Various Types Of Shiva Lingas

Siva Purana, Vidyeswara Samhita. Chapter 18 describes various types of Siva Lingas.
The information given here is a summary of what is described elsewhere at different places in Siva Purana itself.
We saw that there are 2 types of Pranava - Omkara and Panchakshara Mantra.
Omkara is called Sukshma Pranava and Panchakshara Mantra is called Sthula Pranava.
We also saw that Omkara works better for sanyasis, brahmacharis, and yogis and Panchakshara Mantra works better for others.
Here again, we saw that beginners should chant Shivaya Namaha and not Namah Shivaya.
That would make them progress faster.

Siva Purana calls Omkara Sukshma Linga and Panchakshara Mantra Sthula Linga.
That means, chanting of these mantras is equal to worshiping Shiva Linga.

There are five types of physical Lingas - Swayambhu Linga, Bindu Linga, Pratishtita Linga, Chara Linga, and Guru Linga.

The first one - Swayambhu Linga.
What is the meaning of Swayambhu?
Something that comes into existence by itself.
Lord Shiva keeps himself in seed form at various places under the ground.
Whenever he sees a Rishi doing his intense tapas, he wants to be near him and he appears as a Linga like how a seed germinates.
If you worship a Swayambhu Linga, your knowledge and awareness increase.

Yantras made in Gold or Silver or even Pranava written on Gold or Silver leaves or plates are called Bindu Lingas.
He will be present in them provided you have faith.
Wherever you want Bhagavan to be there you should first believe that he will come there,then definitely he will come.
It can't be like - Oh! this is Shiva yantra, let me see if it works.
Then it may not.
First you believe that he is present in it and treat it accordingly.
Such Yantras are called Bindu Lingas.
You will get prosperity by worshiping such Yantras.

There are some Lingas installed by Devatas and Rishis, and humans.
They are called Pratishtita Lingas.
All temples have got Pratishtita Lingas.
There are some installed even by Asuras and Rakshasas.
Ravana had installed 6 crores of Siva Lingas in Lanka.
These are documented also in the Puranas.
This is the 3rd type.

Then, the 4th, Chara Linga.
There are 2 types of Chara Linga.
If you meditate upon Linga upon your chakras, then it is called Chara Linga.
The other type is Lingas that we normally come across and worshiped at home like Sphatika Linga, Rasa Linga, and Bana Linga.
Rasa Linga is most suitable for well disciplined Brahmins and women who have relinquished the world.
Bana Linga is the best for the ruling class.
Businessmen should worship Linga made of gold.
For the common man any beautiful well made Linga would give result.
Married women should worship Parthiva Linga which is made from clay on special occasions.
Women can also worship Sphatika Linga throughout.

The fifth one is Guru Linga.
You can worship your Guru visualizing him as Mahadeva himself.
This is Guru Linga.