ശിവ ലിംഗം ?? Shiva Linga ??

സംസ്കൃതത്തില്‍ ലിംഗം എന്നതിന്റെ അര്‍ഥം അടയാളം,ചിഹ്നം എന്നൊക്കെയാണ്. ബ്രഹ്മവും (ശിവ = ശുദ്ധ ബോധം pure consciousness ) ശക്തിയും (പ്രകൃതി, nature/energy) തമ്മിലുള്ള കൂടിചേരല്‍ (cosmic dance - thandavam)
, ഐക്യം ആണ് ശിവലിംഗത്തിലൂടെ നമുക്ക് ബോധ്യപെടുത്തിതരുന്നത്. അല്ലാതെ ശിവന്‍ എന്ന ഒരു ദൈവവും അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ലിംഗവും അല്ല ഇത്.. ഈപ്രതിഷ്ഠ ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളില്‍ വെച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത് സ്വയം തിരിച്ചറിവിന് വേണ്ടിയാണ്, പുരുഷ പ്രകൃതി ലയനം, ഇത് മനസ്സിലാക്കാതെ ഒരു കൂട്ടം ആളുകള്‍ ആരാധിച്ചു പോരുന്നു..

The sanskrit word lingam means symbol, so shiva lingam means symbol of shiva. It is considered the foremost sacred symbol for shaivaites. Shivlinga stands for the union of Shiva / consciousness with Shakti/ energy and that is the cause of the cosmos.

Three main Lingas we have. 

1. Kriya/Ishta linga is Shiva linga. Kriya/Ishta Linga present form of awaking consciousness which is feeling consciousness (bhakti, pure love, first devotional state, dominant kriya shakti - any action God is love) and have and deeper level consciousness inside as willing consciousness (dominant icha shakti, love have exact real direction, or life, quality, quantity, intention,.

2. Next and inner form of linga is Pranalinga. This is Linga from inner light. Saints from old time teach people about form Linga because this great souls see "Divine soul in Linga". Divine Soul has divine aura which is exact form linga. Position of Soul which old saint see (in aura) is form Shiva Linga. Now we have two forms in one. Outside is like sharp ball on the water (sphere which haven't part in down), and inside is form body in position watching Linga on the left palm. Shivalinga is symbolic form: part sphere form is only symbolic form of head, middle form of Shivalinga is symbolic form of left palm and higher part of body from heart/navel to neck , and on palm is subtle/invisible Linga, lower part of Shivalinga is symbolic form of lower part of body from navel to legs. Pranalinga present form of sleeping consciousness which is cognition consciousness (third devotional or bhakti state, where is dominant jnana shakti - any direct knowing is God love) and have and deeper level consciousness inside as intuition consciousness. This is point reflection consciousness on the lower states or enter in higher form (execution) consciousness which is only base reflection of intuition consciousness

3. Deepest form Linga is Mahalinga. This is very high dynamic form, with very high speed rotations and quietness (of extremely higher forms inner lights and inner sounds which is incorporate simultaneously), and all this is complete beyond mind. Very difficult find any reasonable words for intellect. Much deepest and complexes forms than in illusion when we look car which go in one direction, but all time wheels go on opposite direction. Here all forms have source or there is real place for resolve all illusions and then direct see God (or enter in complete consciousness). This extreme rotations have outside form Linga (sphere without lower part).

There where all (para, chit, ananda, jnana, icha and kriya) shaktis deepest with Shiva, became completed in One Consciousness or enter in reflection as lower consciousness.

This consciousness can abide as one consciousness on lower level as Pranalinga or as consciousness which reflected as thought in mind and intellect (or became omitted, or limited consciousness) which present as all outside forms of pranalinga.

Mahalinga present form of deep sleeping consciousness which is execution consciousness (fifth devotional or bhakti state) and have and deeper level consciousness inside as union consciousness (sixth devotional or bhakti state) when haven't separation in consciousness.

Because each of this three Lingas have two Lingas, exactly we have 6 Lingas*** or 6 levels consciousness or consciousness and five reflections. Now is open: not any creation all is only reflection, all is one consciousness, or all is One!

God is formless, attributeless and omnipresent. This state is called arUpa (formless). For the benefit of the pashus, He took the form of shiva lingam which is neither form nor formless but is a symbol. This symbol of Him is called arUparUpam (formless form). He took many forms out of His mercy to bless all, which are called rUpams. (2). shaivam worships the God in all these three states. The oldest form that the formless God took namely the shiva lingam is called sadAshiva mUrtam and is worshipped in the altar of His abodes (temples). The forms that He later took which are called mAhEshwara mUrtam are worshipped in the outer circles in a temple. 

This shiva linga worship is superior because it makes the worship simple because of the form while maintaining the truth that God is not having any definite form. There are a lot more marvelous principles behind the shiva linga worship which could be found in detail in standard scriptures.