Lingapuja, Linga-puja, Liṅgapūjā: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Lingapuja means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Hinduism
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Liṅgapūjā (लिङ्गपूजा) is found as a sculpture at the temple of Lokeśvara, north wall, north façade.—The whole scene in this niche is composed in this fashion. On the top, in the dormer-window there is a personage represented with folded hands. There are two snakes on either side of his head well decorated with a beautiful tiara. Below the gable is another person performing a Liṅgapūjā by doing abhiṣeka, i.e. bathing the Liṅga by pouring water, because it is said that Śiva is abhiṣekapriya, fond of ablutions.
Just below this scene is a divinity with three faces and a few attributes such as sword, snake and other things, difficult to identify, in his eight hands. He may be identified with Sadāśiva because of his multiple heads. All the three visible heads have an uṣṇīṣa on the summit of each head. Even the personage worshipping Śivaliṅga is also adorned with an uṣṇīṣa. The three-headed deity can be identified with Śiva as Sadāśiva, assuming that in the upper portion of the niche the devotee is performing a pūjā of Śiva by forming mentally an image of Sadāśiva through prayers requesting his god to be present in the Liṅga to receive his ablutions and rituals.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Liṅgapūjā (लिङ्गपूजा) refers to “liṅga worship”, which is said to constitute the very essence of Śaiva theology, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—The Saurapurāṇa usually loses no opportunity to emphasize the Vedic origin and glorification of the liṅgapūjā; it also, at the same time, stoutly proclaims the right of persons belonging to all castes and sub-castes and also of women to worship the Śivaliṅga.
As the worship of liṅga [viz., liṅgapūjā] bestows worldly pleasures and spiritual emancipation, so there is no greater meritorious act than the liṅgapūjā, in the three worlds. The Lord Himself is stated to have assured Viṣṇu that the person who worships liṅga, He would destroy his ignorance very soon and the worshipper of liṅga has no worldly fears. It is said that if a person offers a flower or leaf once only to the liṅga, it gives eternal merits and becomes the cause of liberation.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Liṅgapūja (लिङ्गपूज) refers to “performing acts of devotion to the liṅga”, according to the Mālinīvijayottaratantra, chapter 18 (“appropriate conduct of the accomplished Yogin”) verses 18.74-81 (as quoted in the Tantrāloka verse 4.213-221ab).—Accordingly, “There is no purity here, nor impurity, no consideration of what is to be eaten, etc. There is no duality, nor non-duality, and no (requirement to perform) acts of devotion to the liṅga (liṅgapūja), etc. There is similarly no (requisite) abandoning of those [acts], nor the (required) renunciation of material possessions, nor again any (requirement regarding the) accumulation of material possessions. There is no (requisite) maintenance of twisted locks of hair [jaṭā], of (smearing oneself with) sacred ashes, or the like, nor any (requisite) abandoning of the same. [...]”.
Liṅgapūjā (लिङ्गपूजा) refers to one of the topics discussed in the Liṅgārcanatantra, a Sanskrit manuscript collected in volume 1 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (first series)” by Rajendralal Mitra (1822–1891), who was one of the first English-writing historians dealing with Indian culture and heritage.— The Liṅgārcanatantra deals with the rules and advantages of worshiping the Liṅga. It contains roughly 1,000 ślokas.—The catalogue includes the term—Liṅgapūjā in its ‘subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads—[(1) chapter 1: paṭale sarvvapūjānāmādau liṅgapūjāvyavasthāpanaṃ (2) chapter 10: vijayāpatrādinā liṅgapūjāvidhānaṃ].
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Lingapujapaddhati, Lingapujaphala, Lingapujavidhana.
Full-text: Lingapujaphala, Lingapujapaddhati, Lingapujavidhana, Parthivalingapuja.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Lingapuja, Linga-puja, Liṅga-pūjā, Liṅgapūjā; (plurals include: Lingapujas, pujas, pūjās, Liṅgapūjās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
The Sculptures of Madan-Kamdev (Study) (by Kamal Nayan Patowary)
Part 2.8 - Popular Aesthetic Explanation of Shaivism at Madan-Kamdev < [Chapter 5 - Sculpture: The true reflector of the Society]
Part 5.3 - Sculptures of Dance and Music < [Chapter 4 - Erotic Sculptures of Madan-Kamdeva]
Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 49 - Installation of Aghoreśa < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]
Vastu-shastra (Introduction to Indian architecture) (by D. N. Shukla)
(v) Mānasāra (Summary) < [Chapter 5 - Study of Hindu Science of Architecture]
Sucindrasthala-mahatmya (critical edition and study) (by Anand Dilip Raj)
Shakti and Shakta (by John Woodroffe)
Chapter XXVI - Śākta Sādhanā (the Ordinary Ritual) < [Section 3 - Ritual]