Myths from Purana of how Linga worship came to be
This is taken from an entry by Wendy Doniger from SUNY’s Fredonia Flame blog an academic blog site for a Global Philosophy of Religion class.
In the Hindu Mythology, and also in the present times, Lord Shiva is worshiped in the form of the “linga” which is the phallic symbol. This practice first appeared in the Hindu iconography in the second century B.C. There are many myths relating to this practice of worshiping the linga instead of Shiva’s idol. There is no clear evidence whether the linga worship starts due to the sage’s curse or it was Shiva’s plan to establish the linga-worship himself. I will be mentioning three different myths as to how the linga worship started which explains how this cult of worshiping the linga started. Lord Shiva has many names; some of them used here are Rudra and Shankara.
The first story goes this way; when the universe was just one huge ocean, Brahama, Vishnu and Rudra (Shiva), rose from the water. Their arrival was not witnessed by anyone. These three eternal gods arose from midst of water. Brahma and Vishnu, told Rudra, “You are the lord of everything, perform creation as you wish”. Rudra agreed to perform creation and plunged into the water and remained immersed for a thousand celestial years. Since Rudra, remained immersed in the water for thousand celestial years, Vishnu told the creator, Brahama “Let no more time elapse. You are capable of creating various creature, you create the world.” So following Vishnu’s advice, Brahama agreed to create the world. When the creation had been performed, Rudra emerged from the water to create the world. He was angry to see that the world was already created. He said “Since creation has been performed by Brahama, I will therefore destroy everything” saying this flame released from his mouth which burnt everything. When Brahama saw everything on flames, he pleaded to the great lord to stop destroying. He praised the lord with complete devotion. Lord Shiva was pleased and asked him now what to do with all the energy he accumulated while he was immersed in the water. Brahama though carefully and replied, “You are the Creator, Protector and Destroyer. Let us live together with all the immortal energy in the Sun; and at the end of the aeon, you will take the form of the Sun and burn the universe”. Shiva agreed to this. He then told Brahama, “There is no good use for this linga except for the creation of progeny” and he broke off his linga and threw it to the surface of the earth. The linga broke through the surface of the earth, Vishnu sought the end of it below and Brahama flew upwards but they did not find the end of it. Then a voice arose out of the sky saying “If the linga of the god with braided hair is worshiped, it will certainly grant all desires that are longed for in the heart” as Brahama and Vishnu heard this, they began to worship the linga with devotion, starting the cult of linga worship.
Another story follows; Manu, the self-created prajapati went to a special lengthy sacrifice on the highest mountain with all the pre-eminent Brahmins who knew all the Vedas. When the great sacrifice was taking place sages asked each other who are the best divinity to be worshipped? The sages argued whether it was Brahama, Vishnu or Shiva. To find out which god is the greatest, they convinced Brahmin Bhrug, to find out who was the greatest among the three. Brahmin Bhrgu set out for the search of the best divinity to be worshipped. He went to lord Shiva’s abode and before he could meet Shiva, Nandi, lord of Shiva’s hosts heard the story said by Brahmin Bhrgu, and he replied rudely to him saying, “No one can enter now, lord Shiva is making love to the goddess. Turn back sage if you wish to live”. Nandi turned away the great Brahmin. But the Brahmin waited there for many days outside Shiva’s house, but Shiva didn’t meet him. He was then filled with anger and he cursed lord Shiva “Shankara, the fool, is immersed in the darkness and does not recognize me. Since he is so intoxicated by the union with a woman that he dishonours me, therefore he will have the form of yoni and linga” and he also said that all the people who are devoted to the lings and wear ashes and bones they will be heretics. Since, then due to the curse of the sage, lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of linga by the heretics.
The third story takes place in the pine forest where the sages of the forest are the sons of Brahma and they are responsible for the castration of Shiva. Shiva was accused falsely to seduce the wives of the sage, whereas it was the wives of the sage who followed him. The story follows this way; the sage’s lived on an auspicious peak of Himalayas in a delightful pine forest. They were practicing asceticism there. Then god came to that forest to show his grace. His body was pale with ash smeared on it and he was naked. He had sharp pointed teeth and his hair was disordered and loose. As he was dancing, the wives of the sages became bewitched immediately and they stood in his way as he came into hermitage and begged for alms. All the angry sages cursed him since their wives were lusting for him. They were deluded by Shankar and did not recognise him, they asked Shiva “Cause your linga to fall off; this is not dharma of ascetics. Speak your honeyed words and put on a single garment” Shiva replied no one can cause my linga to fall by force. He told them this and vanished and what was left behind was only the linga. Nothing shone forth, ths sun had no heat, the planets were topsy-turvy, the seasons did not change.there was lot of confusion everywhere and to seek help the sages went to Brahma. Brahama told them to create the image of the linga and go to the one who has the trident in his hand, so that all their ignorance and adharma would be destroyed. The sages worshipped the linga with devotion. Everything became fine, the spring was back and everything bloomed. The priest rejoiced and bathed the linga and worshipped it.The linga had been established again and this time for the welfare of three worlds. Since then, the worship of ling has continued and it has formed a huge cult today.
