Significance of Shivalinga

The Shivalinga is a symbolic representation of Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva is manifest all over the Universe. How does one identify or connect to Him? He has no form! There needs to be a sign to identify Him. For this, the ancient seers placed a round or oval stone and identified it with Lord Shiva.

In the ancient age, there was no form of Lord Shiva holding a Trident or anything like that. There was only a Pind (a stone) that was kept and then by chanting mantras, the Divine Consciousness was awakened and manifested in the Pind. This is how the Lord Shiva was worshiped. It was only much later that idols were created.

What is Shivalinga?

Lingam means identification, a symbol through which you can identify what the truth is – what the reality is. What is not visible yet can be identified by one thing – that is lingam. When a baby is born, how do you know whether the baby is male or female? Only through one part of the body can you identify whether this baby is a boy or a girl. That is the reason the genitals is also called lingam.

Similarly, how do you identify the Lord of this Creation? The sign by which you identify both the male and female forms—combining them to form one single symbol to identify the Lord who has no form or identity and who is all-pervading in this Creation—is Shivalinga.

The Shivalinga is very ancient, in fact, it is the most ancient. From the form, you go to the formless through the Shivalinga. It is a symbol that is the representation of the Cosmos and the Creator of the Cosmos, as one. The silent un-manifest and the dynamic manifestation together are represented as Shivalinga. It is not just Shiva, but the completion of the total Supreme Consciousness.

Small things upset you from time to time, and your mind gets caught up in cravings and aversions. On Shivratri, just drop all these and recognize that everything is Lord Shiva and repose in Lord Shiva. We are all a part of Lord Shiva’s divine procession. You must have heard that there are all types of beings and creatures in Lord Shiva’s entourage – the Siddhas (perfected beings), wise sages, intelligent beings, and even fools! Everyone is a part of Lord Shiva’s family. Each one of us is a part of Lord Shiva’s grand entourage. When you have this deep realization, then all of life becomes a celebration.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji