Temples of Shiva aligned in the same line The five manifestations of nature namely earth, water, fire, air,
and space. Bhoota (Sanskrit:भूत)
Dr Uday Dokras
Pancha Bhoota Sthalam refers to five temples dedicated to Shiva, each
representing a manifestation of the five prime elements of nature: earth, water,
fire, air, and space. Pancha indicates "five," Bhoota means "elements,"
and Sthala means "place." The temples are located in South India, four
in Tamil Nadu and one in Andhra Pradesh. The five elements are believed to be
enshrined in the five lingams of the temples, with each lingam named based on
the element represented.
The presiding deities are revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical
work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and
classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The four temples in Tamil Nadu are
maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable
Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
According to Hinduism, life and the various species originated by the
combination of planetary globes and the five manifestations of nature namely
earth, water, fire, air, and space. Bhoota (Sanskrit:भूत) in Sanskrit means
compound and maha bhoota indicates a big compound.According to Ayurveda,
an ancient Indian medical system, the equilibrium of the body with the pancha
bhoota is governed by the principles
of tridoshas - kaph (phlegm), pitta (bile), vayu (gas), dhātu and malas (waste
products).[4]
Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel laureate for literature, in his book, Pancha
bhoota, has explained the emotional faculty of the human mind is keenly
sensitive to all objects of light, colour, sound, effect of speed, sun, moon and
stars.
In Thiruvannamalai temple, Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the
form of a massive column of fire, whose crown and feet could not be found by
the Hindu God of creation Brahma and Hindu God of preservation (or
maintainer) Vishnu. A celebration of this manifestation is seen even today in
the age old traditions observed during the festivals of Sivarathri and Karthigai
Deepam. The Agni Lingam explains the mythics of life - duty, virtue, self-
sacrifice and finally liberation by and through ascetic life at the end of Agni
kalpa. The presiding deities are revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva
canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as
the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The four temples in Tamil
Nadu are maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable
Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Category Lingam Temple Details
Earth Prithivi Ekambareswarar Temple Shiva is worshiped as
Lingam Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar or
Ekambaranathar, and is
represented by the lingam, with his
idol referred to as Prithvi lingam.
The temple complex covers 25
acres, and is one of the largest in
India. It houses four gateway
towers known as gopurams. The
tallest is the southern tower, with
11 stories and a height of 58.5216
metres (192 ft), making it one of
the tallest temple towers in India.
The temple complex houses many
halls; the most notable is the
thousand-pillared hall built during
the Vijayanagar period. Legend has
it that once Parvati, the consort of
Shiva, wanted to expiate herself
from sin by doing penance under
Category Lingam Temple Details
the temple's ancient Mango tree
near Vegavathi river.
The sanctum of Jambukeswara
has an underground water stream
and in spite of pumping water out,
it is always filled with water. Once
Parvati mocked Shiva's penance for
betterment of the world. Shiva
wanted to condemn her act and
directed her to go to the earth
from Kailasam (Shiva's abode) to
do penance. Parvathi in the form of
Akilandeswari as per Shiva's wish
found Jambu forest
(Thiruvanaikoil) to conduct her
penance. She made a lingam out of
Thiruvanaikaval, water of river Cauvery (also called
near Trichy as river Ponni) under the Venn
Naaval tree (the Venn Naaval tree
Appu on top of the saint Jambu) and
Lingam commenced her worship.
Water
(Jambu The lingam is known as Appu
Lingam) Lingam (Water Lingam). As
per Fergusson, the temple
surpasses the Srirangam
Ranganathaswamy temple in
architectural terms, which were
both constructed at the same time.
[9][10]
There are five enclosures
inside the temple. The massive
outer wall covering the fifth
precinct, known as the Vibudi
Prakara, stretches over a mile and
is two feet thick and over 25 feet
high. Legend maintains that the
wall was built by Shiva working
with the laborers.[11] The fourth
precinct contains a hall with 796
pillars and measures 2436 feet by
1493.
Fire Agni Arunachaleswara Temple Shiva is worshiped as
Lingam Thiruvannamalai Arunachalesvara or Annamalaiyar,
(Jyothi and is represented by the lingam,
Lingam) with his idol referred to as Agni
lingam. The 9th
century Saiva saint
poet Manikkavasagar composed
Category Lingam Temple Details
the Tiruvempaavai here. The
temple complex covers 10 hectares,
and is one of the largest in India. It
houses four gateway towers known
as gopurams. The tallest is the
eastern tower, with 11 stories and
a height of 66 metres (217 ft),
making it one of the tallest temple
towers in India built by sevappa
nayakkar (Nayakar dynasty). The
temple complex houses many
halls; the most notable is the
thousand-pillared hall built during
the Vijayanagar period.
The Karthigai Deepam festival is
celebrated during the day of the
full moon between November and
December, and a huge beacon is lit
atop the hill. It can be seen from
miles around, and symbolizes the
Shiva lingam of fire joining the sky.
The event is witnessed by three
million pilgrims. On the day
preceding each full moon, pilgrims
circumnavigate the temple base
and the Arunachala hills in a
worship called Girivalam, a
practice carried out by one million
pilgrims yearly
Kalahasthi is one of the most
famous Shiva temples in South
India, and is said to be the site
Kalahasti temple where Kannappa was ready to offer
Kalahasthi, Andhra both his eyes to cover blood flowing
Pradesh from the Siva linga before
the Siva stopped him and granted
him moksha. The temple is also
Vayu regarded as Rahu-Ketu
Air
Lingam kshetra and Dakshina Kailasam.
The inner temple was constructed
around 5th century and the outer
temple was constructed in the 11th
century by the Rajendra Chola I,
later Chola kings and
the Vijayanagara kings. Shiva in
his aspect as Vayu is worshiped as
Kalahasteeswara.[14]
Category Lingam Temple Details
Chidambaram, the name of the city
and the temple literally means
"atmosphere of wisdom" or "clothed
in thought", the temple
architecture symbolizes the
connection between the arts and
spirituality, creative activity and
the divine. The temple wall
carvings display all the 108
karanas from the Natya Shastra by
Bharata Muni, and these postures
form a foundation
Thillai Natarajar Temple of Bharatanatyam, a classical
Chidambaram Indian dance. The present temple
was built in the 10th century when
Chidambaram was the capital of
Aagaya
the Chola dynasty, making it one
Lingam
Space of the oldest surviving active
(Akasha
temple complexes in South India.
Lingam
After its 10th-century consecration
by the Cholas who considered
Nataraja as their family
deity, Shiva himself is presented as
the Nataraja performing
the Ananda Tandava ("Dance of
Delight") in the golden hall of the
shrine Pon Ambalam. The temple is
one of the five elemental lingas in
the Shaivism pilgrimage tradition,
and considered the subtlest of all
Shiva temples (Kovil) in
Hinduism.It is also a site for
performance arts, including the
annual Natyanjali dance festival
on Maha Shivaratri.
The collection of five temples known as Pancha Bhoota Stalam lies in South
India which is held in reverence for centuries. These temples are considered to
be Shiva Lingam representing various elements such as Air, Earth, Water, Fire
and Space. It is a striking fact that all these temples are geographically placed
in almost a straight line. Among the five temples, three temples, which are
Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, Srikalahasti
Temples lie exactly aligned at 79 degrees, 41 minutes, East in longitude.
Furthermore, the other two temples, Thiruvanaikkaval is located at around 3
degrees to the south and 1 degree to the west of the northern tip exactly of this
divine axis, while Thiruvannamalai is around midway at 1.5 degrees to the
south and 0.5 degrees to the west.
In the era where there were no scientific tools, three temples were built in the
exact same longitudes. The fact that it was built thousands of years ago where
there were no scientific tools to measure the point on Earth leaves many people
in dismay.
Pancha Bhoota Stalam – 5 Shiva temples for Five Elements
2 million emples and 330 million deities- all over India, numbers of temples
constitute pilgrimage clusters. These divine places hold centuries and
millenniums of beliefs. Such is the belief and the legends behind the Pancha
Bhoota shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Hindus regard Lord Shiva as one of the greatest gods, hence, the name
Mahadeva. Also, he is the god responsible for transition and destruction for a
new beginning. As per playing his role as one of the Hindu Trinity (Trimurti),
where the other two members being Lord Brahma – the creator and Lord
Vishnu – the protector. Mahadeva controls the 5 elements of nature named as
the Pancha Bhoota – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space. Lord Shiva is
worshipped as the embodiment of each of the five elements. Therefore, it is
obvious to have a set of five Saivite temples in the name of the five great
elements, Pancha Bhoota.
Thus, the collection of five temples known as Pancha Bhoota Stalam lies in
South India which is held in reverence for centuries. These temples at Chittoor,
Tiruvanaika, Tiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram, and Chidambaram each is rich
with its legend, history, sculptural wealth and festival traditions. Including
which, it’s a striking fact that all these temples are geographically placed in
almost a straight line. Among the five temples, three temples, which are
Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, Srikalahasti
Temples lie exactly at 79 degrees, 41 minutes, East in longitude and the other
two temples, Thiruvanaikkaval is located at around 3 degrees to the south and
1 degree to the west of the northern tip exactly of this divine axis, while
Thiruvannamalai is around midway at 1.5 degrees to the south and 0.5 degrees
to the west.
The Pancha Bhoota Stalam or the Pancha Bhoota Shrines are:
1. Ekambareswarar Temple
Ekambareshwar temple is located in Kanchipuram in the state of Tamil Nadu.
This temple signifies the element Earth (Prithvi). The presiding deity here is
Shiva who is worshipped here as Ekambareshwar. The Shivlinga here is known
as Prithvi Lingam.
2. Jambukeshwara Temple
The Jambukeshwara Temple which is in Tiruvanaika is an ancient temple is
dedicated to Shiva and Parvati. The Shiva linga here signifies the element
water. Lord Shiva has worshipped here as Jambukeshwar and goddess Parvati
as Akhilandeshwari.
3. Annamalaiyar Temple
The Annamalaiyar temple lies in the town of Tiruvannamalai in the state of
Tamil Nadu. The Shiva linga here represents the element fire (Agni). The vast
temple complex at Tiruvannamalai enshrines Arunachaleswarar or
Annamalaiyaar and is referred to as the Agnistatlam.It is believed that Lord
Shiva appeared here in his Ardhanarishwar form to bless his devotees.
4. Sri Kalahasti Temple
The Sri Kalahasti temple which is situated in Chittoor district of the state of
Andhra Pradesh is also referred to as the Vayustalam. The Shiva linga here
represents the element air (Vayu). Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Sri
Kalahastishwar and goddess Parvati is worshipped here as
Gnanaprasunambika.
5. Chidambaram Nataraja Temple
The Chidambaram Nataraja temple lies in the town of Chidambaram in the
state of Tamil Nadu is also is referred to as the Aakasastalam where Lord Shiva
is in the form of the cosmic dancer, Nataraj. This temple is also dedicated to
Lord Vishnu with Mahadeva and the Shivalinga here represents the element
sky (Akasha).
Along with being built according to the significance of yogic sciences these
placed in a certain geographic alignment with each other, so that the entire
region reverberated with the possibility they offered. These set of five temples
are considered to be of great importance in south India. Hence, the geographic
alignment of the five Hindu temples is astounding as temples were constructed
centuries ago, which was definitely at a time without satellite technology, GPS
or any other advanced scientific engineering tool. Yet a mystery, the highly
accurate placements of the temples is an engineering, astrological and
geographical wonder.
