Shivling at Amarnath – a natural masterpiece

Shivling at Amarnath – a natural masterpiece 

Among many wondrous things happening around legends related to Hindu beliefs is the famous Shivling at Amarnath Temple, Pahalgam in Kashmir.

The man made shivlings are made with a variety of materials in addition to black stone and brown stone. The shapes depend upon the rituals carried out by the locals and their understanding of the lingam. However, the snow shivling in Amarnath continues to draw the devout to see the lingam. It is believed that it believed to be as old as the hill!  

This lingam forms in the cave temple, and can be seen only during certain months of the year. It is a snow stalagmite. Water drops falling from the roof to the base of the cave over a period of time freezes and takes the shape of a lingam. It baffles everyone by its striking resemblance to natural shivlings worshipped by Hindus elsewhere in the world.  In addition to the main shivling two other lingams are formed next it.

The two are believed to represent Lord Ganesh and Shivji’s  consort, Goddess Parvati.   

Lingam

Lingam essentially represents the Shivlingam, of Lord Shiva, the Hindu deity.  

 

There is a lot of debate over the centuries what after all lingam represents: phallus or the representative feature of spiritual propensity of the Hindus. Today the lingam is worshipped as an object of cosmic (divine) energy rather than creative energy or a sexual symbol.

 

Lingam is loosely taken as a mark or symbol.  According to ancient vedic literature Lingam has no smell, taste or color and generally perceived as the nature itself. Lingam is likened to an cosmic egg representing the cosmic energy signifying the union of male and female powers.

 

Lingam is the sum total of Truth, Knowledge and infinity – सत्य, ज्ञान and अनन्त. The lingam has three parts: ब्रह्म पित, विष्णु पित and शिव पित.