Shivling (also pronounced as Shivalingam) is a deeply significant symbol in Hinduism that has often been misunderstood, particularly in the West. The word Shivling (or Shivalingam) comes from two Sanskrit terms: Shiva (a name given to the divine power that dissolves and regenerates creation) and Linga (meaning “symbol,” “sign,” or “mark”). In a broader sense, linga also refers to the place where all created objects dissolve at the time of universal dissolution.
The Shivling thus represents the infinite power of Bhagwan Shiv. Typically, it appears as a smooth cylindrical pillar with a rounded top, set upon a pedestal. Its circular form conveys the profound truth that the Divine has no beginning and no end—God existed before creation and will continue to exist beyond it.
According to Hindu philosophy, the same Supreme Being creates, sustains, and dissolves the universe. The Shivling is therefore not just a symbolic form but a representation of God Himself. For thousands of years, Hindus have revered it as an auspicious symbol and as a focus for ritual worship. Ancient Tamil texts describe the practice of establishing sacred posts or altars, which likely refer to the Shivling.
Unfortunately, when Western scholars first began interpreting Hinduism, they often misunderstood the Shivling. Some incorrectly described Shiva as a fertility god and misrepresented the linga as a phallic symbol. This interpretation was later amplified during the colonial era, when certain Christian missionaries in India used it as part of anti-Hindu propaganda. Seeking to discredit Hinduism and promote conversion, they labeled Hindus as “phallic worshippers,” a view that was both inaccurate and offensive.
Mahatma Gandhi, deeply disturbed by such mischaracterizations, once remarked: “It was in a (Christian) missionary book that I first learned that Shivling has any obscenity at all…”
For Hindus, the Shivling remains a sacred and timeless emblem of the Divine. Every Hindu temple, whether in India or abroad—including in Canada—houses a Shivling, not as an object of obscenity, but as a symbol of the eternal presence of God.
Article By: Ajit Adhopia
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