Lord Shiva and Shiva Linga

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http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/lingod.htm

 

Lingodbhavamurthy is an iconic representation of Shiva, installed in the rear

devakoshta (niche) of the garbagriha (sanctum) of all Shiva temples. The story

of Lingodbhavar is that of the attempts of Vishnu and Bhrama to discover the

origins (the beginning Aadi and the end Antha) of Shiva, as stated in three of

the puranas - the Kurma Purana, the Vayu Purana and Shiva Purana.

 

Vishnu was engaged in his yoganidhra - the slumber of yoga - at the end of a

kalpa, in the waters of the great deluge, when there appeared before him, Bhrama

emerging from a great illumination. Bhrama introduced himself to Vishnu as the

Creator of the Universe, to which Vishnu replied that he was the architect of

the Universe. An argument ensued between both as to their superiority over one

another, when there appeared before them - a huge lingam of fire - with tongues

of flames blazing out of it.

 

Curious to trace the origins of this column of fire, Bhrama assumed the form of

a swan and flew upwards, while Vishnu assumed the form of a boar, and burrowed

down into the earth. Days of search in either direction proved futile, and hence

the duo surrendered to this column of fire with prayers. Shiva then appeared out

of this column of fiery lingam, with a thousand arms and legs, with the sun,

moon and fire as his three eyes, bearing the pinaka bow, wearing the hide of an

leephant, bearing the trishul, and addressed Vishnu and Bhrama in a thunderous

voice, explaining that the two were born out of him, and that the three were

then separated out into three different aspects of divinity.

 

The non-anthropomorphic form Shivalingam is a representation of this infinite

cosmic column of fire, whose origins were not tracable by Bhrama or Vishnu. The

Shivalingam is the center of reverence and worship in all Saivite temples.

 

The manifestation of Shiva in this column of fire in front of Bhrama and Vishnu,

is carved in stone, as the Lingodbhavamurthy manifestation of Shiva, and is

always enshrined in the rear niche of the sanctum enshring a Shivalingam. Since

most temples face east, Lingodbhavar faces West.

 

This legend described above is held at the vast Arunachaleswara temple complex

at Tiruvannamalai, where the sacred Annamalai hill itself, is considered to be a

manifestation of this cosmic column of fire. Tiruvannamalai, is one of the

Pancha Bhoota Stalas, representing the primordial element fire.

 

There is another interesting aspect to this legend. While Bhrama was flying

upwards in the guise of a swan, he saw the petals of a ketaki flower drifting

down. Tired by the futility of his efforts to reach the top of the mysterious

column of fire, Bhrama requested the flower to acquiese to his lie that he had

seen the top of the column where the flower had previously resided. Accompanied

by his accomplice, Bhrama confronted Vishnu and asserted that he had indeed

discovered the origin of the cosmic column. An enraged Shiva appeared out of the

fiery column and cursed Bhrama so that he would not be worshipped in temples on

earth. This legend relates to the fact that there are hardly any temples

dedicated to Bhrama in India. There is a shrine to Bhrama at Uttamar Koyil in

Tamilnadu, and Bhrama is also represented in the devakoshtas (niches) in Shiva

temples; there are thus no Bhrama temples of any significance in India.

 

 

 

 

 

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