true meaning of Shivlinga

The meaning and importance of Shivlinga

What is Shivlinga?

Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of linga from ancient times. Lord Shiva is one of the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and even considered to be supreme lord. He has been worshipped by various devtas (gods) in Hindu mythology and by Vishnu Dashavatara’s. But why in the form of Linga?


Worship of Linga is not a strange thing and it is a known fact that reproductive organs have been worshipped across various civilizations. This underlines the importance of linga. By representing Lord Supreme, the humankind is suggesting to give proper importance to linga, hence Shiv linga is worshipped.


But Shivlinga is and should be treated as the manifestation of male and female and thus represent the birth of everything. Though Lord Shiva is also regarded as the god of destruction, an important aspect is forgotten that he is the beginning as well. Thus Lord Shiva is given the highest status symbolically and physically both.


true meaning of Shivlinga

true meaning of Shivlinga

Puranas and scriptures in Hinduism narrate in detail why Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of linga. It is said that the he appeared before Lord Brahma and Vishnu in the form of a ‘pillar of fire’, which had no end and beginning. It is one among the many symbols of Brahman. There are numerous other incidents in the Puranas including the famous Deodar forest incident in which the wives of saints are attracted to Shiva and he castrates himself and leaves the Linga on earth as his symbol.


 The legend behind Shivlinga worship


There is an interesting story behind the worship of Shivlinga. 


Lord Shiva descended in form of Shivalinga on the day of Mahashivaratri. Worshipping Shivalinga on the day of Mahashivaratri has different mythological significance and story. The story is as follows. Once, Prajapati Daksha organised a Yagya and invited all kings and deities, but, he did not call husband of Sati (Parvati). Knowing this, Sati burnt herself in the fire of this Yagya and died.


Note: Shakti peeths were formed when Mata Sati’s body parts were fallen on earth.[button url=”” ]Read about Shakti Peeths[/button]


On the death of Mata Sati, lord Shiva became angry and started doing Tandav on earth in a naked form and started roaming on earth. Once, he reached the village of Brahmans. Brahmanis got fascinated by seeing this form of lord Shiva. On this, the Brahmans became angry and cursed him. As a result, lord Shiva’s Linga separated from his body and fell on earth. The weight of Linga was unbearable for earth. This incident created chaos in all the three Loks.


When the situation became worse, all god and Rishis reached lord Brahma for help. God Brahma came to knew the reason behind this incident. He went to lord Shiva with everyone. Lord Brahma worshipped Shiva and requested him to wear his Linga back. So, lord Shiva said that if everyone worship my linga then only he shall wore it back. On this, lord Brahma created a Shivlinga of gold and performed a systematic Puja. Later, all deities, Rishi, Muni created Shivlinga with different substance and worshipped it.


According to this legend, worshipping of Shivlinga had begun from that time. It is believed, a place where Shiva Linga is worshipped, changes into a pilgrimage. A person receives Shiva Lok if, he dies at a place where Shivlinga is worshipped always. Just by chanting the word ‘Shiva’, sins of a normal person are cancelled.


  1. rs says:

    very informative

  2. neetha says:

    people will not know it, thank you for the information

  3. thx for the info. om namah shivay

  4. completly misguide, In sanskrit linga mean symbol. It is the symbol of shiva in pure meditational form without any ego.

  5. Neel Jayaram says:

    Nice article, its quite amazing to know that there are so many stories that many are not aware of. Adding one more rare story of God Shiva here. During the end of Krita – Yuga, because of the ignorance of the Deva, God Shiva made the whole world to come to a stand still.

  6. Detailed information is given. Thanks

  7. Adya says:

    Most of the people didn’t know about this fact of lord shiva . Thanks.

  8. Vickey rajput says:

    Dear frnds shivlinga is the real form of the god shiv ,,, shiv means the whole universe. Actually shivling is the image of the parampita paramaatma . God is only one . He is formless . He had not the form of his own . So he made three gods namely bramha,vishnu,and can imagine god through is said that if aatma have no form then how the param aatma should have form.he is also formless . The highest among all…..

  9. vineet chauhan says:

    Dear friends just worship lord with full devotion because reading many thing confuses our mind shiv is the only one the supreme one