Lingōdbhava (also called Lingobhava, the "emergence of the Linga") is an iconic representation of Hindu god Shiva, commonly seen in temples in Tamil Nadu.

The earliest literary evidence of the iconic representation is found in the 7th century works of the Shaiva saints Appar and Sambandar.

[2][3] Brahma took the form of a gander, and flew to the sky to see the top of the flame, while Vishnu became the boar Varaha, and sought its base.

Lingodbhava or emergence of the Lingam, found in various puranas, augments the synthesis of the old cults of pillar and symbolic worship.

Lingobhava along with Dakshinamurthy is considered the most common forms of Shiva in the South Indian temples from Chola times.

The living beings in the three worlds could not bear the heat of column and at the request of celestial deities, Shiva cooled down as the mountain Arunachala.