Lingam

A lingam (Sanskrit: लिङ्ग IAST: liṅga, lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism.^[1] The word lingam is found in the Upanishads and epic literature, where it means a "mark, sign, emblem, characteristic,"^[2] the "evidence, proof, symptom" of God and God's power.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[1]^[2]

The lingam of the Shaivism tradition is a short cylindrical pillar-like symbol of Shiva, made of stone, metal, gem, wood, clay or precious stones.^[7]^[1] It is often represented within a disc-shaped platform,^[1]^[8] the yoni – its feminine counterpart,^[9]^[10] consisting of a flat element, horizontal compared to the vertical lingam, and designed to allow liquid offerings to drain away for collection.^[11]

The lingam is an emblem of generative and destructive power. While rooted in representations of the male sexual organ, ^[12] the lingam is regarded as the "outward symbol" of the "formless Reality", the symbolization of merging of the 'primordial matter' (Prakṛti) with the 'pure consciousness' (Purusha) in transcendental context.^[13] The lingam-yoni iconography symbolizes the merging of microcosmos and macrocosmos,^[10] the divine eternal process of creation and regeneration, and the union of the feminine and the masculine that recreates all of existence.^[11]^[14]

The lingam is typically the primary murti or devotional image in Hindu temples dedicated to Shiva, also found in smaller shrines, or as self-manifested natural objects.^[15]^[16]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Cite error: The named reference Britannica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b ^c Cite error: The named reference mmw901 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Bonnefoy1993p38 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Kramrisch 1994, p. 221.
^ Cite error: The named reference Ger Wuj 01 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Larson2001p190 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Kramrisch 1994, p. 217.
^ Cite error: The named reference sivaya subramuniyaswami 2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference dasgupta107 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b Beltz, Johannes (1 March 2011). "The Dancing Shiva: South Indian Processional Bronze, Museum Artwork, and Universal Icon". Journal of Religion in Europe. 4 (1). Brill Academic Publishers: 204–222. doi:10.1163/187489210x553566. S2CID 143631560.
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference britannica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Doniger 2011, pp. 493–498.
^ Grimes 1996, p. 17.
^ James G. Lochtefeld (2001). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Volume 2. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 784. ISBN 978-0-8239-3180-4. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
^ Johnson, W.J. (2009). A dictionary of Hinduism (1st ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780191726705. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.(subscription or UK public library membership required)
^ Fowler, Jeaneane (1997). Hinduism: Beliefs and Practices. Brighton: Sussex Academic Press. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-1-898723-60-8.

[Britannica-1] Cite error: The named reference Britannica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[mmw901-2] Cite error: The named reference mmw901 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Bonnefoy1993p38-3] Cite error: The named reference Bonnefoy1993p38 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994221-4] Kramrisch 1994, p. 221.

[Ger_Wuj_01-5] Cite error: The named reference Ger Wuj 01 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Larson2001p190-6] Cite error: The named reference Larson2001p190 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[FOOTNOTEKramrisch1994217-7] Kramrisch 1994, p. 217.

[sivaya_subramuniyaswami_2001-8] Cite error: The named reference sivaya subramuniyaswami 2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[dasgupta107-9] Cite error: The named reference dasgupta107 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Beltzp204-10] Beltz, Johannes (1 March 2011). "The Dancing Shiva: South Indian Processional Bronze, Museum Artwork, and Universal Icon". Journal of Religion in Europe. 4 (1). Brill Academic Publishers: 204–222. doi:10.1163/187489210x553566. S2CID 143631560.

[britannica-11] Cite error: The named reference britannica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[FOOTNOTEDoniger2011493–498-12] Doniger 2011, pp. 493–498.

[FOOTNOTEGrimes199617-13] Grimes 1996, p. 17.

[lochtefeld784-14] James G. Lochtefeld (2001). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Volume 2. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 784. ISBN 978-0-8239-3180-4. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2021.

[doh-15] Johnson, W.J. (2009). A dictionary of Hinduism (1st ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780191726705. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.(subscription or UK public library membership required)

[Fowler-16] Fowler, Jeaneane (1997). Hinduism: Beliefs and Practices. Brighton: Sussex Academic Press. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-1-898723-60-8.

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