Acharya Prashant explains that the word 'Ling' signifies both a symbol and evidence, representing the formless Truth. In the Vedas, the concept of 'Stambh' or a pillar is used to describe Brahman as the support of the entire universe. This pillar evolved into the symbol of the Shivaling, representing the formless Brahman. He notes that archaeological evidence from Mohenjo-daro shows that Shivaling worship dates back at least five to six thousand years. While various sects and Puranas have different interpretations, and Western orientalists often reduced it to a mere biological representation, the core spiritual meaning is that the Shivaling represents both the formless and the manifest Truth simultaneously.