("mark,"
"sign") Linga is the term for the pillar-shaped form of the deity
Shiva, in addition to its literal meaning of any iconic sign.
The linga is frequently referred to as a "phallic"
symbol because it represents Shiva as the power of generation itself, from
which men and women draw their procreative energy.
The base (pitha) in which the shaft is put, which depicts
the female reproductive organs, is an equally essential aspect of the linga's
picture.
Discover more about Hindu Art, Architecture, and Iconography here.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.