Linga / Lingam
(लिंग)Literal Meaning
Symbol, sign
Etymology & Sanskrit Root
From Sanskrit 'linga' (sign, symbol) — for Lingayats, the personal, tangible symbol of Shiva's formless, all-pervading reality, not an idol in the conventional sense.
Spiritual Insight & Context
Every Lingayat wears their own Ishtalinga from initiation, making worship personal, portable, and casteless rather than dependent on a temple.