NARRATOR: Sirsi, India.
10 miles outside of the city, in the southwestern state
of Karnataka, within the river Shalmala
is one of the country's most popular
pilgrimage sites, Sahasralinga.
Hidden under these waters for most of the year
lie stone sculptures known as Shiva lingams.
These sacred idols are representations of the god
Shiva, and are visible to thousands
of pilgrims once a year at the festival of Maha Shivaratri.
Maha Shivaratri is a festival where Shiva is worshipped
for his great nature.
Maha Shivaratri is usually held in the end of February
or beginning of March.
During that month, the water level of the Shalmala River
drops down so that all the Shiva lingas are exposed.
LAYNE LITTLE: Shiva is depicted as the Shiva linga,
as kind of a spherical column, the flaming
pillar that is the cosmic axis of the universe.
Every Shiva linga that's in worship is set into a yoni.
This is a special base.
And it actually serves kind of a utility of function.
It's a spout that, when you pour offerings
over the surface of the linga, they wash over the sacred body.
Images of the Shiva linga are found
throughout Southeast Asia, even in parts of East Asia.
Sometimes images of Shiva as the lingam
also made its way into China and into Japan.
NARRATOR: The Shiva lingam first appeared over 2,000 years ago,
and there is still debate over what this shape was
originally meant to symbolize.
But ancient astronaut theorists suggest
that the icon may represent an incredibly
powerful technological device.
Modern Hindu scholars have theorized
that the Shiva linga stone actually
represents atomic energy.
When we think about this idea of what atomic energy can do,
how it can be used for good but it can be extraordinarily
destructive, this certainly pertains to the mythology
of Shiva, who is chaotic energy, who
is a force for incredible good but also a force
for incredible destruction.
NARRATOR: Is it possible that this symbol of Shiva's power
actually represents atomic energy?
Ancient astronaut theorists say yes,
and suggest the proof can be found by examining
this mysterious shape.
PRAVEEN MOHAN: The cylindrical structure of the Shiva linga
is similar or almost identical to
a modern-day nuclear reactor.
And the groove that surrounds the base
represents the structures built to dispose
of the polluted water.
In ancient times, and even today,
Hindus pour water or milk on top of Shiva linga as a ritual.
Today, we pour water over the top of nuclear reactor
to cool it.
And interestingly, most Shiva temples
are always found near water bodies, like rivers or lakes,
just like nuclear power plants.
So is it possible that Shiva linga actually represents
an ancient nuclear power plant?
WILLIAM HENRY: In the story of Shiva and the Shiva linga,
we're obviously dealing with some kind
of a universal or cosmic power that we didn't fully understand
until the 20th century with the discovery of nuclear power
and nuclear fission.
When J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb,
observed the first atomic explosion at the Trinity test
site, he cited a line from the Bhagavad Gita,
"I have become death, destroyer of worlds."
That's the title of Shiva.
Perhaps we should listen and look at these stories
from a new perspective.
What is the description about?
Could it be that Shiva was some type of energy?
We are approaching the beginning of a new future for mankind,
so in a sense, it's the end of an era
and the turning of a new page.
The extraterrestrials will come back,
and it will be the most amazing chapter in human history.