Pranam (TNCR): h ttps://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/shiva-lingam-some-scientific-truths/ <https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/shiva-lingam-some-scientific-truths/> KR The article is connected to the Viseshika kanada rishi sutras explaining the atom. Micro and Macro explanation is rendered in Narayaneeya upanishad and sivapuranam. A matured article. And in continuation about eka to pancha linga as explained in our scriptures:" Maha-lingam esoteric meanings an Iconological Study <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/lakulisha-pashupata-philosophy-and-practice/d/doc1085558.html>
1 Mukhalingas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mukhalinga#hinduism> are a variety of Manusha-lingas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/manushalinga#shaivism> bearing one or more sculptured faces of Siva <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shiva#shaivism> on it.Most of the Agamas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/agama#shaivism> and Tantras <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tantra#hinduism> provide detailed descriptions about making of a mukhalinga <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mukhalinga#hinduism> and hence their importance is stressed upon. “The substance of these is that a Mukhalinga should be made on the pujabhaga <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pujabhaga#hinduism> of the Savrvsama- linga <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/linga#shaivism> and that it might have one, two, three, four or five faces corresponding to the five aspects, Vamadeva <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vamadeva#shaivism> , Tatpurusha <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tatpurusha#shaivism>, Aghora <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/aghora#shaivism>, Sadyojata <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sadyojata#shaivism> and Isana <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ishana#shaivism> of Siva.” 2 He further suggests that the number of faces on the linga were equal to the number of doorways of the garbagrha, Hence if there was only one doorway, ekamukhalinga was established and if there were four then Caturmukhalinga <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/caturmukhalinga#hinduism> was established. 3 An important *ekamukhalinga* is housed in The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Interestingly it shares the realistic depiction of gudimallam linga and other free standing lingas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/linga#shaivism> belonging to pre Christian era.{ The *Gudimallam Lingam* is an ancient linga <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linga> in the Parasurameswara Swamy Temple of Gudimallam <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gudimallam>, a small village in the Yerpedu <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yerpedu> mandal <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehsil> of the Chittoor district <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chittoor_district> of Andhra Pradesh <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh>, India-which was described in HINDU book by Wendy Doniger}. Here an incised rim circles the nut just above the central fold and above this point emerges the human head.[image: Ekamukhalinga, Pre Kusana][image: Ekamukhalinga, Aghapur] 1Philadelphia 2 Rajastan Another interesting Pre-Kusana *ekamukhalinga* comes from Aghapur (Bharatpur District, Rajasthan <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rajasthan#hinduism>).Carved out of mottled red sandstone Siva’s face carved on the shaft is seen wearing an elaborate turban . 4 An *ekamukhalinga*, showing Siva as *jatamukuta <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/jatamukuta#hinduism>* is carved on an architectural fragment presently housed in State Museum, Lucknow <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/lucknow#history> Like all the early linga forms this too is free standing and is installed upon a brick platform, situated before a spreading papal tree <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tree#history>. The fact that a number of “*mukha-lingas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mukhalinga#hinduism>* “are found from Thailand as enumerated by Indrawooth ishows that this cult was popular in the area around 5th -6th C.. A number of Siva lingas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shivalinga#hinduism> have been reported from Southern Thailand especially from “Chaiya”, “Nakhon Si Thammarat” “Songkla” and “Pattani <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pattani#hinduism>”.Besides these sivalingas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shivalinga#hinduism> the existence of Saivism <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shaivism#shaivism> on Peninsular Thailand during this period is well supported by the 6th C. Sanskrit <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sanskrit#hinduism> inscriptions from “Khao Chong Khoi” in “Nakhon Si Thammarat” province (Thus Adi sankara was known there). “The predominance of *Sivalinga* and Siva images as well as Saiva <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shaiva#shaivism> sacred places indicates that Saivism was flourishing in the peninsular Thailand during Srivijaya <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shrivijaya#hinduism> period.” 5 [image: Ekamukhalinga, Mon-Dvaravati] In case of *Caturmukhalinga* in addition to the four visible faces there is one supposed to be on the top which is usually not carved and which represents *Isana* aspect of Siva. *Tatpurusa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tatpurusha#shaivism>* is represented by the east facing face and *Aghora* by the southern one. *Sadyojata* is represented by western face and *Vamadeva* by the northern one.In the case of four faces, these should be attached to a body which ought to be represented to the level of the chest. “Three of the four faces on the caturmukhalingas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/caturmukhalinga#hinduism>–the terrifying (aghora), the shaven (mundin <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mundin#hinduism> or yogin <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/yogin#hinduism>) and the turbaned (usnisin)are male <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/male#hinduism>, while the fourth one is female (vama <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vama#shaivism>). In Post <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/post#hinduism> Kusana sculptures turbaned and shaven faces disappear and are substituted for by normal faces” Mahabharata <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mahabharata#hinduism>, a storehouse of interesting and valuable myths narrates the story of celestial nymph Tillotama who was going around in the assembly of gods. Bewitched by her beauty Siva didn”t want to take his eyes off her even for a moment so he developed four faces, one at each cardinal point to enjoy an unimpeded view of Tillotama.(Adi-parvan <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/parvan#hinduism>,210. 23-26,605-6). Another reason is provided in Anusasan-Parvan of Mbh where Siva appears to explain this form saying that with his eastern face he rules as Indra, the western one is his normal face, his southern face is meant for destruction and that with his northern face he converses with Uma. Joshi suggest that here Siva has taken over the function of four lokapalas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/lokapala#hinduism>. 6 The Suta <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/suta#hinduism> Samhita <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/samhita#hinduism> also conveys the notion about the nature of the five aspects of Siva represented by the five faces.Thus *Isana* is ether (akasa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/akasha#hinduism>), *Tatpurusa* air ( vayu <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vayu#hinduism>), *Aghora* fire (*agni <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/agni#hinduism>*), Vamadeva water (*jala <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/jala#shaivism>*) and Sadyojata earth ( *bhoomi*). The text states that the universe is pervaded by the “Panca Brahma <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pancabrahma#shaivism>” and the person who is able to realize this attains liberation from bondage (is free of pasas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pasha#shaivism> which bind him to Sansara <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/samsara#hinduism>) (choubey p 36). In his *Brahma <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/brahma#shaivism> Mimamsa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mimamsa#hinduism>-Bhasya <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bhashya#hinduism>* *Srikanthasivacarya* interprets these five faces as representing five senses viz. *Sadasiva <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sadashiva#shaivism>* is sound (sabda <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shabda#shaivism>), *Isvara <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ishvara#shaivism>* touch (sparsa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sparsha#shaivism>), *Rudra <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rudra#shaivism>* form (rupa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rupa#hinduism>), *Visnu <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vishnu#hinduism>* taste (rasa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rasa#hinduism>), and *Brahma* smell ( gandha <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/gandha#shaivism>). Now the esoterism of the *Mukhlingas* may be traced in the *Narayanopnisad* which was largely used by the *Pasupatas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pashupata#shaivism>* for their sacred hymns. Pasupata-sutra <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pashupatasutra#shaivism> preached these mantras <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mantra#hinduism> to be used as *Bija <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bija#hinduism>-Mantras* for sadhana <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sadhana#shaivism>. “Sadyojatam prapadyami Sadyojataya vai namah / bhave bhave natibhave bhajasva mam bhavodbhvaya namah/ Vamadevaya namo jyesthayah namah sresthaya namo, Rudraya namah, kalaya <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kalaya#hinduism> namah kala <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kala#shaivism>-vikaranaya namo balavikaranaya namo bala <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bala#shaivism>-pramathanaya namah sarvabhutadamanaya namo manonmanaya namah// Aghorebhyotha ghorebhayo gora-ghora <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ghora#shaivism>-tarebhyah / sarvatah sarvasarvebhyo namasti-astu <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/astu#hinduism> Rudra-rupebhyah// Tatpurusaya vidmahe Mahadevaya dhimahe tan-no Rudra prachodayat <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pracodayat#hinduism>// Isanah sarva <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sharva#shaivism>-vidyanam-isvarah sarva bhutanam brahmadhipatir brahmanodhipatir - Brahma Sivo’astu Sadasivom” 7 These are hymns to Siva in five different aspects, each with a certain specific attributes. Thus *Sadyojata* is conceived of as *Bhavo”dbhava*, similarly Vamadeva is given nine attributes as suggested by the terms *Jyestha <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/jyeshtha#hinduism>*, *Srestha <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shreshtha#shaivism>* etc. *Aghora* is invoked as having two attributes, *Ghora* and *Ghoratara*. *Mahadeva <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mahadeva#shaivism>* and *Rudra* are the attributes of *Tatpurusa*. *Isana* is addressed as being the supreme lord of learning, of animate objects, of the Vedic knowledge <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vedic-knowledge#hinduism> and also of Brahman <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/brahman#shaivism>, as *Sadasiva*. It is from Sayana <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sayana#hinduism>’s commentary (Treatise on Rig vedam) on these verses that we know these five mantras were addressed individually to five faces of *Mahadeva* .*Sayana* does not suggest any reason for emergence of these five faces, he simply says that the Lord assumes such physical forms only to show mercy to his devotees. 8 (sayana bhashyam) : Classifies Pasupata <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pashupata#shaivism>-sutra <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sutra#hinduism> into five sections each ending with an exhortation to meditation eg. Bhasya on sutra 1. 8 says, “*atra idam Brahma japet-japyam nama <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/nama#hinduism>*….”.But Kaundinya <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kaundinya#hinduism>’s bhasya does not give any idea of the iconographic form associated to these invocations.The attributes of *Siva* in these mantras are explained in this commentary and are invoked in their formless abstractions with stress laid on the concept of *Brahmans <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/brahman#shaivism>* ( *panchbrahma*).“Here we have a sculpture that is visually analogous to my definition of meditation with its interconnected disciplined stages (the emanatory gods) linked by a continuum (the column) leading to transcendence (the freedom of the top four figures around a domed apex-the dome being the symbol of universality, facing, as it does the entire horizon and all angles of space leading to the zenith” 9 *Siva* was *ekalinga <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ekalinga#hinduism>* but due to devotion of various beings he became *Bahu <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bahu#hinduism>-linga* in various aeons. The worship of *Siva linga* was popularized around Gupta <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/gupta#hinduism> period when the Puranas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/purana#shaivism> began to establish that the linga represents the *Nirguna <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/nirguna#hinduism>* state of *Siva* like *Para Brahman <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/parabrahman#hinduism>* of Vedas. A repertoire of mythological literature emerged around the symbol to confer multiple meanings on it, meanings which lay people could understand,which required no ascetic initiation to understand. Mythology provided the pivot around which the symbol attained apparently simplified meanings quite different from it’s earlier esoteric and abstract meaning. {600 BCE as per west but could be 1000 BCE}. KR IRS 17322 On Thu, 17 Mar 2022 at 08:40, Rangarajan T.N.C. <[email protected]> wrote: > > https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/shiva-lingam-some-scientific-truths/ > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZoqwnfSfvk3D7%3DJLSSSeJFzJ6_4qcpKiX71D5BODP28O2g%40mail.gmail.com.
