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In Sanskrit, Linga means a 'mark' or a symbol, which points to an inference. Thus the Shiva
Linga is a symbol of Lord Shiva - a mark that reminds of the Omnipotent Lord, which is
formless.
Shiva Linga speaks to the devotee in the unmistakable language of silence, and it is only the
outward symbol of the formless being, Lord Shiva, who is the undying soul seated in the
chambers of your heart, who is your in-dweller, your innermost self or 'Atman,' and who is
identical with the supreme 'Brahman.'
The ancient scripture Linga Purana says that the foremost Linga is devoid of smell, colour, taste,
etc., and is spoken of as 'Prakriti' or Nature itself. In the post-Vedic period, the Linga became
symbolical of the generative power of Lord Shiva.
The Linga is like an egg, and represents the 'Brahmanda' or the cosmic egg.
Linga signifies that the creation is effected by the union of 'Prakriti' and 'Purusha,' the male and
the female powers of Nature. Linga also signifies 'Satya,' 'Jnana' and 'Ananta' - Truth, knowledge
and Infinity.
A Shiva Linga consists of three parts, the lowest of which is called the 'Brahma-Pitha,' the
middle one, the 'Vishnu-Pitha' and the uppermost one, the 'Shiva-Pitha.'
There are 12 'Jyotir-lingas' and 5 'Pancha-bhuta Lingas' in India. The dozen Jyotir-lingas are:
Kedarnath, Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath, Baijnath, Rameswar, Ghrusneswar, Bhimshankar,
Mahakal, Mallikarjun, Amaleshwar, Nageshwar and Tryambakeshwar. The 5 Pancha-bhuta
Lingas are: Kalahastishwar, Jambukeshwar, Arunachaleshwar, Ekambareshwar of Kanjivaram
and Nataraja of Chidambaram. The temple of Lord Mahalinga at Tiruvidaimarudur known also
as Madhyarjuna is regarded as the great Shiva temple of South India.
It is prescribed for the deepest kind of worship of Lord Shiva. It has no color of its own, but
takes on the color of the substance which comes in contact with it. It represents the 'Nirguna
Brahman' or the attribute-less Supreme Self or the formless Shiva.
For a sincere devotee, the Linga is not merely a block of stone. It is all-radiant - talks to him,
raises him above body-consciousness, and helps to communicate with the Lord. Lord Rama
worshiped the Shiva Linga at Rameshwaram. Ravana, the learned scholar, worshiped the golden
Linga for its mystical powers.