Lingam

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/lingam

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary iconography?Abstract, aniconic pillar representing the formless aspect of Shiva
2. What is the philosophical representation?Symbolizes the union of Prakriti (primordial matter) and Purusha (pure consciousness)
3. Why is the Lingam placed on a Yoni?The Yoni is a round base that shows the feminine creative power. Together they show how the male and female ideas work together to create life.
4. How is the Lingam made?It can be carved from stone, metal, wood, gems, or clay. Artists shape it into a smooth, short pillar that sits on the Yoni.

Nirguna Brahman: The ultimate reality in Hinduism, understood as without attributes or form.
Aniconic Worship: Devotional practice that uses symbols or abstract forms instead of human-like images of deities.
Abhishekam: A ritualistic bathing of a deity or sacred object with liquids like water, milk, or honey.
Garbhagriha: The innermost sanctum of a Hindu temple, housing the principal deity or icon.