According
to it, God, the Absolute has no form, but He forms only to help His
devotees; and moreover . He takes myriad forms to suit the occasion.
The universe, His own creation -- semi-spherical in shape, bounded
by the circular horizon is resting on earth. The Linga with its
semispherical top has a circular base, so it is the symbolic of
universe. Yet, there is another interpretation and it is derived
from two roots - li and gam; - `li' means `to issue', and `gam' -
`to absorb'.
So
it is the source of evolution and involution. It is the source and
goal of the universe. Needless to say, its powers are infinite. This
drives home the truth, that Lord who is abiding
in it, is the Supreme Reality, responsible for creation
of the world - Jagatkaraka. In the Saivagamas, we
come across references that Siva and Lingam are synonymous
and they stand for Ultimate Reality. Furthermore,
the Linga is symbolic of His both and form. As it has a particular
shape, it is of form, and at the same time,. it has neither nor
limbs like other images, so it is symbolic of formlessness.
|