We have seen before that there are many striking similarities between the Shiva lingam and nuclear energy. Also, the shape of a spaceship is similar to it. An atomic model also can be explained using it. Therefore, we cannot rule out that there is some scientific meaning behind it, but most of these assumptions are based on its shape. They cannot explain why swayambhu lingams and Bana-lingams are worshiped. But there is one assumption that answers almost all of the questions related to it.
Shiva Lingam as the Initial Singularity:
What is the initial singularity?
According to some models of the Big Bang theory, the initial singularity is a singularity, which contains all the matter, energy, and space-time. The universe that we see today was once squished into an infinitely small, dense, and ultra-hot point. This initial singularity is nothing but a supermassive black hole, which engulfs the whole universe at the end.
What is a black hole?
A black hole is a place in space where gravity is so strong that nothing can escape from it, not even light. It cannot be seen with eyes. When a black hole and a star are close together, high-energy light is made. Scientists use satellites and telescopes in space to see the high-energy light. Also, some black holes emit X-rays in all directions. Telescopes measure the X-ray light, and scientists use this information to learn more about black holes.
Types of Black Holes:
There are four types of black holes, viz. stellar, intermediate, supermassive, and miniature.
How is a Black Hole Formed?
When stars reach the end of their lives (when there is no fuel to burn), most of them inflate, lose mass, and then cool to form white dwarfs. But the massive stars, typically 10-20 times massive than our Sun, either become neutron stars or stellar-mass black holes.
When a big star explodes (supernova), it leaves behind the core. When the star is alive, nuclear fusion creates a constant outward push that balances the inward pull of gravity from the star’s own mass, but in the remnant of a supernova, there are no longer forces to oppose that gravity, so the star core begins to collapse in on itself. If its mass collapses into an infinitely small point, a black hole is born.
A black hole continues to grow by continually absorbing gas and interstellar dust from its surroundings.
Meaning of the Word Shiva:
The roots of śiva in folk etymology are śī which means "in whom all things lie, pervasiveness" and va which means "embodiment of grace." Therefore, Shiva means “an embodiment of grace that is all-pervasive.”
Why is Lord Shiva called the Destroyer?
He is called so because, at the end of time, he destroys the whole universe, but we do not know how he does so. The Hindu scriptures say that he does so with the Tandava dance that is metaphoric to creation, sustenance, and destruction of the universe, but it sounds cryptic and is beyond understanding. Then, can there be a scientific reason behind why is he called the destroyer?
According to the Big Bang theory, the universe at the beginning was very hot and confined to a very small point called the initial singularity. Currently, it is expanding, but there would be a point when it would stop expanding, and then it would start contracting and will end in a singularity. That point would be a black hole that would consume everything. Therefore, we can say that a black hole is a symbol of destructive power.
This functionality of the universe is controlled by Lord Shiva, and therefore, he is called “the destroyer.”
Scriptural Evidence:
1. The Subala Upanishad (2:4) says that at the time of the dissolution of the manifested universe, all matter merges into darkness before being reabsorbed into the Brahman. Likewise, the universe re-emerges from the darkness.
Linga Purana says Lord Shiva is the substratum of Brahman. Therefore, the darkness mentioned above symbolically represents Lord Shiva.
2. In the Skanda Purana, Lord Shiva says that the whole universe is born out of the linga and would ultimately dissolve into it. The same concept is mentioned in the other Puranas also.
What does this mean? This means that the linga symbolically represents a black hole, and the whole world was born out of it and would dissolve into it.
3. There are some stories in the Hindu scriptures that do not really make any sense. Many people wonder why those stories are written like that. Even if we assume that these are fictional, there are many discrepancies and no writer would write such things. Also, how could these writers know about time travel, aerial chariots, and other scientific things without any science background?
E.g., let us take the story of Lingodbhava in which it is mentioned that before creation, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu were quarreling over superiority (Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu are divine beings and they know the ultimate truth, then why would they quarrel over such a petty matter?).
Then suddenly from nowhere, a column of fire appears in between them, and Lord Shiva and the goddess Uma come out of it. Lord Shiva tells them that they have forgotten that they are born out of him.
When I read this story, several questions came into my mind. If there was nothing, then where were those gods standing, and where was that column of fire located? Why were gods fighting for superiority?
We can find the clues to solve this puzzle in the names and Hindu iconography. In this story, Lord Brahma is symbolically represented as the universe (Brahmanda), Lord Vishnu as the matter [Vishwa (world) + Anu (atom)]. Vishnu means “all-pervasive”, and the matter is all-pervasive Goddess Uma or Shakti is represented as the energy and Lord Shiva as a black hole!
The lotus symbol is very important in Hinduism. Lord Brahma is always depicted as sitting on an opened lotus flower either separately or coming out of the navel of Lord Vishnu. A lotus bud looks like Hiranyagarbha. A lotus has 18 petals and 9 (1+8) is a sacred number in Hinduism
Image 14.4.1 - A Lotus Bud
Therefore, Brahma coming out of a lotus actually symbolizes Brahmanda, i.e., the universe.
Lord Brahma, born out of the lotus coming out of the navel of Lord Vishnu, symbolizes Brahmanda is made up of matter.
In this story, Lord Shiva is depicted as superior to Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, and Lord Shiva says that they were born out of him because matter and the whole universe were created (born) out of a black hole. The column of fire is the blast coming out of the exploded cosmic egg. As it was traveling at the speed of light, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu both could not find its end. The AUM sound was produced at that moment. Therefore, the Shiva lingam represents the moment of creation.
In the Puranas, Lord Vishnu is also called the creator of the universe.
Image 14.4.1 – AnandPadmaNabha Vishnu
Credit: Srimadh Vyasa
This image also represents the moment of creation.
Both the Shiva lingam and the above image are inspired by the Vishwakarman Sukta in which it is mentioned that the cosmic egg is placed on the navel of the Supreme Creator.
The Hindu sages knew the secrets of the universe, and they wanted to transmit this knowledge to the next generation. Therefore, they created different versions of the stories and hid the knowledge in such a way that only the people with good scientific and spiritual knowledge would be able to understand it. They also provided some clues with them for interpretation. These stories are associated with gods and hence common people revered them and the knowledge was and would be conserved.
In Hindu iconography, Lord Shiva is typically depicted with three images.
1. Shiva lingam - represents the moment of creation of the universe.
2. Shiva meditating with his eyes half-opened – sustenance of the universe.
3. Nataraja – the destruction of the universe.
Lord Shiva as the Protector:
In this form, Lord Shiva is depicted as sitting in the Padmasana.
You know that the universe was born out of a black hole, but do you know that our solar system along with our Sun revolves around the black hole at the center of our galaxy? It keeps all the stars and planets together. Without a black hole, solar systems might wander into space, and there will be no life in the universe. Therefore, black holes are essential for the development and progress of a galaxy and in turn, life. They also play an important role in galaxy formation.
It is true for all the galaxies in the universe. There is a black hole in the middle of all galaxies. The black hole in the middle of our galaxy is called Sagittarius A*.
Scientific Meaning behind the Symbols associated with Lord Shiva:
Ganga – In Sanskrit, the galaxy is called Akasha Ganga.
Moon – As the Moon waxes and wanes, the universe also takes birth and dies.
Third eye – the center of a black hole.
Fire from the third eye – the beam of energy emitted by a black hole.
Snake – represents the wrap of space-time around a black hole.
Trident and Damaru – together represent creative and destructive power.
Nandi – constellation Taurus (bull).
Water/milk falling over Shiva lingam – represents the consumption of matter by a black hole.
Some stories in the Hindu scriptures can be correctly explained with these symbols. Above, we mentioned that Brahma is the universe. Daksha is mentioned as his son in the Puranas. Therefore, Daksha is symbolized as a star.
Birth of a Black Hole:
The Atharvaveda Book 15 is dedicated to Vratya. It mentions the birth of Vratya in the 1st Paryaya.
“There was Vratya. He roused Prajapati to action. Prajapati beheld gold in Himself and engendered it. That became unique, that became distinguished, that became great, that became excellent, that became Brahman, that became Tapas, that became Truth: through that he (Vratya) was born. He grew, he became great, he became Mahadeva. He gained the lordship of the Gods. He became Ishana. He became Eka Vratya. He held a bow, even that Bow of Indra. His belly is dark-blue; his back is red (Nila Lohitam). With dark-blue, he envelops a detested rival, with red he pierces the man who hates him: so the knowers of Brahman say.”
The term Nila-Lohitam is used for Lord Shiva in the Linga Purana (2.19).
“He is of both Blue and Red color since both Pradhana and Purusha merge in him. Since the semen flows from him, he is known as Shukla.”
The same term is used in Srimad Bhagavata Purana.
Some scholars do not agree that Vratya is Lord Shiva, but if you read the above paragraph, Vratya is mentioned as Mahadeva and Ishana. Those are the names of Lord Shiva. Also, the dark-blue belly denotes him being Lord Shiva.
Therefore, Vratya or Eka Vratya mentioned in the Atharvaveda symbolically represents Lord Shiva.
If we consider Daksha as a person, then we cannot explain how he engendered gold, but if we assume he is a star, then we can do so. The gold is formed inside a star through a process called nuclear fusion, and we know that a black hole is formed out of a star.