One of the oldest surviving Shivling in the world is located at the Parashurameshvara Temple
Legend has it that Parashuram’s mother Renuka
was suspected of infidelity by her husband Sage Jamadagni. The Sage
ordered Parashurama to behead his mother. Parashurama obeyed his father
and when Sage Jamadagni wanted to reward his son, Parashurama asked him
to bring his mother back to life. And she was brought back to life.
But
Parashuram could not overcome guilt of beheading his mother and he felt
remorse about his act. As a penance he was advised by other Rishis to
worship Shiva at Gudimallam.
After
searching of several days, Parashurama found the temple in the middle
of a forest. He dug a pond nearby and began his penance.
Every
day morning a single flower used appear in the pond and Parashuram
offered it to Shiva. To guard the single flower, he appointed
Chitrasena, a Yaksha. Chitrasena was actually a manifestation of Lord
Brahma.
Chitrasena
had kept a condition that to guard the flower he should be given an
animal to eat and a pot of toddy. Parashuram agreed to it and he used to
hunt an animal for Chitrasena daily.
One
day when Parashuram went out to hunt, Chitrasena felt tempted to
worship Shiva himself. He used the single flower to worship Shiva. An
enraged Parashurama attacked Chitrasena when he found the flower
missing.
The
fierce battle lasted for a long period and finally, Shiva appeared on
the scene and merged Chitrasena and Parashuram into the Shivling. The
Gudimallam Shivling now shows Parashuram standing on the Yaksha with the
hunted beast and toddy pot.
Brahma as Chitrasena, Vishnu as Parasurama and Shiva as the lingam form the Gudimallam Shivalingam.
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