Lingodbhava

Lingōdbhava ''(also called Lingobhava, the "emergence of the Linga")'' is an iconic representation of Hindu god Shiva, commonly seen in the South Indian Hindu temples. The icon depicts the legend of the origin of the linga, Shiva's iconic representation that is often in his worship. The tale of Lingodbhava is found in various ''puranas'', augments the synthesis of the old cults of pillar and worship. The earliest literary evidence of the iconic representation is found in the 7th century works of Shaiva saints Appar and Thirugnana Sambandar. The other indicative mention is found in the 1st century ''Tirukkural''. The pillar of fire is usually referred as Jyothirlinga. The iconographic representation of Lingobhava is commonly seen in all South Indian Shiva temples represented as Shiva emerging out of the pillar of fire with smaller images of Vishnu in the form of a boar in the bottom and Brahma in the form of gander at the top.

Legend

Once, while the deities Vishnu and Brahma contested for superiority of who is the creator, Shiva appeared as a flame, and challenged them to find his source. Brahma took the form of a gander, and flew to the sky to see the top of the flame, while Vishnu became the boar Varaha, and sought its base. The scene is called Lingodbhava and is represented in the western wall at the sanctum of most on Shiva temples. Neither Brahma nor Vishnu could find the source, and while Vishnu conceded his defeat, Brahma lied and said he had found the pinnacle. Angry at this, Lord Shiva took the form of Bhairava and took apart one of the five heads of Brahma and in punishment, Shiva ordained that Brahma would never have temples on Earth in his worship. As Shiva cut off Brahma's fifth head, he had committed the sin of "Brahmahatyapaap" (hurting of a Brahmin) and had to roam the three worlds as Bhikshatana a naked, beggar to get absolved of his sin. The sin gets finally absolved at Varanasi on the bank of the Ganga river. Aiyar 1982, pp. 190–191 The legend is detailed in ''Vishnu Purana''. The pillar of fire is usually referred as Jyothirlinga.

Iconography

The Lingodbhava image can be found in the first precinct around the sanctum in the wall exactly behind the image of Shiva in the central shrine with Vishnu and Brahma in the sides. Lingodbhava or emergence of the Lingam, found in various ''puranas'', augments the synthesis of the old cults of pillar and phallic worship. The idea emerged from deity residing in a pillar and later visualised as Shiva emerging from the lingam. Vasudevan 2003, p. 105 Shiva is represented in South Indian temples in the phallic form of Lingam. The image of Lingothbhava is depicted with Shiva emerging from Linga in his original form. Vishnu in the form of boar is usually depicted in the bottom of the phallus while Brahma in the form of a gander is seen on the top of the phallus. In some temples, Lingothbhava is depicted in this form along with Brahma on the right of the image while Vishnu to the left of Shiva, both worshipping Shiva emerging as a column of fire. Lingobhava along with Dakshinamurthy is considered the most common forms of Shiva in the South Indian temples from Chola times.

Literary mention

''Tirukkural'', the classic Tamil language couplets has the first mention of Lingothbhava which mentions that Shiva wanted to decide dispute of supremacy between Vishnu and Brahma. Appar, one of the early Shaiva saint of the 7th century, gives evidence of this knowledge of ''puranic'' episodes relating to Lingodbhava form of Shiva while Tirugnana Sambandar refers this form of Shiva as the nature of light that could not be comprehended by Brahma and Vishnu. Thiruvathirai festival is celebrated during the Tamil month of ''Margazhi'' (December - January) in all Shiva temples when Shiva is believed to have performed the cosmic dance. The same day as per ''Arunachala Puranam'', the literary history of Annamalaiyar Temple, is considered the day when Shiva rose as a column of fire when both Vishnu and Brahma could not find his origin. The living beings in the three worlds could not bear the heat of column and at the request of celestial deities, Shiva cooled down as the mountain Arunachala. The Shivaratri when he cooled down is called the Lingothbhavar day. The day is considered when the genesis of mixture of form and formless manifestation of Shiva.

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Forms of Shiva