1. In 1940, an archaeologist, Mr. Madho Sarup Vats found a lingam-like structure at an excavation site in Harappa.
“In the adjoining Trench Ai, 5 ft. 6 in. below the surface was found a stone lingam (No Ai40, PI, X, c). It measures 11 in. high and 7f in. in diameter.” (Excavation at Harappa Vol. 2). It could be 5000 years old. It is not clear whether this lingam was an object of worship. Hence, officially it is not considered a Shiva lingam.
2. Similarly, at the Kalibangan site of Harappa, a small terracotta representation that looks very similar to a Shiva lingam is found. It could date back to 2500-1900 BCE, according to a famous archaeologist, B. B. Lal.
Image 2.2 – The Shiva Lingam found in Kalibangan
Image Credit: ASI
Though this clay structure looks like a Shiva lingam, it could be some other thing also, as it does not have a firm base like a Shiva lingam. The ASI also has not officially agreed to it being a Shiva lingam.
3. Many other structures that are found during excavation at Harappa look like a Shiva lingam.
Image 2.3: Some objects found during excavation at Harappa.
Image Credit: ASI
Image 2.4: Objects found during excavation at Harappa.
Image Credit: ASI
B. Lia Fáil:
Image 2.5 - Lia Fáil in Ireland
Image Credit: JohnJDuncan (licensed under CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Lia Fáil, which means "Stone of Destiny," is a stone on the Hill of Tara in Ireland. It is believed to be 5000 years old. It looks very similar to a Shiva lingam. This stone was brought to Ireland by Tuatha dé Danann (the people of goddess Danu). The goddess Danu is a river goddess in Irish mythology, and surprisingly is also a Vedic goddess that is associated with a river. She is termed as the mother of Vritra (an Asura). According to the Vedas, Lord Indra killed Vritrasura.
According to Hindu scriptures, Asuras mainly worshiped Lord Shiva. Therefore, Lia Fáil might be an ancient Shiva lingam.
C. Jamarat at Mecca Before 2004:
Image 2.6 – Jamarah before 2004
The structure at which Muslims used to hurl stones before the year 2004 during the “Stoning of the Devil” ritual did look similar to a Shiva lingam. This structure is called the jamarah. After the 2004 Hajj pilgrimage, Saudi authorities replaced the pillars with new ones to avoid accidents.
It is not known when the old Jamarat were built, but the present pattern of the Hajj pilgrimage was established by Muhammad Paigambar around 632 BCE when he conquered Mecca. Therefore, we can say that this or a similar-looking structure could have existed from 632 BCE.
2.2 - Shiva Lingam in the Hindu Scriptures
1. Atharvaveda:
Although the Atharvaveda does not clearly mention the word Shiva lingam, there is a reference to a cosmic pillar (stambha) that is considered a symbol of Supreme Brahman, and hence, it can be considered the first reference to it in Hindu scriptures (Atharvaveda Ch. X - 7, 8). It was written in 1200 BCE (Encyclopedia Britannica).
2. Ramayana:
There are mentions of Shiva lingams in the Ramayana (Ramacharitmanas) and different Puranas, but not in the Valmiki Ramayana. Rama and Ravana were both devotees of Lord Shiva. Some historians do not believe that Ramayana happened. Unofficially, it happened about 10,000 years ago. The Ramayana is believed to be written between 700 and 400 BCE.
3. Puranas:
They contain many stories related to the Shiva lingam, the importance of worshiping it, how to worship it, etc. They are most likely composed between 3rd- and 10th-century CE but could be older also.
4. Mahabharata:
Sage Vyasa wrote the Mahabharata. He also compiled Puranasamhita and entrusted it to his disciple, Lomaharshana. Therefore, we can say that the dates of Mahabharata and Puranas are the same. Then, Puranas should date back to at least 400 BCE to 400 CE or 3218 BCE (according to some historians). In the Mahabharata, there is mention of the Shiva lingam worshipped by Lord Krishna and Arjuna.
2.3 - Early Iconography and Temples
The Shiva lingam in the Parasurameswara Temple in Gudimallam (2nd or 3rd century BCE) is officially the oldest in the world.
The Bhita Linga that dates to the 2nd century BCE has four directional faces and is at the Lucknow Museum now.
Some Shiva lingams are found at the excavation site in Mathura (1st to 3rd century CE).
There are many Shiva lingams found in India and around the world.
Even though the lingams found during excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro are not officially accepted as Shiva lingams, there definitely seems to be some link between them and the Shiva lingam. Therefore, we can say that the worship of the Shiva lingam or the lingam is at least 2500-5000 years old, but according to the Puranas, it is millions of years old.