The True Meaning of Shiva Linga Rudra Puja, or Rudrabhisheka, is one of the most ancient and profound rituals in the Indian subcontinent. It has been performed for many centuries up to the present day. It is a puja, or worship, of the benevolent aspect of the consciousness, also referred to as Shiva, or Rudra, that is worshipped in its formless form: the Shiva linga. The Shiva linga is a symbol for the unmanifest consciousness that Shiva represents. Literally, Shiva means the benevolent, and it refers to the untouched and untainted innocence of our consciousness – the most subtle aspect of our being deep inside, that can never be corrupted. But how to worship that One Divinity that is all-pervading, omnipresent and omnipotent? For the mind to be able to worship, for one to be able to direct one’s prayers or offerings, there has to be a focal point – otherwise where will you place the offering, where will you put the flower or lamp? It is this very reason that has led to there being something or other in all of the religions, even the ones that denounce worship of the Divine in any object or form. Whether it is the scripture in the Sikh tradition, or the Ka’aba in certain Islamic traditions, there will always be something that captivates the devotee’s mind. The rishis of the ancient Vedic tradition knew how the mind works, and that is why they gave everyone the freedom to worship that One Divinity in any form or way they felt comfortable. A simple stone (the shape of the Shiva linga) was perfect to remind people that it was just a symbol, representing the all-pervading consciousness that is beyond all name and form. Many centuries later, however, the Shiva linga came to be understood by some to represent the male reproductive organ – a misunderstanding that arose out of the misinterpretation, or rather limited interpretation, of the word ‘linga’. The Sanskrit word ‘linga’ basically means ‘that by which something can be recognized’ or ‘a distinguishing mark’. When a baby is born, there is only one way to find out what its gender is, and that is by looking at the genitals of the child. It was due to this practice that the word ‘linga’ over time became one of the most commonly used words for the male reproductive organ as well. However, its original meaning was that of ‘a distinguishing mark’, and it is this meaning which refers to the symbol of the Shiva linga: a symbol that the ancient Rishis chose to represent the consciousness. It shows such a profound understanding of creation: giving people a symbol so that they can give expression to their desire to worship, yet at the same time reminding them that it is just that, a symbol, and that the consciousness that they are worshipping is actually formless, unmanifest and all-pervading. In one of my next posts I will also write more about the ancient ceremony referred to as Rudra Puja, and the profound spiritual knowledge underlying it.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 16:28:35 +0000
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