The document discusses the meaning and significance of Linga Pooja or worship of the lingam. It states that there are three basic phenomena in the universe: formation, maintenance, and destruction, similar to anabolism, catabolism, and metabolism. However, from an Advaita philosophical view, these are mere contingencies and the true substratum or field in which they appear is beyond time and attributes. This supreme being is represented by the lingam of Shiva. The document emphasizes that linga worship, while involving procreative symbols, signifies remembering one's true nature and is an aid for spiritual realization. Specific days and places can facilitate this. It concludes that traditions must be understood in

1. LINGA POOJA
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. Dharma is that which holds together the
orchestration of the universe in harmony
throughout millennia.
Lnigm chinnhenumane cha sankhyokta
prakrutavapi
Sivamurti visheshe cha mehanepi napusakam
Layam gacchanti bhootani samhare nischalam
yatha
srushtyakale punah strshtim tasmat
lingamudahrutam
From the essence of these two shlokas; it appears
that there are three basic phenomena in the
universe viz. formation, maintenance and
destruction. This is similar to anabolism,
catabolism and metabolism. But from the Adwait
philosophical point of view, these transitions are
mere contingents. Hence the substratum of these,
or the field in which these contingents appear; is

3. beyond time and supreme or super living. The
form of this; viz. SHIVA is lingam. It is therefore
supposed to be neutral i.e. beyond any kind of
attribute.
Today I realize that; the stories from Linga
Purana about the fight for supremacy between
Vishnu and Brahma; are symbolic and should
never be taken verbatim. I should not look at and
think of; in a vulgar manner; the worship of
linga as “a vestige of primitive, barbaric culture
of phallus worship”, due to my intellectual or
cultural retardation.
Lingapooja; even if it is of the phallus and
vagina, which signify the procreation and
symbolize the creation; is in essence;
remembering, reorienting and reestablishing
one’s true nature. Since such remembrance of
one’s true self is almost impossible; or at least
may not be easy for every one; the ritual of

4. worshipping the form of linga has become a part
of culture. Specific days and specific places
appear to be conducive to this realization of one’s
true self and hence there are places of
JYOTIRLINGA in as much as there are specific
days called MAHASHIVARATRI.
The scholars of astrology can shed light on this.
I realized that it is essential to appreciate the root
of every tradition and identify it in its original
universal form and remove the cobwebs of
sectarian paradigms, due to which it becomes
either a monopoly of a sect and/or an issue of
sectarian strife. This is also essential for me; so as
to avoid contempt, hatred, prejudice and
antipathy towards a particular tradition, because
of my own limitations, short comings,
subjectivity, superficiality and fanaticism; and
blossom along with others!