The cult of Siva and the worship of his emblem, the linga, are as old as Hinduism itself.

Nobody has been able so far, to indicate any definite period during which this cult originated.

Literally Siva means auspiciousness and ligna means a sign or a symbol. Hence the Sivalinga is just a symbol of the great God of the Universe who is all-auspiciousness. Siva also means One in whom the whole creation sleeps after dissolution. Linga also means the same thing-a place where created objects get dissolved during the disintegration of the created universe. Since, according to Hinduism, it is the same God that creates, sustains and withdraws the universe, the Sivalinga represents symbolically God Himself.

Whether the Sivalinga is a phallic emblem or not, is a moot point. Phallic cults have existed in all countries and in all civilizations. It is quite likely that the phallic cults of an aboriginal civilization were absorbed into Hinduism and the worship itself was elevated to honour the Father-Mother-Principle of creation. This is one view. That it is a emnant of the Vedic yupastambha, to which sacrificial animals used to be tied, is another view. According to this view the Hindu temple is a metamorphosis of the Vedic yagasala (sacrificial shed). That it is an imitation of the Buddhist stupa is another guess that is sometimes hazarded. Since lingas have been discovered in the remnants of the Indua Valley Civilization (3000 B.C.) and, since the ancestors of Gautama Buddha were themselves worshippers of Siva, this view has not gained much credence.

Since God is beyond name and form, and since we cannot conceive of an abstract principle like Him, without the aid of concrete symbols, a spherical surface or emblem is perhaps the nearest approach to Him !

Sivalingas may be cala (movable) or acala (immovable). The cala lingas may be kept in the shrine of one's own home for worship: or, prepared temporarily with materials like clay or dough or rice etc., for worship and dispensed with after the worship; or, worn on the body as istalinga as the Virasaivas do. The acala-lingas are those installed in temples. They are ususally made of stones and have three parts. The lowest parts which is square is called Brahmabhaga and represents Brahma the creator. The middle part which is octagonal is called Visnubhaga and represents Visnu, the sustainer. These two parts are embedded inside the pedestal. The Rudrabhaga, which is cylindrical and projects outside the pedestal is the one to which worship is offered. Hence, it is called the Pujabhaga.

The Pujabhaga also contains certain lines technocally called 'brahmasutra', without which the linga becomes unfit for worship.

Siva is said to be fond of bhasma or the holy ash. Hence wearing the sacred ash on the forhead and other parts of the body (as tripundra) is a must for the Saivites. The ash is normally taken from the sacred fire, grhyagni, though readymade ash is also available. It is applied as three horizontal lines. These lines are said to represent: the three aspects of Siva, the three syllables of Om, the three Vedas, the three selves the three worlds the three gunas, the three fires and the three daily oblations. Wearing the tripundra is believed to purify the votary.