The lingam is a column-like or oval (egg-shaped ) symbol of Shiva, the Formless All-pervasive Reality, made of stone, metal, or clay. It is mentioned in the ancient Hindu texts of Mahabharata and Puranas that Lingam is Phallus of Shiva. The Shiva Linga is a symbol of Lord Shiva – . In Shaivite Hindu temples, the linga is a smooth cylindrical mass symbolising Shiva that is worshipped as a symbol of generative power. It is found at the centre of the temple, often resting in the middle of a rimmed, disc-shaped yoni, a representation of Shakti.