Shiva in Hindu ideology represents a vast sea of knowledge, power, salvation & more. As per Hindu traditions, Lord Shiva is worshipped in many forms. Shiva Lingam is the most common form of deity found in most temples. When it comes to Shiva lingam, there are varieties of linga like plain lingam, ekamukhalingam, trimukhalingam, chaturmukha lingam etc.
The “Sahasralingam” can also be considered as a variant of lingam. However, Odisha is the only place that worships Sahasralingam in a different form than it is found elsewhere.
Shaivism, an integral part of Hinduism that worships every form of god Shiva, has been thriving in India since Vedic times. It is one of the most prominent sects within Hinduism, second only to Vaishnavism, dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu. With its distinctive practice throughout the country, Vaishnavism has many specific regional variations in both philosophy and practice. The worshipping symbol for Shaivites is the lingam.
There are two types of Lingam that are being worshipped around India; one which is sculpted by humans and the other that occur naturally. The phallic-shaped column is a representative of Shiva's paradoxical virility and chastity. The most common form of the Lingam is found in proximity to a yoni, the valvular symbol of Shakti.
However, the iconography of the lingam has a variety throughout history. Some of the prominent ones are Mukhalingam (where the lingam has the face of Shiva carved on it), Ashtottara-sata Lingam (where 108 miniature lingas are carved on the pujabhaga (main linga following certain geometric principles), Dhara Lingam (where lingas have five to sixty-four fluted facets with prime numbers and multiples of four particularly favoured), Lingodbhavamurti (where Shiva is seen as emerging from within a fiery lingam) & Sahasra Lingam (where 1001 miniature lingas are carved on the pujabhaga (main linga) following certain geometric principles).
Odisha, as the abode of the Rajadhiraj Lingaraj Temple, has monolith Sahasra Lingam designed following a geometric principle of 99 vertical & 11 horizontal lines. This unique form of Lingam is also considered as Kalingan form Shaivism that is anticipated to have begun during 6th-7th CE.
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