisfaction of “Samaagam”.
4. The highest point of meditation is when your mind is at zero- means one has no thought in his/her mind. The highest point of empty mind is achieved when one has “Samagam”
The Linga and Yoni is treated as most sacred thing in the world because it is reproductive organ of the body. The reproduction itself is most sacred part of life. SO
“Shiv-Linga” is representing the “Linga” means the energy which put “LIFE” into the body. That’s why it is worshiped.
Shiv-Linga is a pure and strong SCIENCE SYMBOL.
– Understand the meaning behind everything, before criticize it.
This is most common blunder misconception about shivalingam worship, arises due to blind following of the ‘research’ carried out by so called west scholars, whose minds are so obessed with sex and bible, that they cant think beyond it,and our ‘slave mentality’ blindly follows it.If you search about shivalingam in google you will find so called ‘Phallus worshipping’ spreads out throughout the internet.But my brother/Sister These are not true at all.”Lingam” is a sanskrit word which is having more than 20 meaning but These so called scholar sees only one meaning i.e “Phallus”.You should not gather your knowledge from any tom,dick & harry type of source and conclude errorneously about Hinduism.
‘Lingam Worship’ having a very vedic significance.As we know all hinduism principle starts from vedas only.You should see “The Complete Works Of Swami Vivekananda Vol-4 chapter – “The Paris Congress of the History Of religion”.Go and read it.I could have written here also but i cant quote whole chapter and order to avoid further confusion one should read whole chapter.
I hope I have been able to remove your misconception about “Lingam Worship”.
Dear writer,
you and scores of people like you all over the world are forgetting the beauty and power of creation. If a women breastfed her child in the bus, would you look at her in disgust or would you cast a sideways lewd look at her? Looks like you might! Since when did the phallus, vagina or human breasts become a ‘vulgarity?’. Clearly, this was not so in ancient India. The same way we admire fake glitter nails or colored, permed hair today, each part of human body was admired in ancient india.
We are designed in the form of god.Fat or thin, wrinkled or smooth skin, we celebrated human existence. We have a god for love (kaamadeva) and godess for sex(ratidevi) and this symbolically represents the intense link between love and sex.Also, sex is also a divine and sacred act. It is with the infiltration of western thoughts, that aspects like sex lost their divinity. Now, a phallus reminds you perhaps of a disgusting porn movie! That is why u are saying: ” I am not that kind of a person”.
Dear friend, open your eyes. Shiva and Parvathy in Union are the symbolic representation of creation and when you see the sivalinga next, think of the wonder, the joy, the eternity, the magnificence of creation. Sexual union is a lot of things including love, peace, joy and bliss when it is perceived in the right way. And you asked what should you pray.rt? Pray for love, for knowledge and for eternal peace.
Aruna,
Appreciate your reply. Unlike many, you have understood the real meaning behind the symbol.
Very well written.
I don’t encourage sex in temples. We know the fact that reproductive organs are part of our bodies and sex is a part of reproduction and they are essential. But I oppose that the sex organs are our Gods. If sex is a sacred thing, we can allow people have sex in temples itself rather than going to any other lodges or something else. The porn pictures on the walls of the temples imply that we can lust and commit mistakes in the name of sacred thing?…. KAMA is a big sin. Isn’t it? And we Hindhus have God KAMADEV and RATI DEVI. So should we worship Kama? I think we East are far more disguisting than the west in this matter. God is the symbol of Truth, Love, Peace, Joy, Eternity, Life., BUT NOT THE SYMBOL OF SEX AND SEX ORGANS. Please think broad. And search for more information.
Dear author,
I completely agree with your thoughts. In fact I am equally confused. I am amazed at the comments – not a single one answers your question or clarifies your confusion (including madhab bhatta above, who says that the religion’s teachings matches with science…) Anyone? Please reply with meaningful words instead of asking the writer to go learn more…(from where? and what?).
Hoping to see some comments that might bring some clarity to the questions raised.
Dear Writer, Probably you may not know the core of hinduism. Shivalinga represents the creation of everythhing. it is in the firm of seeds not the penis as ur surface eye saw it. I had also so many misunderstanding about our religion. I tried to get te answer from many sources. As thhat is the oldest religion there are many interpretations and missinterpretations in our religion. to find the true religion I used to go Churches and even used to discuss with Muslim friends when I was in Dubai. I always used to compare religion with science. I had created my own logic that if it is true religion then this should have common things accepted by science. I had asked with priest and maulana so many times about the creation of human in the earth. According to Bible and Koran they had the same answer about 6000 years ago. When i read the Gita there has written that the story of Ramayan is abt 1.7 million yrs ago. this kind of vast difference had made me to feel like any of the religions are not true. It was the matter of 2004 there was news publised abt NASA’s investigation, which found the bridge (between India and Srilanka)made by Ram was abt 1.7 million yrs old.
This incident made me to believe about our religion.
At last it is true that there are lots of illusions abt Shiva and other trinities (Brama, Bisanu, Mahesowr) I suggest the writer to attain some of the OM SHANTI classes to get rid of this kind of illusions.
Om Nama Shivaya
HA HA AA WHO EVER IS THE PUBLISHER HE/SHE DONT BELIEVE IN THE RELIGION & CULTURE………IF U DONT LIKE THEN DONT CRITICISE ……..THATS THE FACT WHAT THE SHIVA LINGA HOW THIS WORLD HAD CREATED BUT MY FREN WRITIN SUCH ARTICLE FEEL HARM 2 ALL OF HINDUS ..FIRST OFF ALL U GO THROUGH THE HINDU HOLY BOOKS……& FEEL SORRY &B GUILTY ABOUT THIS……..
AND ALSO GIVIN SUCH ARTICLE MEANS U DONT BELIEVE UR SELF…U DONT RESPECT TO OTHERS U DONT HAVE MANKIND U R CRUEL………………SO BETTER GO OUT OF THOSE HOLY TEMPLES AND GO OUT OF HINDU RELIGON…………………BUT DONT CRITICISE OUR RELIGON,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,WHOLE WORLD IS DEPEND ON OUR GOD,,,,,,,,,,,JAI SAMBHO…..!!!!!!
So, if a person cannot question why his religion is making him worship a PENIS, then there is definitely something wrong with that religion.
Umesh jee :
you got the core point
Sunita
Dear Shri or Shrimati X, who has written the article seems to be of that modern brat brigade whose parents ensure that they have no ‘wants’ in their lives. Such “aaram ki zindagi” ensures that they look upon the world superficially and have probably destroyed their great power of deep thinking – the power to look beyond the skin level – and into the actual idea.
Just because your feet get dirty you avoid a visit – how very absurd!! Anyway, my dear, I will not get into detailed discussions and analysis about Hinduism (kindly do not try to learn about Hinduism from Western authors/translators like Griffith, etc) but it might just be sufficient to say that you would look much better with your mouth shut (figuratively, of course!).
I fully support “Prativa” ji. I don’t have anything to say except that “the author has to learn more”. One can easily say that about her knowledge in hinduism by her words. Thank god that many Nepali people are not reading her words otherwise she would have spent few years reading all the comments people would post. Note to author: PLEASE GIVE SOME TIME TO WATCH RELIGIOUS (e.g. Om nama sibaya) PROGRAMS OR BOOKS RATHER THAN SEX AND THE CITY,….. blah blah…and you will learn more. Well here we have to thank India for making those wonderful serials.
did you take that picture? did you ask that woman why she made her face like that? may be some one made that linga look vulgar, it is the artist’s mistake. but in temple we worship are not as vulgar as that one. and please don’t criticize any religion. people have faith on it, and think 1000 times before you write something and try to show your self as a revolutionist. once there was a lady lawayer who wanted to file a case against the KUMARI pratha and destroying that kids childhood. OHHH PLEASE even if u have western thoughts keep it in west don’t try to practice it in east. If you don’t worship GOD then ok, we are not interested in it if you go temple or temple is clean or not. if u r hindu, hope atleast u take a name of one god once a day, may be u feel like goign to temple when u feel low ( it’s true though u say you do not like) can’t u wash u r leg once they get dirty? Any way hope nepali and indian Shiva sena leaders don’t read your article. about comparing blue movie with the kamasutra art, i did not understand that. nice to know that u do not hunt for blue movies
@Sangesh and @prativa यो कसैको आस्था माथिको प्रहार होइन | आफ्नो विचार मात्र हो | तपाई मान्नु नमान्नु तपाइको विचार |
सुनीता जी लाइ मन नपरे पनि मेरो बिचारमा शिब लिंग एउटा उत्कृस्ट कला हो – तेसैले त सम्पूर्ण हिन्दुहरु ले यो मुर्ति लाइ अश्लिल नमानेर देवताको रुपमा पूजा गरेका हुन् | कसैले माने पनि नमाने पनि सृस्टि को लागि लिंग र योनिको संगम नभई हुदैन | …धार्मिक मानिस हरु सबै जोगी भै दिए भने कसले सन्तान उत्पादन गर्ने ? तेसैले येस्तो कला र टुडालहरुमा भएका सम्भोगरत आकृतिहरु निर्माण गरिएको हुनु पर्छ |
तर पहिले देखि चलेको चलन गलत हुदैन भनेर भन्न पनि मिल्दैन ! पृथिबी कचौरा जस्तो छ भन्ने पुरातन “सत्य” लाइ गलत भन्दैमा मर्नु परेको इतिहास पनि छ |
म सुनिताजी को कुरामा पूर्ण रुपमा सहमत नभए पनि — येस्तो कुराको बारेमा गरमागरम बहस हुनु जरुरि छ भन्ने ठान्दछु | मनमा लागेको कुरा गुम्स्याएर राख्नु हुदैन र येस्तो कुरागर्न रोक्नु पनि हुदैन – आज रोके पनि भोलि कसै न् कसै ले गरी हाल्छ |
बरु येस्तो कुरा गर्ने लाइ कसरि मुख भरी को जवाफ दिने सो को तयारि गरौ न् |
You indirectly agree that you worship vulgar things. Want proof? Go through your own comment once again. Your inner soul itself tells that you are worshipping the vulgar thing instead of real God. But you are not at all ready to accept it. Because you are convinced in worshiping the reproductive organs and you are habituated to it. If you really accept praying to the sex organs, then why did you say the picture is vulgar? Don’t you know they are sex organs of Shiv and Parvati? Then what if the idol is vulgar or not vulgar… Your soul is telling that you are doing wrong ( praying them). Accept it. Please think broad. Know that God is the symbol of Truth, Love, Sacrifice Peace, Joy, Life, Eternity., but not the SYMBOL OF SEX OR SEX ORGANS.
Try to find out who is the real only GOD. If you are unable to find go through the hints that I have given. The one who sacrifised himself to give us eternal life.
dear writer (i cudn’t find out the name or gender). first of all i was amazed to know that being a hindu u came to know so late that we hindus worship shivlinga. u r making fun of such a religion which is the oldest and third largest living religion in earth. even the western world is so much impressed of our Vedas and Purans. i think u wud hate to know that most of the people in western countries have read our Holly Gita. the word OHM has such power that it is pronounced by people all over the world while they r in meditation. Shiv ling resembles the creation of lives in this earth. remember u r also a creature. ya i do not need to make u understand what does it really mean coz u can read enough information on internet or some other books. u dont go to temple does that make any sense? its ur choice. oh u think that temples are dirty so walk on bare feet. dont u think u r also a citizen of the country, then who is suppose to clean it? r u a prince or princess that u cant walk on the uncleaned floor? wat do u think about the millions of people around the world who have never seen shoes or slippers?
dear sir or madam ,, u r always free to have ur own view on anything but do mind before hating anything because there might be millions loving it.
gud day