Phallic symbols.. by the roadside
I am sure you have come across references to “phallic symbols” in western writings . These symbols were to be seen in “exotic” and little known tribes living in inaccessible jungles or on remote islands. And so I believed till one day… ,,
Till one day, I discovered that in India , one can see phallic symbols almost on any road or street, and what’s more is that they are worshipped. I am of course referring to the Shivalinga.. the iconic representation of Shiva. Now the word <Lingam> (from Sanskrit) means gender (as in grammar) as well as penis. And if you look closely at the Shivalinga, you will see a cup shaped base, from which the Lingam (an erect penis) emerges. This cup signifies the Yoni or vagina. The Shivalinga therefore represents the act of creation, and there is some discussion that it also represents the unified nature of male and female (Shiva is also referred to as Ardhanarishwara) .
In recent times, some Indian researchers have tried to “explain” that the Shivalinga is NOT a phallic symbol and they have offered laboured explanations, but I am not convinced. Other researchers have equally re-affirmed it as a phallic symbol, sometimes adding a philosophical/ spritiual flavour. I think some of them feel embarrassed by the fact that we have millions of these Lingams dotting the country and hence the negation or a spiritual twist.
I think, the Shivalinga is clearly a phallic symbol. In recent times, the shape has become a little abstract, having lost some of the resemblance to a penis, but a look at the oldest known Shivalinga in India, will dispel all doubts. It is considered to be from the 2nd Century AD and is installed a temple in Gudimallam near Renugunta in Andhra Pradesh.
Some years back when I shared this information about the
Shivalinga representing sexual intercourse/ creation, with some friends,
I was not surprised to know that many of them were not aware of it.
(The inspiration for this post was Mahashivaratri , 2011)
I am sure you have come across references to “phallic symbols” in western writings . These symbols were to be seen in “exotic” and little known tribes living in inaccessible jungles or on remote islands. And so I believed till one day… ,,
Till one day, I discovered that in India , one can see phallic symbols almost on any road or street, and what’s more is that they are worshipped. I am of course referring to the Shivalinga.. the iconic representation of Shiva. Now the word <Lingam> (from Sanskrit) means gender (as in grammar) as well as penis. And if you look closely at the Shivalinga, you will see a cup shaped base, from which the Lingam (an erect penis) emerges. This cup signifies the Yoni or vagina. The Shivalinga therefore represents the act of creation, and there is some discussion that it also represents the unified nature of male and female (Shiva is also referred to as Ardhanarishwara) .
In recent times, some Indian researchers have tried to “explain” that the Shivalinga is NOT a phallic symbol and they have offered laboured explanations, but I am not convinced. Other researchers have equally re-affirmed it as a phallic symbol, sometimes adding a philosophical/ spritiual flavour. I think some of them feel embarrassed by the fact that we have millions of these Lingams dotting the country and hence the negation or a spiritual twist.
I think, the Shivalinga is clearly a phallic symbol. In recent times, the shape has become a little abstract, having lost some of the resemblance to a penis, but a look at the oldest known Shivalinga in India, will dispel all doubts. It is considered to be from the 2nd Century AD and is installed a temple in Gudimallam near Renugunta in Andhra Pradesh.
(The inspiration for this post was Mahashivaratri , 2011)
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