Also 8 lingum, 8–9 lingham. [a. Skr. liŋga, nom. case liŋgam; the flexional m has been preserved in the word as adopted into the non-Aryan langs. of India.] Among the Hindus, a phallus, worshipped as a symbol of the god Siva.
The first quot. contains some misunderstanding.
1719. I. T. Philipps, trans. Thirty-four Confer., 326. The third Way of attaining. Salvation, is by offering to the Piratti Lingum, which is an Image of a Man made of Dung.
1793. W. Hodges, Trav., v. 94. These Pagodas have each a small chamber in the center … with a lamp hanging over the Lingham. Ibid., note. The Lingham is the great object of superstition among the followers of Brahmah.
1799. Colebrooke, in Life, v. (1873), 152. A number of little altars, with a linga of Mahadeva on them.
1813. J. Forbes, Orient. Mem., II. 364. Two respectable brahmins … who … had … performed the accustomed ceremonies to the linga.
1857. R. Tomes, Amer. in Japan, v. 120. Several stones, of four feet in height … which appeared to be lingams.
Hence Lingamism, the worship of lingams.
1843. Macaulay, Sp. Ld. Ellenborough’s Govt., Sp. (1853), II. 9. To what religion was it that the offering was made? It was to Lingamism.
