Why HIndus in India worship shiv linga instead of Shiva?

Question

Linga means a sexual organ.Anybody who knows the real reason behind worshipping linga may please answer.THis is for the benefit of so many people who have the same doubt and reluctant to ask.

Answer 1

Some ignorants translate "Linga" as penis which is Wrong

The Linga has different meanings - shapeless, without organs, long drum like, etc

penis is called linga by some people due to its shape...the actual world for penis is "Shishna"

Shiva Linga here means, Shiva without form... it is like when we die our soul is called "Linga Sharira" now we never mean that after death we become Penis ??

Shiva being worshipped as Linga means the Consciousness in its primodal form...where Consciousness is entering into the Eternal Energy (Shakti).

Thus shivalinga is the state of god, just before the manifestation of Universe, a little before bag bang.

Shiva is worshipped as Linga...because that is the highest of all manifested gods, formless, attributeless.... simple Consciousness and Energy (shiva and shakti)

Answer 2

Shiva linga doesnot mean sexual organ . The real meaning of linga is LIYANTHE YATRA GAMYANTHE where everything merges into one is the real meaning . Now another concept the upper part is taken as the organ of man the lower of a woman . It shows that the universe is in perfect bliss when the male and female entities unite.It is like ying and yang of zen philosophy. Shiva is given the form of linga because he has given his half to his wife . The people might have thought it is better to worship him as a symbol because their goal was formlessness of the almighty the shape is very easy to meditate upon.

Answer 3

There may be different meanings for Linga but we should not get our attention diverted to unwanteded things and we should know what is Shiva Linga-

Shiva Linga is the holy symbol of Lord Shiva that is considered sacred by the devotees of Lord Shiva. The word, ‘Lingum’ in Sanskrit means, ‘symbol’. Shiva Lingum, therefore means symbol of Lord Shiva and is therefore considered most sacred by Shaivaites. Siva Linga has been worshipped in Hinduism since ages. Worship of Shiva Linga is regarded sacred and superior Shiva Mahapurana. This is because the form makes worship simple while maintaining the truth that God does not have any definite form. Shiva Linga is considered as the point of energy, creation and enlightenment.

Shiva Lingas are usually made of stone that may either be carved or naturally existing - svayambhu, such as shaped by a swift-flowing river. Shiva Lingas may also be made of metal, precious gems, crystal, wood, earth or transitory materials such as ice.

Interpretation of Shiva Linga as an Abstract Symbol of God-

Some scholars of the Hindu scriptures say that Linga is merely an abstract symbol of the God. They point towards several legends in Hinduism where a sundry rock or even a pile of sand has been used by as a Lingam or the symbol of Shiva. Citing a particular instance they say, Arjuna once fashioned a linga of clay when worshipping Shiva. Scholars of Puranas, thus argue that too much should not be made of the usual shape of the Lingam. Scholars say that the interpretation of Shiva Linga as an abstract form of God is also consonant with philosophies that hold that God may be conceptualized and worshipped in any convenient form. The form itself is irrelevant, as the divine power that it represents is all that matters. Scholars thus say that Sivalinga represent the formless Nirguna Brahman or the formless Supreme Being. -

Answer 4

Linga in Sanskrit does not say only one meaning, it has 7 meanings in Sanskrit.
* The image of a god
* A symptom or mark of disease
* A spot or stain
* A means of proof, a proof, evidence
* The effect or product which evolves from a primary cause
* The concept of grammatical gender
* The phallus

and cant tell you each thing here you just take a look on lingam in wikipedia you will get all the answers there i have read that.

Answer 5

It is for the better understanding of us that Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Linga. Hinduisim also states that Lord takes any form. Thus we can understand that Lord is above all forms.

Answer 6

Linga is the shape of a stump. it is not penis . Penis also looks like a stump. any small post planted on the earth does not denote a penis .We show our thum as a signof victory .it alos looks like a penis .we dono mean it. The worship of god represented by a tructure as sybloic of he god is th eoldes form of worship.
if you see the hopuseholds in the south of Inida during festival times , the spresd a palntaion leaf and place a braoinze tall lamp on it and sprad fruits , betal leaves and nuts and othr food items and place a small lum of cow dung shaped like a stump.they dont callit any linga . it is representative of the god vigneswara .. If you go the viullages in tamil nadu , you would see brick stuructures of about four to five feet height with a broad square base of about four square feet tapering at the top to one square feet . These structures are called mada swamy .I is representative of Lord shiva .similarly , you would see iodlsof a women's head at the ground level of mere stone of about one foot high erected under th eneem tree and clad in red sariand called Iyakki. Iyakki means the one who activates .That is representative of parvathi or shakthi. the stum -stupa shaped structure that is representatie of he shiv is called shiva linga . it does not mean that it is he penis of shiva as people wh mock the Hindus used to call.
while invading sri langa .made a small structure in the wet sand on the beach of Rameswaram - stumpshaped or stupa shaped structure to represnet Lord shiva and worshipped it in voking the blessings of Lord shiva for victory over Ravana .This structue -stupa - linga is known as Ramalinga and shivalings . If it was meant to be the ling aod lord shiva , it would have been called shiva linga and not Ramalinga .-made by lord Rama .solinga dose not mean penis just because penis is also is in he shape of a linga or he thumb .the thumb is not a penis as it is in the shape of the linga .So while you worship shiva linga , you are not worshipping the penis of shiva , but a simple structure in whicn you invoke the shiva . This is the earliest form of worhip when the chiselling of figures by men were unknown . A form that any one can esily make at any time and anywhere as Lord Rama did on the sands of the sea in Rameswaram before invading Srilanga .

Answer 7

Are you aware that VAGINA OF PAR VATHI is worshipped in GHAUHATI & in the cave of KAMAKI templein ASSAM. Brother there is NO SEX at all in worshipping any god or goddess.Note My name is SIVALINGAM-- how do you feel it to say.

Answer 8

Because it is worthy of worshiping

Answer 9

Aum said it right! :D