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In the Shiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the Supreme God. Lingam or Linga is the Sanskrit word for Shiva’s phallus it is used as a symbol for the worship of Shiva. The origin of the lingam dates back to the early Indus Valley civilization. The Lingam is not mentioned in the Vedas yet still the Lingam is a major symbol of worship to many. Even with its absence from the Vedas, the Shiva Lingam is of importance in many other major Hindu scriptures, including the Puranas. As stated by Zimmer the myth of “the origin of the Lingam” – was when there was “no universe only water and the starless night of the lifeless interval b/w dissolution and creation.” All seeds in the ocean rest in dormant state and Vishnu is “anthropormorphic embodiment of this fluid of life is floating.” Vishnu sees bright, shinning luminous light approaching him it is Brahma, the fashioner of the universe the four headed one full of yogic wisdom and he is “shinning with galaxy of suns”. Vishu asked Brahma “Who are you? How did you originate? What are you doing here?” He replied, “I am the first progenitor of all beings; I am her who originated from himself!” The 2 argued as Vishnu said I am the creator and destroyer while they quarrelled they saw a rising out of the ocean a towering lingam crowned with flame, and kept growing larger and larger. The 2 stared at it with amazement and couldn’t even imagine to measures
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Kailasa covered in white ashes from the cremation grounds, rapped in tiger/leopard skin, crescent moon in his hair; the Ganges river pouring from his locks wearing rudraksha beads around his neck, holding a trident and often surrounded by animals. He is attacked by demons who throw at him King Cobra so Shiva breaks his meditation and wrap the cobra around his neck, then the demons send a tiger to attack him and Shiva again breaks his meditation slits open the tiger with his finger nail and throws the guts and he resumes with his meditation, he wraps the tiger skin around his waist. The demons then send a “dwarfism demon- Apasmara” so again Shiva breaks his meditation, throws the dwarf down and jumps on the dwarf with his right foot breaking the dwarf’s back and begins his cosmic dance. As he begins the dance, Shiva creates the cosmos (Shiva-Nataraja). When Shiva dances he embodies the power; evolution, maintenance and dissolution of the world. In his upper right hand he holds the hour glass drum, which as long as Shiva beats the drum, he will maintain the Cosmos, in his upper left hand he holds a ball of fire with which he will destroy the cosmos (kali yuga). He is also ringed by a ring of fire – the destruction of the cosmos. The other right hand is held up in the “fear-not” gesture telling the bhakta to come forward for pooja. The other left hand points downwards to the up lifted left foot which symbolizes
Kailasa covered in white ashes from the cremation grounds, rapped in tiger/leopard skin, crescent moon in his hair; the Ganges river pouring from his locks wearing rudraksha beads around his neck, holding a trident and often surrounded by animals. He is attacked by demons who throw at him King Cobra so Shiva breaks his meditation and wrap the cobra around his neck, then the demons send a tiger to attack him and Shiva again breaks his meditation slits open the tiger with his finger nail and throws the guts and he resumes with his meditation, he wraps the tiger skin around his waist. The demons then send a “dwarfism demon- Apasmara” so again Shiva breaks his meditation, throws the dwarf down and jumps on the dwarf with his right foot breaking the dwarf’s back and begins his cosmic dance. As he begins the dance, Shiva creates the cosmos (Shiva-Nataraja). When Shiva dances he embodies the power; evolution, maintenance and dissolution of the world. In his upper right hand he holds the hour glass drum, which as long as Shiva beats the drum, he will maintain the Cosmos, in his upper left hand he holds a ball of fire with which he will destroy the cosmos (kali yuga). He is also ringed by a ring of fire – the destruction of the cosmos. The other right hand is held up in the “fear-not” gesture telling the bhakta to come forward for pooja. The other left hand points downwards to the up lifted left foot which symbolizes