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Re: ARTICLE : Swami Vivekanand on origins of Shiva Lingam
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Subject: Re: ARTICLE : Swami Vivekanand on origins of Shiva Lingam
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From: "Jaldhar H. Vyas" <jaldhar@braincells.com>
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Date: Sat, 7 Sep 1996 03:15:01 GMT
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Apparently-To: soc-religion-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu, uk.religion.hindu
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Organization: Consolidated Braincells Inc.
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References: <5077uu$rer@news.ececs.uc.edu> <ghenDxBv3n.4D3@netcom.com>
vivek@cs.rice.edu (Vivek Sadananda Pai) wrote in article
<ghenDxBv3n.4D3@netcom.com>...
>
> With all due respect, that's just one explanation and I don't think
> it's the commonly accepted one. I'm aware of the story where Shiva is
> cursed by Bhrigu Muni, I believe. Someone else can do the full
> retelling, but it basically ends up with the Muni cursing Shiva to be
> worshipped in lingam form only because Shiva did not properly receive
> his guest and was instead engaged in lovemaking.
This is from the Padma Purana. Another story is Shiva Bhagawan entered
the Darukavan where many Rshis were doing tapa in the form of a naked
drunken yogi, covered in ash and garlanded with snakes and with an erect
penis. The Rshis not realizing his true nature attempted to curse him
that his linga (which in this context can't mean anything except penis)
would fall off. Bhagawan allowed this and the world was plunged into
complete darkness. The frightened sages realized their mistake and begged
Him to restore the light, He did and they instituted the worship of the
linga. (From the Shiva Purana)
> I've also mentioned
> the Indus Valley seals and the ithyphallic entity depicted on those in
> another post.
>
The connection between the Indus Valley and present day Indian religions
is tenuous at best and not really relevant to Dharmik people.
> The "infinite column" theory is curious to me, because the lingam
> seems like a poor representation of it. Recall that in that story,
> neither Vishnu nor Brahma could find the ends of the column. However,
> if you go to any temple where a Shivalingam is worshipped, then you'll
> see offerings poured on top of the lingam, or you'll see a
> water-decanter dripping water on top of the lingam. This column isn't
> supposed to have a top.
>
> Speaking from a practical viewpoint, if one wanted to show an infinite
> column in a temple, it would be a simple matter to make a column where
> the column is higher than the door of the inner sanctum. Then, all
> visitors could see column, but not the top or bottom. Given that there
> are so many tall columns in Indian temples, it seems odd that the
> lingam, if it was supposed to be a representation of an infinite
> column, would have the dimensions it does.
>
Well it wasn't supposed to be just an infinite column but a linga of fire.
(The katha is in the Shiva Purana amongst other places.) This is
supposedly the prototype of the 12 Jyotirlingas, though I don't know how 1
became 12 and what relation the story has to their current form.
--
Jaldhar H. Vyas [jaldhar@braincells.com] o- beable .-_|\
Consolidated Braincells Inc. / \
http://www.braincells.com/jaldhar/ Perth Amboy-> *.--._/
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