Fertility Symbols in Hinduism Part 1 ( Shivlinga )

Mythology comes into picture at the point where rationality ends. When we don't have any rational theories for events happening in the nature, then comes myths. As per metaphysics, there are only two kinds of events in nature:

• One on which we have control( controllable events ). Like what I'll do tomorrow morning, where I'll go next summer etc.
• The other one on which we have no control( uncontrollable events ). Like who our parents are and why only they are our parents but no one else.

Science has the answer of 'How' but not that of 'Why'. There can be rational answers for how the sun rises but not for why the sun rises. But human mind has the power of infinite expansion, even that thought of mind is not possible in nature but we do think. We are born to think complex things. Our imagination is what makes us afraid of impossible things. We can think of till the extremes of both sides of imagination. We can think of the most horrible thing. We can also think of the most joyful things. The sanskrit word for the supreme being is 'Brahmana'. It can be decomposed into  Brah(to expand) and mana(mind) means to expand your mind( or Atman, very poorly translated in English as soul or spirit which has nothing to do with this sanskrit word ). As per Vedantas, the ultimate goal of life is the union of Atman(individual being) with Brahman(supreme being ). Now, let all these metaphysical concepts keep aside and focus on our subject 'fertility symbols'.

People in India normally don't have a broad view on our own philosophy, symbols and rituals. For most of the people, religious rituals and symbols are just blind faiths and rituals our ancestors used to practice. In fact, they are not just beliefs but more than that if we are ready to change our perspective of looking at them.

In order to communicate the idea of spirituality, one need symbols because we can not see the spirituality but imagine. This imagination leads to create symbols. Moreover, we have to depend on nature for these symbols like a banyan tree represents permanence because it lasts for a very long time( more than 500 years )


Fertility does mean a lot in Indian philosophy. Indians have numerous rituals and symbols denoting fertility in humans. At the right is the 'Yoni Mudra' a fertility symbol in hinduism. Hindus have numerous symbols and rituals associated with fertility. Modern society considers some of the rituals as taboo ( like the first menstrual period in girls is paid some special attention and is celebrated in hinduism but our perspective of looking at this celebration makes it taboo. One can find this celebration at the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, Assam where this natural processs is celebrated by the devotees ).

At the right is the image from Kamakhya temple where the mythical womb and genitalia of Shakti fall upon the earth. It is considered that every year in the hindu month of आषाढ़ (June-July), goddess bleeds or manstruates. At this time, the water of river brahmaputra turns red. Then temple is closed for three days. But symbolically menstruation is the symbol of the inner uncontrollable power of woman. So, the Shakti(power) of fertility within every woman is celebrated here


शिवलिंग :
One of the most prominent and easily accessible symbol for fertility in India is Shivlinga ( I don't like to pronounce it ending with a stretched 'aa' sound , I pronounce it as it is pronounced in Sanskrit and other Indian languages ).

When a westerner comes to India, he/she gets amazed finding that Indians are worshiping human genitals. Naturally, Shivlinga seems to be the symbol of male's erect phallus (Linga) inside female's vagina. This symbol might be quiet disturbing for an outsider but for Indians this symbol is pretty common. You'll find one inside every house. People, specially, girls( spinster and married both ) worship shivlinga on Mondays ( सोमवार , the day of सोम or Moon god who is also considered as a passionate and emotional god in hindu scriptures ).

So, naturally, Shivlinga is the symbol for the union of male and female that leads to procreation, an essence for all household hindus if they don't want to remain in the land of dead and cross the river वैतरणी , a river which seperates the land of dead from the land of living beings : according to Garuda Purana. 

So, procreation is essence in Hindus. Even procreation is not a cultural term but a natural one. In nature, procreation ensures the existence of a species on the earth.

Procreation is an instinct of every living being. Animals have sex just for procreation not governed by emotions. Animals don't fall in love. Their instinct govern them to unite with their female counterpart. So, sex for procreation is a natural instinct found in every living creature. But we're  humans with the power of imagination and sacrifice. Procreation is also natural in humans but is controllable and not only governed by instinct but by emotions.

Hindus scriptures emphasises and celebrates the practice of procreation for it ensures the existence of humans. Therefore, hindus worship all the forms of procreation, both natural and symbolic.

Hindu women worship Shivlinga to ensure and strengthen their fertility for procreation as women are the Shakti( power ) of procreation. 

In Hindu scriptures, women are represented as प्रकृति (Nature), violent and uncontrollable. Prakriti and woman both are the forms of uncontrollable Shakti. As natural disasters like earthquake, flood etc are uncontrollable, the same way fertile stages in woman are also uncontrollable. Woman don't have control over their menstruation cycles. So, women are uncontrollable and infinite power of procreation.

But for the establishment of culture, nature is to be controlled and domesticated. Culture is a disciplined form of nature. To prevent natural disaster like floods, we manufacture dams ( controlling counterforce ). Culture uses the power of Prakriti in a disciplined and preplanned way. The same way, power of procreation in women is controlled by Purusha. Here, Purusha acts as the counterforce for the power of procreation.

We can understand it like this: woman can be forced to get pregnant( in a certain period of time, ovulation period, when a mature egg is released from ovaries into the fallopian tubes where it awaits fertilisation by sperm. This period is the most susceptible to accept the sperms from man ) but man can't be forced to bring sperm out of their body. 

Man can control their stimulation and stop the रस (as it is referred in Tantrik philosophy, juice for procreation) coming out of their body. Rasa doesn't come out of the body of a man until he is stimulated by some natural factors. But, woman don't have control over their Rasa to stop it from coming out of their body. Man can control the outward flow of Rasa by doing तप ( practice of not letting the energy of body to be released in environment). This Rasa is kept inside their body and they are knwon as तपस्वी (one who controls the downward or outward flow of energy ).

So, woman(specially married woman) worship shivlinga to ensure the procreative use of their power of procreation. Shivlinga( naturally the symbol of erect phallus ) is the counterforce to conrol the power of procreation in woman.

That's why, in Hindu scriptures man are the masters(controller) of uncontrollabe power of woman. But what a field owner will do if there is no field? So, both the power( Shakti/Prakriti ) and controller(Purusha) are worshipped in Hindus. No one leads to other but they complement and complete each other.