10. Are Hindus Embarrassed to Accept the Sexual Meaning of the Shiva Lingam?
Many people think that Hindus are denying the fact about the Shiva lingam being the phallus of Lord Shiva because they are embarrassed to accept the sexual meaning behind it. It could be partially true because the perception of people has changed over time. In the old days, when phallic worship was prevalent, people used to look upon a phallus as a symbol of reproduction, and it was not something that they used to laugh at, but nowadays, such things are not talked about or displayed publicly. Such things are looked upon as taboos in modern society. Therefore, associating sexuality with Lord Shiva could be embarrassing for some people.
But the truth is the majority of Hindus do not question their customs, and hence most of them do not know the stories or symbolism behind it. They consider it holy, but because of the word linga, most of them are unaware that it has a spiritual meaning also. They accept it as sexual symbols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati but still worship it because it does not make any difference. Hindus believe that God is in every particle of nature, then why it could not be in sexual organs.
The worship of sexual organs is still a part of Hindu culture.
Image 10.1 – Yoni in the Kamakhya Temple in Assam
Credit: reckontalk.com
In the Kamakhya Temple, the sexual organ of the goddess is worshiped.
Image 10.2 – Goddess Lajja Gauri, the Goddess of Fertility
Credit: Nomu420 (licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Goddess Lajja Gauri is a symbol of fertility and reproduction and is worshiped in some parts of India.
If they were really embarrassed, then they would have opposed the worship in the Kamakhya Temple also because the goddess Sati is also one of the prominent deities in Hinduism.
Therefore, I do not think that it is the only embarrassment out of which Hindus are opposing calling the Shiva lingam a phallic symbol.