Linga
Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 1 "Bricks, Beads and Bones"; Class 12, Ch 4 "Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings"
Meaning
The linga is a stone symbol of the god Shiva, often rounded at the top. In Puranic Hinduism, Shiva was mainly worshipped through the linga and only sometimes shown in human form. It became the main object of worship in most Shiva temples. Much earlier, some cone-shaped stones found at Harappan sites have been classified as lingas. Scholars are not sure about this, because the meaning of Harappan objects is often unclear.
Example
The Kailashnatha temple at Ellora (c. eighth century CE) was carved from a single rock and is dedicated to Shiva. Its inner room (garbhagriha) holds a linga.
Don't confuse with
- Shiva in human form: some images do show Shiva as a person. For example, Kanishka's coins show Shiva with the bull Nandi. The linga is a symbol, not a human image.
Related concepts
- Puranic Hinduism
- Vaishnavism
- Avatar
- Dashavatara
- Varaha
- Vasudeva-Krishna
- Shaivism
- Garbhagriha
- Antarala
- Shikhara