LINGAM

Lingam is the symbol of Lord Shiva, the regenerator. Lingam, a cylindrical shaped image corresponding to the male reproductive organ is found at innumerable places of worship. Some of those images are just natural and installed for worshipping where as most of the images are man made or artificial. Generally cylindrical shaped and smooth topped Lingam is found standing upright installed on top of Yoni, the female organ which is shaped like a disc lying flat with a drain elongated on one side. This Yoni signifies creative energy that revolves around and the Lingam, though passive, is the centrifugal force of the wheel of existence. 

Linga without yoni is only to represent the formless Supreme consciousness. There are many oval shaped holy lingams without Yoni in Nepal. They are all to remind us of he supreme source of creation. Yajurveda in support of this point says that every thing of this universe is manifested from the dazzling divine light called Jyotirlinga. The scientific version of the same story is that this planet in the beginning was only a flaming piece of the solar planet.