# Banalinga > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Banalinga > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Banalinga.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banalinga > Source revision: 1325495146 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Form of lingam from the Narmada basin}} {{Multiple issues|{{More citations needed|date=September 2025}} {{Original research|date=September 2023}}}} [[File:Kashiswar Bhairava, Andul.jpg|alt=|thumb|A large Banalinga recovered from [Saraswati River](/source/Saraswati_River_(Bengal)) at [Andul](/source/Andul) in c.1650 AD.]] A '''Banalinga''' is a stone of a type found in the riverbed of parts of the [Narmada River](/source/Narmada_River) in [Madhya Pradesh](/source/Madhya_Pradesh) state, India, formed by natural processes of erosion into a shape resembling a ''[lingam](/source/lingam)'', an aniconic form of the [Hindu](/source/Hindu) deity [Shiva](/source/Shiva).{{cite book |last1=Dallapiccola |first1=Anna L. |title=Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend |date=2002 |publisher=Thames & Hudson Ltd |location=London |isbn=0-500-51088-1 |page=36}} They are smooth [ellipsoid](/source/ellipsoid) stones that are regarded as manifestations of the deity, based on either the scriptures or cultural traditions among the [Hindus](/source/Hindus), particularly of the [Shaivas](/source/Shaivaites) and [Smarta](/source/Smartha) Brahmins. The banalinga is also called the [Svayambhu](/source/Svayambhu) (self-born) linga as it is natural rather than artificial.{{Cite web |url=http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Svayambhu_Linga/id/62193 |title=Svayambhu Linga: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary on Svayambhu Linga |access-date=2008-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127044224/http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Svayambhu_Linga/id/62193 |archive-date=2008-01-27 |url-status=dead }} However, the popularity of the stones has severely depleted the natural supply, and the stones offered commercially today are largely produced artificially. Banalinga stones are quite strong and tend to have a hardness of 7 on the [Mohs scale](/source/Mohs_scale).{{Cite web |date=2017-10-30 |title=Hardness |url=https://nationalgemlab.in/hardness-2/ |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=National Gem Lab |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Chamundihari |date=2014-08-13 |title=Sadhananda Swamigal: Sacred Bana Lingas |url=https://sadhanandaswamigal.blogspot.com/2014/08/sacred-bana-lingas.html |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=Sadhananda Swamigal}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2012-07-26 |title=Journey in India: Banalinga, Omkareshwar, Narmada, Narmada River, Sacred Stone |url=https://tanmoybanerjee911.blogspot.com/2012/07/banalinga.html |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=Journey in India}} Stones regarded and treated as banalinga are found naturally in other rivers and natural contexts, but only erratically. == Significance == [[File:Banalingam Narmada lingam.jpg|thumb|281x281px|Banalinga stacked on a shelf in a shop near [Omkareshwar](/source/Omkareshwar) temple which is situated along [Narmada River](/source/Narmada_River).]] The [Narmada River](/source/Narmada_River) also called the Rewa, derived its name from its leaping motion (from the root ''rev'' through its rocky bed) where the Banalinga stones are found, has been mentioned by [Ptolemy](/source/Ptolemy) and the author of the [Periplus](/source/Periplus). The [Ramayana](/source/Ramayana), the [Mahabharata](/source/Mahabharata) and [Puranas](/source/Puranas) refer to it frequently. The Rewa Khand of [Vayu Purana](/source/Vayu_Purana) and the Rewa Khand of [Skanda Purana](/source/Skanda_Purana) are entirely devoted to the story of the birth and the importance of the Narmada River. It is said to have sprung from the body of Lord [Shiva](/source/Shiva). It was created in the form of a lovely damsel who enamoured gods and was hence named by the Lord as Narmada- delight giving. It is, therefore, often called Shankari, i.e., daughter of Lord Shankar ([Shiva](/source/Shiva)). All the pebbles rolling on its bed are said to take the shape of His emblem with the saying ''Narmada Ke Kanker utte Sanka'' (which is a popular saying in the Hindi belt of India) which means that ‘pebble stones of Narmada gets a personified form of Shiva’. Thus, these [lingam](/source/lingam) shaped stones, called Banalinga, are sought after for daily worship by the Hindus. The Bannalinga, as a divine aniconic symbol for worship, is held in reverence by the [Shaivaites](/source/Shaivaites) and [Smartha](/source/Smartha) [Brahmins](/source/Brahmins), to the same extent as the Saligrama [Sila (murti)](/source/Sila_(murti)) is held in reverence by the [Vaishnavites](/source/Vaishnavites). Further, a sighting of the Narmada River is considered equivalent to a bath in the [Ganges](/source/Ganges). At numerous places along its course there are temples, and fairs are held. Pilgrims perform [Pradakshina](/source/Pradakshina) (circumambulation), i.e., walking along the southern bank from its source to the mouth and going back along the northern bank. The performance is regarded as being of the highest religious efficacy. Three kinds of lingas are described in the Brihat Vaivarta Purana (Hindu scripture). These three lingas, are called SvAmbhuva [Self-existing], Banalinga [got from a certain river] and Sailalinga [made of stone] and these are also respectively called {{proper name|Vyakta}}, {{proper name|Avyakta}}, and {{proper name|VyaktAvyakta}}. It is said that {{proper name|Vyakta}} gives salvation, the {{proper name|Avyakta}} gives [worldly] happiness, and {{proper name|VyaktAvyakta}} gives both happiness and salvation. People belonging to various Hindu sects such as Shaiva, Kapalik, Gosavi, Virashaiva, etc., use various lingas – earthen (parthivlinga), lingas in a silver box worn around the neck (kanthasthalinga), lingas of crystal glass (sphatiklinga), banalingas, a five stringed linga (panchasutri), stone lingas (pashanlinga), etc. == Panchayatana == Banalinga is a part of the fivefold family of deities ([Panchayatana](/source/Panchayatana_puja)). The five Hindu deities ([Shiva](/source/Shiva), [Vishnu](/source/Vishnu), [Devi](/source/Devi), [Surya](/source/Surya) and [Ganesha](/source/Ganesha)) are the embodiment of 5 bhutas/tatwas worshipped in formless stones, which are obtained from the 5 rivers as indicated in the table below. [Panchayatana](/source/Panchayatana_puja) form of worship is said to have been introduced by [Adi Shankara](/source/Adi_Shankara), the 8th century C.E Hindu philosopher, to enable a person to worship his [Ishta devata](/source/I%E1%B9%A3%E1%B9%ADa-devat%C4%81_(Hinduism)) (adored or desired deity), to address each sectarian form of worship and thus bring about tolerance among all sects. Depending on the tradition followed by [Smarta](/source/Smarta) households, one of these deities is kept in the centre facing East direction and the other four are arranged in four corners surrounding it, as indicated in the diagram below; all the deities are worshipped with equal fervor and devotion. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Name of Deity ! Bhuta(Tatwa) ! Name of the Stone (Sila) ! Name of the River ! Name of the State where found in India ! Names of flowers and leaves used for worship |- | Ganesha | Akasha(Space) | Red Sonabhadra | Sone | Bihar | Lotus and Bandook flowers |- | Surya(Sun) | Agni/Teja(Fire) | Crystal | Vallam | Tamil Nadu (Tanjavur) | Bandook flower and plantain tree |- | Vishnu | Prithivi(Earth) | Saligrama | Gandaki | Nepal | Tulsi (basil), Ashwatha, and Amalaki leaves. Marigold, Punnaga, and yellow flowers |- | Shiva | Apu(Water) | Banalinga | Narmada (Omkara-kunda) | Madhya Pradesh | [Golden shower tree](/source/Golden_Shower_tree) Flower, Bel leaves and Amalaki leaves. Akund (Calotropis gigantea), Crown flower Nagalingam flower |- | Ambika(Devi) | Vayu (Air) | Swarna Mukhi (Rekha Shila) | Swarnamukhi | Andhra Pradesh | Red flowers – Hibiscus or China rose and Neem leaves |} People generally sit facing East, while placing the deities/devatas and performing the Panchayatana pooja in the following order: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Center ! North East ! South East ! South West ! North West |- | Ganapati | Vishnu | Shiva | Surya (Sun) | Durga |- | Surya (Sun) | Shiva | Ganapati | Vishnu | Durga |- | Vishnu | Shiva | Ganapati | Surya (Sun) | Durga |- | Shiva | Vishnu | Surya (Sun) | Ganapati | Durga |- | Durga (Devi) | Vishnu | Shiva | Ganapati | Surya (Sun) |} {| class="wikitable" |- ! SHIVA NORTHEAST ! ! DURGA NORTHWEST |- | | '''TATPURUSHA''' | |- | '''VAMADEVA''' | '''ISHANA''' '''VISHNU''' | '''AGHORA''' '''(RUDRA)''' |- | | '''SADYOJATA''' | |- | '''SOUTH EAST''' '''GANAPATI''' | | '''SOUTH WEST''' '''SURYA''' |} '''A layout for performing the [Panchayatana](/source/Panchayatana_puja) Pooja [Puja]''' In an additional form of worship called the [Shanmata](/source/Shanmata), also founded by [Adi Shankara](/source/Adi_Shankara), six deities are worshipped; the sixth deity, added to the five deities of the [Panchayatana](/source/Panchayatana_puja) Puja mentioned above, is [Skanda](/source/Murugan), also known as [Kartikeya](/source/Kartikeya) and [Murugan](/source/Murugan). ==Thanjavur Temple== The famous [Thanjavur](/source/Thanjavur) [Brihadeeswarar Temple](/source/Brihadeeswarar_Temple) has one of the biggest Banalingas. == See also == * [Panchayatana puja](/source/Panchayatana_puja) * [Shanmata](/source/Shanmata) * [Chesil Beach](/source/Chesil_Beach) == References == {{Reflist|2}} {{Worship in Hinduism}} Category:Objects used in Hindu worship Category:Stones Category:Temples --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Banalinga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banalinga) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banalinga?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.