14.3 – Sexuality Vs Non-sexuality
The main controversy is if the Shiva lingam is related to sexuality or not. Therefore, before coming to any conclusion, let us assume that it is a sexual organ and see some arguments both for and against it.
1. The story of Bhikshatana (except in the Linga Purana) clearly indicates that the Shiva lingam is a union of sexual organs of the god and the goddess.
If we assume that the Linga Purana is more authoritative in terms of the Shiva lingam than the other Puranas, then it is false.
2. The story of the curse of Sage Bhrigu (except in the Bhagavata Purana) proves that it is a clitoris.
The Shiva lingam has been worshiped in this shape before the curse of Bhrigu. Also, the curse of Bhrigu did not fulfill. The intention of the story seems to prove the superiority of Lord Vishnu over Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. The story in the Bhagavata Purana is different. This story does not have any references in the Vedas.
3. The story of reverse copulation from tantric texts and also other stories in which sages or Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma saw Lord Shiva and the Goddess Parvati in an intimate position clearly indicate that it is a union of the sexual organs of the god and the goddess.
Very few Hindus follow Tantra. Also, there are two groups in Tantra, one of whom looks at the Shiva lingam as Purusha and Prakriti. Tantric texts are less authoritative than other texts. This story does not have any direct reference in the Vedas but could be related to the concept of Purusha and Prakriti. Lingayatism, which is a dedicated sect to the lingam worship, considers the lingam as God Himself.
4. The story of self-castration by Lord Shiva (from the Mahabharata) clearly points to the fact that it is the phallus of Lord Shiva.
This story seems to be metaphorical. There is another story in the Mahabharata in which gods and sages request Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati not to have any child.
5. The sculpture from the Parasurameswara Temple in the Gudimallam village and the other sculptures indicate that Lord Shiva was worshiped in the form of a phallus in ancient times.
Such sculptures are few. They seem to be inspired by the story of self-castration by Lord Shiva in the Mahabharata. Some lingams found during an excavation at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro look different and are older.
6. If we assume that the lingam found during excavation at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro are Shiva lingams, the Pashupati seal is ithyphallic and depicts proto-type Shiva, and Aryans came from outside of India and wrote Rigveda after coming here, then the word shishnadeva mentioned in the Rigveda points to it being a phallus.
These are all assumptions. There is no solid proof. The theory of the Aryan invasion is also debatable.
7. The symbols associated with Lord Shiva and the things offered to him point to it being something related to sex.
Many of the symbols are associated with the story of Samudra Manthan. Also, most of the things offered to him are to cool his body. All these symbols can be associated with agriculture also. It depends upon our point of view.
8. The shape of the Shiva lingam is like the sexual organs of a male and a female.
It looks like a pillar and peetham also. Also, the shape of the swayambhu lingams is like a pillar/egg. The Banalinga looks like an egg or a seed. The shape of the Shiva lingam at Kedarnath is like a pyramid. The shape of the one at Mahabaleshwar Temple is like a Rudraksha. The shape of the pedestal does not necessarily be round. In the old days, there were square pedestals also.
9. The contemporary meanings of the word linga and yoni are phallus and vagina.
The original meaning of the word linga is sign or gender. Yoni means source also.
10. Ancient people used to worship the male sexual organ as a symbol of God.
Ancient people used to worship pillars and mountains also. Therefore, it is also possible that the Shiva lingam is a pillar or Mount Kailash. Also, most probably, the pillar worship is older than the phallic worship.
11. Lord Shiva is depicted as ithyphallic in some sculptures.
There are very few sculptures like this. Even if so, it actually means that Lord Shiva is an ascetic god (Urdhvareta).
12. Some scholars believe it to be a sexual symbol.
Many experts in Hinduism, as well as scholars, do not agree with this assumption.