Worshiping Lord’s Phallus!

shiva

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Parvati worshipping Shiva’s linga or Shiva’s phallus.

It is believed that the linga of Shiva, cursed by the sages, fell on the earth and burnt everything before it like fire. Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, took the form of a yoni or vagina and calmed it by holding the linga in her yoni.’
Shivalinga

According to the Hindu mythology:
‘During the great mythical churning of the ocean called Samudra Manthan, a pot of poison emerged from the ocean. The gods and the demons were terrified as it could destroy the entire world. When they ran to Shiva for help, he in order to protect the world, drank the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it. This turned his throat blue, and since then he came to be known as ‘Nilkantha’, the blue-throated one.’

The phallus symbol representing Shiva is called the lingam. It is usually made of granite, soapstone, quartz, marble or metal, and has a ‘yoni’ or vagina as its base representing the union of organs. Devotees circumambulate the lingam and worship it throughout the night. It is bathed every three hours with the 5 sacred offerings of a cow, called the ‘panchagavya’ – milk, sour milk, cow dung, cow urine, butter. Then the 5 foods of immortality – milk, clarified butter, curd, honey and sugar are placed before the lingam. Datura fruit and flower, though poisonous, are believed to be sacred to Shiva and thus offered to him.

Maha Shiva ratri is going to be celebrated tonight.

All through the day the devotees keep severe fast, chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra “Om Namah Shivaya”, make offerings of flowers and incense to the Lord amidst ringing of temple bells. They maintain long vigils during the night, keeping awake to listen to stories, hymns and songs. The fast is broken only the next morning, after the nightlong worship.

Shivratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva, who is the spouse of Kali, Parvati and Durga.

Yoni Altar

Hindus not only worship penises, they worship vaginas too.
The erotic parts of Hindu mythology are fascinating but the truth is, like other religions, Hinduism is also a highly patriarchal religion. There are many rituals for women to pray for the well-being of their husbands and sons but there is no ritual for men to pray for the well-being of their wives and daughters.