Adhideva – Lord Shiva in ‘linga roopa’ (form of lingam) in five holy places – Kancheepuram (Prithivi lingam – Nillam or Earth), Thiruvanaikoil (Jala lingam – Neer or water), Thiruvannamalai (Tejo lingam – agni or neruppu or fire), Sri Kalahasti (Vayu lingam – kattru or air) and Chidambaram (Akasa lingam – agayam or space).
PANCHA BOOTHAM IS REPRESENTED SHIVA ITSELF AT FIVE PLACES.
PANCHA BOOTHA ARE
EARTH-PRITHIVI
WATER-JALAM
AGNI-TEJAS
AIR-VAYU
SPACE-AKASA(AGAYAM)
Human life depends on these five primordial elements. Aatma (soul) exists in the body which is structured with Panchabhoota.
PANCHA BOOTHA TEMPLE ARE
FOUR IN TAMILNADU AND ONE IN ANDRAPRADESH.
SHIVA MANIFEST AS AN EARTH IN KANCHIPURAM
1.Ekamreshwara swamy (Prithvi Linga).
SHIVA MANIFEST AS WATER IN THIRUVANAIKOIL OR THIRUVANAIKAVAL
2. Jambukeshwara swamy (Jala lingam)
SHIVA MANIFEST AS FIRE IN TIRUVANNAMALAI
3. Arunachaleshwara swamy (Tejas Linga)
SHIVA MANIFEST AS AIR IN SRI KALAHASTI.
4. Sri Kalahastiswara swamy (Vayu Lingam)
SHIVA MANIFEST AS SPACE IN CHIDAMBARAM.
5.Sri Nataraja swamy (Akasa Lingam).
Generally, the only Lingas that have a scientific basis to them are those created by siddhas and yogis looking at liberation as a scientific process. They are eternal vibrations. Usually, they were consecrated with the use of mantras, for specific purposes and specific qualities. If you're not aware of this, in South India, there are five Lingas for the five elements in nature. These five Lingas are created for sadhana, not for worship; this must be understood. And the most fundamental sadhana in yoga is bhootha shuddhi.
The pancha bhoothas are the five elements in nature. If you look at yourself, your physical body is made up of five elements. These are earth, fire, wind, water, and space. They come together in a certain way to become the body. So the whole spiritual process is about going beyond the physical, beyond the five elements. These elements have a huge grip on everything that you experience. To transcend them, the fundamental practice of yoga involves what's called bhootha shuddhi. For every element that is involved, there's a certain practice you can do to become free from it. That is why, to practice the bhootha shuddhi, they created five different Lingas: one for earth, one for fire, one for wind, one for water, and one for space. Huge magnificent temples were built where you can go and do sadhana. If you want to do sadhana for the element of water, you go to Thiruvanaikaval. For space, you go to Chidambaram. To do different sadhana, different types of temples were built. This is how a temple is supposed to be, a place where energy is created in a particular way for the specific purpose of sadhana. They created these temples as places for sadhana, not for worship. Indian temples have never been places of prayer; nobody ever leads prayers there.
The Yogic concept of Chakras or energy vortices within us runs parallel to the Pancha Maha Bhootas . Each of the elements namely earth, water, fire, air and space is related to a particular Spinal Chakra and specific qualities as well as specific colorful shapes known as Mandalas. The potential energy of the Chakra is activated by the specific sounds known as Bhija Mantras.
The basis of all creation, including the physical body, are the five elements. The wellbeing of the body and the mind can be established by purifying the five elements within the human system. This process also shapes the body to become a stepping stone towards one's ultimate wellbeing rather than being a hurdle. There is a whole system of yoga called bhuta shuddhi, meaning purification of the elements. With the Pancha Bhuta Aradhana,
History says that, once while Lord Shiva was meditating Parvati mischievously covered his eyes with her fingers which resulted in complete darkness on earth for many years. Shiva being angered by her act cursed Parvati to go to earth for penance. Parvati went to earth and created the earth linga and worshiped it under a mango tree in Kachipuram giving birth to the temple. The ancient temple has been in existence prior to the 600 AD and been praised in songs by the Saivite saints.
Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form of a massive column of fire, whose crown and feet, Bramma and Vishnu attempted in vain to reach. It is dedicated to Arunachaleswarar (God Shiva, venerated as Agni Lingam (Lingam of Fire) and his divine consort is Unnamalai Amman. This is the birth place of Saint Arunagirinathar who composed the Tirupugazh hymns. Tiruvannamalai is also the chosen place of Ashram built by Saint Philosopher Ramana Maharishi.According to the Legend, Lord once Shiva manifested himself in the form of a massive column of fire, whose crown and feet, Bhramma and Vishnu attempted to reach but failed. A celebration of this manifestation is seen today in the age old traditions observed in the Shivaratri and the Kartikai Deepam Festival held here. The temple's annual Karthigai Deepam Festival in November-December involves the lighting of a huge sacred fire atop the Annamalai Hill. The l ight from the fire can be seen even 40 Kms away.Tiruvannamalai is also known as Mukthipuri, Arunachalam, Arunagiri, Sonagiri etc. This sthalam is regarded as a Mukthi Sthalam and it is said that one would get mokshaa (salvation) just by thinking about this Sthalam and the main deity Arunachaleswarar. It is said that Lord Shiva has manifested himself in the form Arunachala Hill here. The sthala viruksham is Magizhamaram. By standing near this tree, one can view all the 9 gopurams of this temple.Girivalam: Becuase God Shiva has manifested himself in the form of the Hill, it is considered very religious and auspicious to circle the Hill by walk which is about 14 Kms. This is to be undertaken on a full moon day. In the circular path one can find Indiralingam, Agrnilingam, Yamalingam, Niruthilingam, Varunalingam, Vayulingam, Kuberalingam, Eesaaniya Lingam. By offering worship at all these Lingams, it is firmly believed that one will be freed from all his/her troubles.
Sri Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari Templeof Thiruvanaikoil:
Thiruvanaikoil temple is one of the Panchabhoota Stalams (signifying the 5 natural elements) and represents water ('Neer'). The other four temples are Kalahasti for wind ('Kaatru'), Tiruvannamalai for fire ('Neruppu'), Kanchipuram for earth ('Mann', 'Bhoomi') and Chidambaram for space (“Aagayam”). As this temple represents water this is also called as 'Appu sthalam' and the Shivalinga ('Swami') here is called as 'Appu Linga'. Even today you can see water oozing out near the Shivalinga idol in the temple. The goddess of this temple is 'Akilandeswari' ('Amman'). The Amman is also called as Akilandanyaki. Akilandeswari is pronounced as 'Akilam - Aanda – Eswari' (Akilam – Universe, Aanda – Ruler, Eswari – Goddess).
SRIKALAHASTI which is situated on the banks of Swarnamukhi River and picturesque surrounding of hillocks is a famous Saivite Temple in South India. T housands of pilgrims who visit daily to have darshan of the almighty Sri Kalahasteeswara and Sri Gnanaprasunambika Devi to have blessings. Sri Kalahasteeswara showers grace to wipe out the sins and obstacles of devotees. Seers and sages worshipped lord Srikalahasteeswara and praised with hymns.
Sri Adi Sankara visited this kshetra and praised the bhakti of Kannappa in his Sivanandalahari.
The historical reference to this temple occur in the works of Nakkeerar, a Tamil poet in 3rd Century BC during the Tamil Sangam Dynasty. He called it as Southern Kailash.Nakkeera composed hundred stanzas to praise Srikalahasteeswara. Dhoorjati a Telugu poet native of this place and one among the ashtadiggajas of Sri Krishnadevaraya’s court composed hundred stanzas on Sri Halahasteeswara.
Legend has it that Lord Shiva disguised as Vayu (Air) observed that The Spider (SRI), Cobra (KALA) and Elephant (HASTI) worshipped Him very devotedly. So Lord Shiva made them to relieve from the curse and attain salvation, hence this place is called SRIKALAHASTI.
One hunter by name Thinna worshiped Lord Shiva and attained salvation
Sri Gnanaprasoonambika Devi, consort of Sri Kalahasteeswara bestows divya gyan to the devotees.
The marvelous temple architecture is representing Chola, Pallava, pandya and Krishnadevaraya style of architecture.
One siva bhaktha sikhamani named Ramanathan chettiar from Tamil Nadu had spent 9 lacs to renovate and performed kumbhabhishekam in 1912.
As a gift, of almighty he attained siva sayujyam (moksha) on the next day of maha sivarathri
Worshipping Sri Kalahasteeswara results in dispelling all worldly miseries and attaining marvelous spiritual happiness.
According to the scriptures, the Kshetra is praised as Dakshina Kailasam, Dakshina Kashi, Satya vrata Maha bhaskara kshethram, Sadyomukthi kshetram and also Rahu-Kethu Parihara Kshethram.
Many more Tamil Saivite saints like Sambandar, Appar, Manikkavasagar, Sundaramurti, Pattinathar and Sri Ramalinga Swami of Vadalur have also visited this place.
Article written with help of following website.
www.shivatemples.com
www.ishayogafoundation.com.
www.travelplanetindia.com.
www.hindupad.com
http://thiruvanaikoil.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/
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