According to
a legend, once Brahma and Vishnu, two other deities of the holy Trinity,
had an argument as to their supremacy. Brahma being the Creator declared
himself to be more revered, while Vishnu, the Preserver, pronounced that he
commanded more respect. Just then a colossal lingam, known as Jyotirlinga,
blanketed in flames, appeared before them. Both Brahma and Vishnu were
awestruck by its rapidly increasing size. They forgot their quarrel and decided
to determine its size. Vishnu assuming the form of a boar went to the
netherworld and Brahma as a swan flew to the skies. But both of them failed to
accomplish the self- assumed tasks. Then, Shiva appeared out of the lingam and
stated that he was the progenitor of them both and that henceforth he should be
worshipped in his phallic form, the lingam, and not in his
anthropomorphic form.
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