Philosophy of Shivlinga (English)

We all have seen around us since childhood that many people worship Shivling. People of every part of India can see unwavering reverence for Shivling. If we look into Indian history, then we get to see that Shivling is being worshiped not from today but from several thousand years ago. Not only in India but in many countries of Asia like Cambodia, Indonesia, Fiji, Afghanistan, we find hundreds, thousands of years old Shivling. And even today temples have been built for worshiping Shivling in every part of the world. When we look at the Shivling from the upper eyes, its shape appears to be similar to that of a female vagina and a male penis. A very large group of people consider Shivalinga worship as nothing more than pomp, while a very large group of people consider Shivling to be God. Have you ever thought about why Shivling has been worshiped for thousands of years? What is the importance of worshiping Shivling, does it really represent the vagina and the linga? Today we will try to find answers to some such questions. Therefore, I urge you that before making any ideology towards Shivling, you should open your mind and eyes completely and read this article and think, after that make an opinion on Shivling.

If we look at the Shivling from the upper eyes, it seems that it represents the vagina and the penis, and many people consider this interpretation of Shivling to be obscene and sloppy. Let us now try to understand the philosophy of Shivling. We see Shivling as the cosmic energy pillar, which shows the origin, existence, and destiny of the universe. The base part of the Shivling represents Brahma i.e. the creation and a little upper part shows Vishnu i.e. the state of creation. The yoni and the linga above these represent the energy that is responsible for the origin of the entire universe. It symbolizes both the vagina and penis’s energy, the energy that can neither be created nor destroyed. This energy shows that the entire universe and creation have originated from this and will eventually get absorbed in it. The oval of the linga (penis) above the vagina reflects the cyclical nature of the universe which means that the universe constantly arises and ends, but that which is always, everywhere, all the time is the same energy. Energy is infinite and nirguna. The entire existence of mankind is due to the energy of the union of the vagina and the penis. If we see from the point of view of psychology, then Shiva Linga is a symbol of the harmony of femininity and masculinity, it is the combination of woman and man, which is responsible for the existence of all human beings. Neither man alone nor woman alone is capable of maintaining the continuity of this universe, therefore both man and woman must live in harmony to maintain the order of the universe. Therefore, it would not be wrong to say that Shivling is a symbol of the perfection of existence. Not only Indian Hindu civilization, but Japanese philosophy describes this harmony of man and woman as the philosophy of yin and yan.

Nag (snake) has divine status in Indian Hindu civilization because according to this, the snake uses its energy to increase its concentration, consciousness, and complete self-control by not going to wasteful activities. When the serpent (Nag) understands himself completely, then he is at the peak of concentration, consciousness as a result of which a gem appears on his head. This gem is a symbol of the serpent’s self-realization and self-control. This is the reason why in Indian yoga and meditation texts the human Kundalini Shakti is depicted as a two-and-a-half-Kundli (spiral) serpent. The snake draped over the Shivling also represents the same meditative state. Indian Hindu texts emphasize that the physical union of man and woman is necessary, but even more, so that man should understand himself completely and have complete control over himself. The serpent wrapped around the Shivling shows that a person has to reach the peak of his consciousness, only then the gem of energy of complete and pure knowledge will be adorned on his head. The lowest part of this two-and-a-half-kundli serpent, which is in contact with the base of the yoni and the penis, represents the lowest level of human consciousness, which is called the Muladhara Chetna Chakra in Indian yogic texts. But according to Hindu civilization, it is necessary for man to control all his senses in order to attain knowledge. For the attainment of knowledge, it is necessary to develop consciousness, which is possible through yoga and meditation, as the level of consciousness of man increases as he goes on conquering his senses. Through yoga and meditation, when a person has conquered all his senses and desires, then he reaches the peak of consciousness, which in yogic texts is called Sahasrara Chakra or Brahma Consciousness Chakra. As a result of the activation of the Brahma consciousness chakra, man attains complete knowledge. The serpent wrapped on the Shivling represents the journey of man from this very basic consciousness chakra to the Brahma consciousness chakra. Therefore we can say that Shivling defines the perfection of man.

Let us now understand the hidden psychology behind Shivling worship, we all have heard a saying that without suffering there is no fruit. Therefore, whatever we offer during worship on Shivling, it shows that if we want to reach the peak of our consciousness, then we will have to bear all kinds of troubles, we have to use our time, energy and give up rest. Therefore we can say that we have to sacrifice and give up whatever we have in order to achieve any goal, Shivling worship shows the psychology of that sacrifice. Therefore we can say that the philosophy of Shivling is a complete symbol of knowledge that shows the truth and perfection of life to man. According to me, all the great personalities who have started worshiping Shivling must have been very knowledgeable and philosophical in nature.

In the end, I would like to know from you about your views. What do you think about Shivling and the knowledge related to it, in your view, what were the people who started worshiping Shivling, thugs or knowledgeable? You can give your views through comments.