Lord Shiva, the destroyer of evil and the most compassionate among all deities, is widely worshipped in the form of a Lingam. You must have noticed that in almost every Shiva temple, there is no idol of Lord Shiva in human form — instead, there is a Shivling. But have you ever wondered why Shiva is worshipped in this form?
What is a Shivling?
The word "Lingam" comes from Sanskrit and means "symbol" or "mark". The Shivling represents the formless and infinite nature of Lord Shiva. It shows that God is beyond birth, shape, or end. Unlike other gods who are shown in human forms, Shiva’s Lingam form reminds us that the Supreme Being is formless, limitless, and eternal.
The Story Behind the Shivling
The Infinite Pillar of Light
According to the Shiv Puran, once a great debate broke out between Lord Brahma (the creator) and Lord Vishnu (the preserver) about who was the most powerful among the two. To settle the dispute, a massive, infinite pillar of light (Jyotirlinga) appeared between them. It was blazing with divine energy. Vishnu took the form of a boar (Varaha) and went downward to find its base. Brahma turned into a swan (Hansa) and flew upward to find its top. After searching for thousands of years, neither could find the beginning nor the end of this cosmic pillar. That infinite light was Lord Shiva himself, who then appeared from the pillar and revealed that he is the Supreme Consciousness (Param Brahma)—beyond birth and death, beyond form and formlessness. This pillar of light later became known as the Shivling — the symbol of the formless, eternal, and all-powerful Mahadev.
Spiritual Meaning of the Shivling
The circular base (Yoni) represents Shakti, the feminine energy.
The vertical pillar (Lingam) represents Shiva, the masculine energy.
Together, they show the union of energy and consciousness, which is the source of creation.
So, the Shivling is not just a stone or shape — it’s a deep symbol of the entire universe and its creation.
