Information About ShivaLinga

Information About ShivaLinga

Lingam Consits of two Words Lim and Gam.  Lim means all objects comes to an end and remains stagnant at one place. Gam means the place of recreation. Limgam is a symbol this auspicious swarupam belongs to Lord Shiva.

Sivalingam: Sivalingam literally means the body of Siva. Next to the symbol of AUM, it is perhaps the most potent, powerful and popular symbol in entire Hinduism. In almost all the Siva temples, worship is generally made to Sivalingas only. Very rarely we come across his images in the sanctum sanctorum of any Siva temple. A Sivalingam is usually a round or cylindrical and protruding object. The cylindrical part is held firmly by a circular base. 
On the physical plane, the object resembles the male sexual organ, suggestive of the creative power of Siva. The circular base resembles that of the female, suggestive of his consort Parvathi. Physically a Sivalingam is a phallic symbol, representing the male and female sexual organs in a state of conjugal bliss. Mentally it symbolizes the union of mind and body. Spiritually it represents the union between Purusha and Prakriti, the highest principles of the manifest universe.
The Sivalingam is also symbolic of the Supreme Self. It is verily Maheswara Himself, the Highest Self and the Lord of the universe. In this aspect it has three parts. The lower part represents Brahma. The middle part, which is octagonal in shape, represents Vishnu. The upper part, which is cylindrical in shape, represents Rudra and is also called Pujabhaga since it receives the actual offerings of milk and other substances.

Shiva lingam is Trimurthy Swaroopam, Top Cylidrical portion is Lord Shiva,  middle portion is Vishnu and the base is Bramha.Worshiping Shiva Lingam means worshioing all the three gods together.There are two varities of lingams, Parartha Lingam and Istha lingma.

Parartha Lingam

The following types of lingams are called as parartha Lingam

         -  Syambhu Lingam   This type of Lingam comes out From earth.

         -  Gana Lingam         This type of lingam is installed and 

             worshiped by Goddess Parvathi, Lord Ganapathi, and Lord

             Subrahmanyam.

         -  Dhaiveka Lingam   This type of lingam is installed and

            worshiped by lord bramha and Vishnu.

         -  Aarida Lingam       This type of lingam is installed and

            worshiped by Rishis.

         -  Manushya Lingam  This type of lingam is installed and

            worshiped by human beings

Istha Lingam This lingam is installed by dedicated shiva devotees, who performs shiva puja with out having any food or water under the instructions of their Guru.

Urdva Retas,  Hiranya Retas, Nidhana pataye namah these are all the names of Lord Shiva in Shiva Sahsram and Shiva Asthotram. We call him with this names because, he appeared as Lingodhbhavar murti in the form of a pillar of Fire, all the above names refer to flame and shiva lingam.

God is formless which is called formless. He is every thing so how can we give a form to such an infinte person. But for the benefit of Pashus he took the form of shiva lingam. Shiva Lingam is not a form but it is symbol which is called as Arupa Rupam.

All the deities wear Istha Lingam of their choice on their bodies. The lingams weared by each deities are as follows.

Vishnu	Indra Neelayamaya Lingam -  Sapphire [Kousthubhamani] -
Bhrama	Chandrakanta Lingam [Sailamaya Lingam]
Indra	Manimaya Lingam
Sun	Tamramaya Lingam [Copper]
Chandra	Mukthi Lingam [Pearl]
Lakshmi	Srivriksha Lingam (Bilwa Vriksham)
Kubera	Hema Lingam (Gold)
Four Vishwadevtas	Arakota Lingam (Bronze)
Ashta Vasus	Kansya Lingam (Brass)
Ashwini Devtas	Partheeva Lingam (Mud)
Varun	Sphatika Lingam [Quartz]
Agni	Annamaya Lingam [ Rice ]
Niruti	Darujamaya Lingam [Teak Wood]
Pannagas	Pravaalamaya Lingam [Nagamani]
Rakshasas	Krishnaaya Samaya Lingam [Coal]
Pisachas	Seesha Lingam [Glass]
Guhyakas	Triloka Lingam  {three metals including iron}
Saptamatrukas	Sarvalohamaya Lingam {all metals}
Chamundi	Saikata Lingam {Sand}
Durga Devi	Pishtamaya Lingam {made of flour}
Manonmani	Gandha Lingam {Sandalwood}
Saraswati	Doorva Lingam {medicated grass Lingam}
Srutis	Dadhimaya Lingam {Curd/Yoghurt}
Mantras	Aajya Lingam {pure Cow Ghee}
Maharshis	Kuusaagramaya Lingam {Darbhai}
Yama	Marakata Lingam {Emerald}
Gopakis	Navaneeta Lingam {Butter}
Angarakan (Mars)	Pagadapu Lingam {Coral}
Budhan (Mercury)	Pancharatna Lingam {Green Diamond}
Brahaspati {Guru}	Pushparaga Lingam
Sukran {Diamond}	Vajrapu Lingam
Saturn {Blue}	Neelamani Lingam
Rahu {Topaz}	Gomedhaka Lingam
Ketu {Lapis-Lazuli}	Vaidhurya Lingam

Kempu(Maanikyam) - Ruby

Pacha(Marakatham) - Emerald

Pushyaragam - Yellow Sapphire

Gomedhikam - Jaicinth(Hessonite)

Neelam(Indraneelam) - Blue Sapphire

Vajram - Diamond

Vaiduryam - Cat's eye

Muthyam - Pearl

Pagadam - Red Coral