So there are a lot of explanations given by many answers here and on the internet. I dont deny any of them. Ishwara appears as seen by the eyes of the devotee so no one can deny their point of views. Here are the common ways of people interpreting the Shiva Linga.
- Head of Shiva
- “Linga” meaning “symbol” so Shiva Linga meaning “Symbol of Shiva”. (This used to be my belief system until now).
- Nirguna Brahman (formless reality)
- Pillar of light (The Agni Linga appearing between Hari and Brahma as per Shaiva scriptures)
I dont deny any of these descriptions as all of these descriptions are based on scriptures ultimately. I am just going to uncover the one interpretation directly derived from the physical nature of the Shiva Linga, which is also based on scriptures, the most uncomfortable interpretation for most people.
THE SEXUAL UNION OF SHIVA AND SHAKTI.
If reading this has already made you uncomfortable, then dont proceed.
Yes, the base of the Shiva Linga is a Yoni and yes the Linga itself is a Phallus showing intercourse between Purusha and Prakriti. Why cant people just accept this? Its because of how taboo the very nature of sexuality is instilled in our brain.
The Skanda Purana very explicitly states that the way the Linga is placed with the Pindi depicts how every male is born with the Linga and every woman with the Pindi. It continues to say that the whole universe is born through the union of Shiva and Shakti. This has been said very directly. There is no “Linga meaning symbol” stuff said here. Linga is the masculine phallus and Pindi is the feminine yoni.
Skanda Purana Kedara Kanda
tathā kiṃ bahunoktena sarve'pi sthirajaṃgamāḥ |
prāṇino'pi hi jāyaṃte kevalaṃ liṃgadhāriṇaḥ || 17 ||
piṇḍīyuktaṃ yatā liṃgaṃ sthāpitaṃ ca yathā'bhavat |
tathā narā liṃgayuktāḥ piṇḍībhūtāstatā striyaḥ || 18 ||
śivaśaktiyutaṃ sarvaṃ jagadetaccarācaram |
taṃ śivaṃ mauḍhyatastyaktvā mūḍhāścānyaṃ bhajaṃti ye || 19 ||17. Of what avail is much talk? All mobile and immobile beings, all animals too, are born bearing the Liṅga.
18. Just as the Liṅga is placed (and consecrated) in conjunction with the Piṇḍī (globular solid pedestal), so also men are endowed with Liṅgas and women are with Piṇḍīs.
19. The entire universe consisting of the mobile and immobile beings is endowed with (the union of) Śiva and Śakti. Those are foolish fellows who, out of delusion, eschew devotion to such Śiva and worship others.
The Shrutis themself state this explicitly. The Rudrahridaya Upanishad very clearly states that Rudra is the Linga (Male phallic symbol) and Uma is the Pitha (feminine Vaginal symbol).
Rudrahridaya Upanishad (Yajurved)
rudrordhvo akṣaraḥ somāya tasmai tasmai namo namaḥ |
rudro liṅgamaṁ pīṭhaṁ tasmai tasmai namo namaḥ || 23 ||Rudra is meaning. Uma is word. Prostrations to Him and Her. Rudra is Linga. Uma is Pitha. Prostrations to Him and Her.
The same is also said by Linga Purana, that the pedestal is clearly the Pitha(vaginal symbol) depicting Uma and the Linga (Phallus) depicts Shiva
Linga Purana Part 2 Chapter 47
The pedestal of the Liṅga is goddess Umā and the Liṅga is Maheśvara himself. By worshipping these two the lord and the goddess are worshipped. By their installation, the lord of Devas is installed along with the goddess. Hence, the most excellent among the installers shall install the Liṅga along with the pedestal.
Mahabharata Anushasana Parva - clearly states that the birth of the universe happened through the union of the sexes vested in the image of Mahadeva.
Behold, O Indra, in the image of Mahadeva the indications of both the sexes. That god of gods, viz., Rudra, that cause of both creation and destruction, displays in his form the indications of both the sexes as the one cause of the creation of the universe. My mother formerly told me that he is the cause of the universe and the one cause of everything. There p. 53 is no one that is higher than Isa, O Sakra. If it pleases thee, do thou throw thyself on his kindness and protection. Thou hast visible evidence, O chief of the celestials, of the fact that the universe has sprung from the union of the sexes (as represented by Mahadeva). The universe, thou knowest, is the sum of what is vested with attributes and what else is divested of attributes and has for its immediate cause the seeds of Brahma and others
The entire tantric sects of Shiva and Shakti believe in this very union as the ultimate source of creation. Kashmiri Shaiva texts lead by Abhinavagupta explicitly state this interpretation .
Hara Hara Mahadeva 🙏🏻🪔📿🔱
Namo Narayana 🙏🏻🪔🪷🦅