LINGA

also spelled Lingam (Sanskrit: sign, distinguishing symbol), in Hinduism, the phallus, symbol of the god Siva, worshipped as an emblem of generative power. The linga is the main object of worship in Saivite temples and private family shrines throughout India. Anthropomorphic representations of Siva are less commonly worshipped. The yoni, which is the symbol of the female sexual organ (and thus of the goddess Sakti, consort of Siva), often forms the base of the erect linga; the two together are a reminder to the devotee that the male and female principles are forever inseparable and that together they represent the totality of all existence. Scholars believe that the cult of the linga has been followed by some non-Aryan peoples of India since antiquity, and short, cylindrical pillars with rounded tops have been found in Harappan remains. The Vedic Aryans appeared to have disapproved of linga worship, but literary and artistic evidence shows that it was firmly established by the 1st2nd century AD. The process of conventionalizing its representation began during the Gupta period, so that in later periods its original phallic realism was to a considerable degree lost. Worship of the linga is performed with offerings of fresh flowers, pure water, young sprouts of grass, fruit, leaves, and sun-dried rice. The purity of the materials and the cleanliness of the worshipper are particularly stressed. Among the most important of all lingas are the svayambhuva (self-originated) lingas, which are believed to have come into existence by themselves at the beginning of time; nearly 70 are worshipped in various parts of India. Images of lingas created by hand range from simple ones made of sandalwood paste or of river clay for a particular rite, and then disposed of, to more elaborate ones of wood, precious gems, metal, or stone. The canons of sculpture lay down exact rules of proportion to be followed for the height, width, and curvature of the top. The mukhalinga has from one to five faces of Siva carved on its sides and top. Another common icon in South India is the lingodbhavamurti, which shows Siva emerging out of a fiery linga. This is a representation of the sectarian myth that the gods Vishnu and Brahma were once arguing about their respective importance when Siva appeared in the form of a blazing pillar to quell their pride. Brahma took the form of a swan and flew upward to see if he could find the top of the pillar, and Vishnu took the form of a boar and dived below to find its source, but neither was successful, and both were compelled to recognize Siva's superiority.