I know, but it was a shock to someone in a sheltered American suburb. And you have to admit that my parents (and most websites) are lying by omission when they translate everything else but the "lingam" part. It gives me the impression they considered it inappropriate.
"War doesn't prove who's right, only who's left." "Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future."Or how Zeus castrated his father Kronos and bits of his penis became Aphrodite? (Was that how it went? I only really remember the castration part...)
"War doesn't prove who's right, only who's left." "Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future."I think there was a line in a Fritz Lieber book that went something like "Wow, this is the filthiest book I've ever read. But what does 'yoni' mean?"
I will keep my soul in a place out of sight, Far off, where the pulse of it is not heard.The origins and interpretations of the Lingam are a subject of intense debate. According to one tradition, the Lingam represents the beginning-less and end-less Stambha pillar, suggesting the infinite nature of Shiva.[4][5] A non-Indian theory suggests that the Lingam is a phallic symbol, though this explanation is not accepted and most Hindus do not relate the Lingam to the phallus.[6]. Swami Sivananda, said a phallic interpretation is a blunder and is made by those who do not know India or Sanskrit.
| DA Page | Sketchbook |@Roman: To be honest, I didn't research it that thoroughly. I just looked up the word. And it's not disputed that "ling" means "sex". It's on government forms and everything (when they ask you for your gender.) I can understand that it might have different meanings in different contexts, but I know at least one Hindu mythology book gave a little story to go with it that seems pretty consistent with the rest of the faith. Paraphrased here:
A great sage once went to Shiva's abode and knocked on his door. Now, sages in Hindu mythology are pretty powerful people, though technically subordinate to the gods. If the god was the governor or Senate member, the sage would be the big-shot businessman who paid for his campaign. So they could demand a level of respect. So this great sage goes up to Shiva's house and knocks on his door. Shiva hears, but decides to ignore it because he's too busy having sex with his wife. He knocks two more times and is similarly ignored. Finally Shiva opens the door with his wife hanging off of his arm, and the sage realizes why he was spurned. So he curses him, saying that if he was so preoccupied with sex, then everyone could worship him by his sex organ.
About most Hindus not thinking of it as a phallic symbol, I would agree. It's just one of those traditions people follow because their parents followed it.
edited 19th Oct '10 7:10:44 PM by OnTheOtherHandle
"War doesn't prove who's right, only who's left." "Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future."

Like, check out this
hauntingly beautiful Hindu hymn about a penis. Specifically, the Penis of God.
I grew up with this song. When I was a toddler and refused to sleep, my mom would play it as my lullaby. We'd loop this on rainy days and just quietly contemplate things. I learned to associate it with my family, and my culture.
And then in 7th grade, I discover the truth.
I was really disgusted and weirded out then, but now I'm actually pretty happy that I used to belong to a religion that celebrated sexuality (well, male sexuality, but it's a start) instead of hating it. And there are many more exapmles where this came from, and not just in Hinduism.
edited 18th Oct '10 6:22:46 PM by OnTheOtherHandle
"War doesn't prove who's right, only who's left." "Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future."