Amarnath Ice-Lingam (ritual, Earth, scrutiny, mystic, tradition)

[Trey of Diamonds]

I hear that the Ice-Lingam at Amarnath has melted again. That made me wonder just what an Ice-Lingam is. Not sure I have all the facts right but I have read that it is an incarnation of Shiva in a 5000 year old shrine. Pilgrams travel from all over to see this ice in the Himalayas, so many in fact that their body heat is enough to melt it.

From http://www.amarnathyatra.org/

This is The Cave which was chosen by Bhole Shankar for narrating the secrets of immortality and creation of Universe to Maa Parvati ji . The story goes like this . Centuries ago Maa Parvati asked Shiv ji to let her know why and when He started wearing the beads of heads ( Mund Mala) . Bhole Shankar replied when ever you are born I add one more head in my beads . Maa Parvati said ," My Lord, my body is destroyed every time and I die again and again, but you are Immortal. Please let me know the secret of this ." Bhole Shankar replied that it is due to Amar Katha ."

Maa Parvati insisted that she may be told that secret. For long Shiva ji continued postponing . Finally on consistent demand from Maa Parvati He made up his mind to tell the immortal secret . He started for lonely place where no living being could listen it . He choose Amarnath Cave . In preparation to that He left His Nandi ( The Bull which He used to ride ) at Pahalgam (Bail gaon) . At Chandanwari He released Moon from his hairs (Jataon). At the banks of Lake Sheshnag He released the snakes . He decided to leave his Son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat (Mahaganesh Hill ) . At Panjtarni, Shivji left the Five Elements behind (Earth , Water, Air , Fire and Sky) which make living being . He is the Lord of these elements. It is believed that as a symbol of sacrificing the earthly world , Shivaji and Maa Parvati had Tandav Dance. After leaving behind all these, Bhole Shankar enters the Holy Amarnath Cave along with Parvati Maa . Lord Shiva takes his Samadhi on the Deer Skin and concentrate. To ensure that no living being is able to hear the Immortal Tale , He created Rudra named Kalagni and ordered him to spread fire to eliminate every living thing in and around the Holy Cave . After this He started narrating the secret of immortality to Maa Parvati . But as a matter of chance one egg which was lying beneath the Deer skin remained protected . It is believed to be non living and more over it was protected by Shiva -Parvati Asan (Bed) . The pair of pigeons which were born out of this egg became immortal having listened the secret of immortality (Amar Katha).

Many pilgrims report seeing the pair of pigeons when they trek the arduous route to pay their obeisance before the Ice-Lingam (the phallic symbol of Shiva).

I don't know much about Hinduism, anyone want to elaborate? Do Hindus believe this ice formation is a God or part of a God? Is it like an Avatar or is it symbol representing the God?

[Hema]

A lingam is round and is symbolic of God having no beginning and no end. It symbolizes that God is limitless and formless. It symbolizes that from which all things emanated and towards which all things will merge, therefore it represents the dissolution of the mind into Spirit awareness - awareness of the Atman or true self.

[Don Penguinoini]

Damn, why did it mlt, must have been global warming and all.

[Pariah]

Note: I posted this after Hema, but her description of the circle and its symbolic nature holds true as well.

No, the ice formation is not a God.
Everything in the Universe is a part of God in Hinduism, because the Universe is a manifestation of divinity rather than a creation separate from it. It is not an avatar because avatars usually take animate form to achieve a specific action, but instead, is a symbol of Shiva and his miraculous power.

The traditional Lingam, at least in my experience, was given by Shiva himself to describe in the indescribable.

Brahman, the Ultimate Reality "behind" the maya, or veil, of this world lies the true spiritual experience, whilst not denying the reality of this world. It is the cosmic fabric from which everything derives and is limitless. In the scriptures, the name Brahman becomes synonymous with Nirguna Brahman, or "Brahman which as no attributes - taste, touch, smell, form, or noise".

When the sages realized this, they asked Shiva how they could meditate on something that had no form, so they asked to see him. Shiva, instead of showing a human form gave the abstract shape of the Lingam. This story doesn't hold to historical scrutiny, however.

In the Shaivite tradition (where Shiva is the ultimate deity, complemented by his feminine side, Shakti. Perhaps with a very liberal reading, you could relate them to Yin and Yang), Shiva and his consort Shakti, through their union (sex, intercourse) created the Universe. To this day, when worshiping the Lingam, milk is poured for obvious reasons.

Each worship of the Lingam is a symbolic act of Creation.

[Trey of Diamonds]

So, is a Lingam a phallic symbol or is that a Western generalization? From the descriptions is seems phallic but to call it that also seems like a simplification.

[Pariah]

Both.
To those seeking simple ritual, it is a symbol of creation, to those mystics, sages, and others trying to understand what their religion is about, they will move past that portion and understand the Brahman (which I explained above) that it truly represents.

Historians believe that earlier versions of Hinduism, before the philosophy was fully developed may have used it simply as a phallic symbol, but the true meaning of it does deal with Brahman, the indescribable.

[Hema]

Originally Posted by Pariah

Both.
To those seeking simple ritual, it is a symbol of creation, to those mystics, sages, and others trying to understand what their religion is about, they will move past that portion and understand the Brahman (which I explained above) that it truly represents.

Historians believe that earlier versions of Hinduism, before the philosophy was fully developed may have used it simply as a phallic symbol, but the true meaning of it does deal with Brahman, the indescribable.

Wow! Great explanation!

[Hema]

Pariah, how does it affect you when people refer to it as a phallic symbol and make reference to sex? When I was younger I used to get angry but now I think of it as sex being part of life and part of creation. Now it doesn't offend me. However, I agree with you that its true symbolism is Brahman.

[Pariah]

Originally Posted by Hema

Pariah, how does it affect you when people refer to it as a phallic symbol and make reference to sex? When I was younger I used to get angry but now I think of it as sex being part of life and part of creation. Now it doesn't offend me. However, I agree with you that its true symbolism is Brahman.

As a child, no priest, teacher, or adult will ever make reference to the sexual qualities of religion. The story I posted above about the sages questioning Shiva as to his form was one I heard during Balavihar, a religious gathering started by Swami Chinmayananda.

In other years, I made it a habit to defend my case by claiming ad-hominem attacks of discrimination, but now I tend to indict religion and spiritual philosophies that denounce sexuality as a part of life.

It does bother me, however, that people seem consistently fixated on the sexual aspect of it. No offense to you Trey.