Pancha Bhoota Stalas

References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancha_Bhoota_Stalam • http://www.indian-heritage.org/temple/panchab.html • http://templenet.com/Tamilnadu/Tiruvannamalai/tvm_intro.html • http://www.shaktipeethas.org/travel-guide/topic205.html

http://www.parihara.com/ekambareswarar-kanchi.html • http://www.shrinimishamba.org/html/tiruvannamalai09.htm • http://www.religiousindia.info/thiruvanaikaval-temple-element-water-one-of-the-pancha-bhuta-temples/ • http://www.acharyaonline.com/kalahasthi.htm • http://kathaa-amrit.blogspot.com/2010/03/panchabhoota-linga-kritis-jambhupathe.html • http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/06/pancha-bhootha-shiva-temples.html • http://sriramv.wordpress.com/2008/11/14/pancha-bhuta-kritis-of-muttuswami-dikshitar/ • http://indiatemple.blogspot.com/2005/05/kalahasti-land-where-vayu-is-felt.html • http://www.skandagurunatha.org/saints/arunagirinathar.asp • http://www.jyotirlinga.com/pancha-bhuta-lingams.html • http://www.manadhi.com/Indian_History/Story_of_Pancha_Bootha_Lingam.aspx • http://mycarnatic.org/getCarnaticized/?id=58 • http://www.divinebrahmanda.com/2011/01/pancha-bootha-sthalams-or-temples-of.html • http://www.omarunachala.com • http://www.esamskriti.com/essay-chapters/Bhagavad-Gita~-Chapter-7-(Part~1)-Jnaana-Vijnaana-Yogah~-Yoga-of-

Knowledge-and-Wisdom-3.aspx • http://luthar.com/my-journey-to-arunachala-by-gabriele-ebert/ • http://www.chidambaramnataraja.org/about_temple.html

Pachabhoota Stalas

• Introduction – salutations to Guru • Background

– India Yatra – Experiences in Indian Yatra

• What are Panchabhoota stalas – Taittriya Upanishad – It seems that there not human created.

• 5 Panchabhoota stalas – One life time is not enough

• Panchabhoota kritis

Panchabhoota stalas- what are they?

• Early thinkers have written that all creation is made up of five elements- space, air, fire, water and earth.

• As per the Taittriya Upanishad these elements came from the Supreme Being.

• In South India, on the same lines, there are five important temples, all dedicated to Lord Shiva, each one of them representing him as one of the five elements.

• The five downward pointing triangles in Sri Chakra, represent the Sakti principle and from them arise the five material elements (Pancha Bhootas, earth, water, fire, air and space).

Pancha Bhoota

• the Taittirīya Upaniṣad describes the five "sheaths" of a person (Sanskrit: puruṣa), starting with the grossest level of the five evolving great elements:

• From this very self (ātman) did space come into being; from space, air; from air, fire; from fire, the waters, from the waters, the earth; from the earth, plants; from plants, food; and from food, man.... Different from and lying within this man formed from the essence of food is the self (ātman) consisting of lifebreath.... Different from and lying within this self consisting of breath is the self (ātman) consisting of mind.... Different from and lying within this self consisting of mind is the self (ātman) consisting of perception.... Different from and lying within this self consisting of perception is the self (ātman) consisting of bliss....[3]

Panchabhoota Stalas - Meaning

• Pancha Bhoota Stalam or Pancha Bhoota Stala(Sanskrit: पन्च भूत स्थल) refers to the five Shiva temples,[1] dedicated to Shiva, a Hindu god, each representing the manifestation of the five prime elements of nature- land, water, air, sky, fire.[2] Pancha indicates

• Five, Bhoota means elements and Stala means place. All these temples are located in South India with four of these temples at Tamil Nadu and one at Andhra Pradesh.

• The five elements are believed to be enshrined in the five lingams[1] and each of the lingams representing Shiva in the temple have five distant names based on the elements they represent

Panchabhoota Stalas – From formless to solid form

• The lingam is not formless nor really a form, but a symbol for the divinity of Lord Shiva.

• In Sanskrit, linga means “mark”. • It is a symbol of Lord Shiva in the same way that large

puddles of water are an indication of heavy rains. • It is an inference for something else, like the form of that

which is formless and omnipotent. • Aspect of formless and forms can really be seen at all the

pancha bhoots stalas

• Chidambaram Sri Kalashasti Tiruvannamalai Jumbukeshwara Ekambareswara

• Space (Ether) Air Fire Water Earth

Pancha Bhoota Stalas

Category Lingam Temple Location

Prithvi Prithivi Lingam[10] Ekambareswarar Temple[11] Kanchipuram

Fire Agni Lingam(Jyothi Lingam)[7]

Arunachaleshwarar Temple[6][11] Thiruvannamalai

Water Appah Lingam(Jambu Lingam)[1]

Thiruvanaikaval[11] Trichy

Sky Akasha Lingam[9] Natarajar Temple[11] Chidambaram

Air Vayu Lingam Sri Kalahastheeswara Swami Temple[11][12]

Kalahasthi

Chidambaram – Akasha (Space)

Chidambaram – Akasha (ether)

Chidambaram – Akashasha (Space)

• Chidambaram is the shrine where Shiva is worshipped as Space. The sanctum has the world-famous icon of Nataraja, the dancing deity beside which is an empty space referred to as Chidambara Rahasyam or the secret of Chidambaram.

• The image of Nataraja symbolizes activity and stillness together, it's dancing but it's a still dance. He is the unmoved mover, he doesn't move but he is himself very quite and silent. It is where consciousness originated and he dances and the dancing is the symbol of activity. And the activity is not just physical activity but also a mental activity.

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• Temple The temple complex spread over 50 acres in the heart of the city. It is an ancient and historic temple dedicated to Lord Shiva Nataraja and Lord Govindaraja Perumal

• One of the few temples where both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite deities are enshrined in one place.

• To the followers of Shaivism (Saivism) or the saivaite, the very word koil refers to Chidambaram. In the same way, to the followers of Vaishnavism it refers to Srirangam or Thiruvarangam.

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• (Meaning of Chidambaram) The word Chidambaram may be derived from chit, meaning "consciousness", and ambaram, meaning "sky" (from aakasam or aakayam); it refers to the chidaakasam, the sky of consciousness, which is the ultimate aim one should attain according to all the Vedas and scriptures.

• Another theory is that it is derived from chit + ambalam. Ambalam means a "stage" for performing arts. The chidakasam is the state of supreme bliss or aananda and Lord Natarajar is the symbolic representation of the supreme bliss or aananda natanam.

• Saivaites believe that a visit to Chidambaram leads to liberation.Yet another theory is that it is derived from the word chitrambalam, from chithu meaning "play or dances of God" and ambalam meaning "stage"

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• Special features A unique feature of this temple is the bejeweled image of Nataraja. It depicts the Lord Shiva as the Lord of the dance Bharatanatyam and is one of the few temples where Shiva is represented by an anthropomorphic murthi rather than the classic, anionic Lingam.

• The Cosmic Dance of Lord Nataraja symbolises the motion of the universe as sustained by Lord Shiva. – Cosmic dance

• Aragalur Udaya Iraratevan Ponparappinan (alias Vanakovaraiyan) rebuilt the Siva temple at Chidambaram around 1213 AD. The same Bana Chief also built Tiruvannamalai temple.

• The temple has been traditionally administered by an endogamous group of shiavite brahmins called Dikshitar, who also officiate as its priest.

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• Temple Story Ánanda Thaandava The story of Chidambaram begins with the legend of Lord Shiva strolling into the Thillai Vanam (Vanam meaning forest and thillai trees) In the Thillai forests resided a group of saints or 'rishis' who believed in the supremacy of magic and that God can be controlled by rituals and 'mantras' or magical words.

• The Lord strolls in the forest with resplendent beauty and brilliance, assuming the form of 'Pitchatanadar', a simple mendicant seeking alms. He is followed by his Grace and consort who is Lord Vishnu as Mohini. The rishis and their wives are enchanted by the brilliance and the beauty of the handsome mendicant and his consort.

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• Temple Story Ánanda Thaandava On seeing their womenfolk enchanted, the rishis get enraged and invoke scores of 'serpents' (Sanskrit: Nāga) by performing magical rituals. The Lord as the mendicant lifts the serpents and dons them as ornaments on his matted locks, neck and waist. Further enraged, the rishis invoke a fierce tiger, which the Lord skins and dons as a shawl around his waist.

• Thoroughly frustrated, the rishis gather all their spiritual strength and invoke a powerful demon Muyalakan - a symbol of complete arrogance and ignorance. The Lord wearing a gentle smile, steps on the demon's back, immobilizes him and performs the Ánanda Thaandava (the dance of eternal bliss) and discloses his true form. The rishis surrender, realizing that this Lord is the truth and he is beyond magic and rituals.

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• The Ananda Thaandava/Tillai Kali Adhisesha, the serpent who serves as a bed for the Lord in his manifestation as Vishnu, hears about the Änanda thaandava and yearns to see and enjoy it. The Lord blesses him, beckons him to assume the saintly form of 'Patanjali' and sends him to the Thillai forest, informing him that he will display the dance in due course. • Patanjali who meditated in the Himalayas during krita age joins another saint,

Vyagrapathar / Pulikaalmuni (Vyagra / Puli meaning "Tiger" and patha / kaal meaning "feet" – referring to the story of how he sought and got the feet and eyesight of a tiger to help climb trees well before dawn to pick flowers for the Lord before the bees visit them). The story of sage Patanjali as well as his great student sage Upamanyu is narrated in both Vishnu Puranam as well as Siva Puranam.

• They move into the Thillai forest and worship Lord Shiva in the form of Shivalinga, a deity worshipped today as Thirumoolataneswarar (Thiru - sri, Moolatanam - primordial or in the nature of a foundation, Eswarar- the Lord). Legends say that Lord Shiva displayed his dance of bliss (the Aananda Thaandavam) - as Nataraja to these two saints on the day of the poosam star in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan – Feb).

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• The Ananda Tandava Posture The Ananda Tandava posture of Lord Shiva is one of the famous postures recognized around the world by many. This celestial dancing posture tells us how a Bharathanatium Dancer should dance.

The demon under Nataraja's feet signifies that ignorance is under his feet. The Fire in this hand (power of destruction) means destroyer of evil The raised hand signifies that he is the savior of all life. The Ring at the back signifies the cosmos. The drum in his hand signifies the origin of Life.

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether) • The Ananda Tandava Posture

Lord Shiva performs five most important functions to keep the world alive. They include creation, protection, destruction, embodiment and saving with grace. Lord Nataraja's cosmic dance pose represents all these five activities – – The hourglass shaped drum held in his upper right hand by the Lord represents the function `creation';

– The second right hand gesture symbolising `fear not' represents `protection';

– the fire held in the upper left hand represents `destruction';

– The second left hand points towards raised foot signifies liberation from successive birth;

– the foot planted on the earth represents Lord's `embodiment' function;

– finally the foot held aloft also symbolises the `grace'.

– The dwarf demon lies at the bottom of the planted foot signifies ignorance.

– The flames surrounding the lord represent the universe.

– The snake found around the Lord's waist signifies yogic energy (kundalini or prana-sakti).

The cosmic dance form of Lord Nataraja represents the continuous cycle of creation of soul, protection of soul, destruction of soul, embodiment of soul and liberation of the soul from successive birth. Lord Nataraja dances with his consort Devi Sivakami. In fact the Lord derives energy from his consort Shakti. Shakti means energy

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• Chidambara Ragasiyam/Rahasyam (Tamil for "secret of Chidambaram") is a Hindu belief that there is a secret message conveyed through the embossed figure near the shrine of Shiva in Chidambaram temple.

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• Since ancient times, it is believed that this is the place where Lord Shiva and Parvathi are present, but are invisible to the naked eyes of normal people. In the Chidambaram temple of Lord Nataraja, Chidambara Ragasiyam is hidden by a curtain (Maya).

• Darshan of Chidambara Ragasiyam is possible only when priests open the curtain (or Maya) for special poojas. People who are privileged to have a darshan of Chidambara Ragasiyam can merely see golden vilva leaves (Aegle Marmelos) signifying the presence of Lord Shiva and Parvathi in front of them. It is also believed that devout saints can see the Gods in their physical form, but no such cases have been officially reported.

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• The phrase "Chidambara Ragasiyam" really means something different. There is a particular curtain kind of curtain which when removed enables us viewing the secret.

• The real significance of doing so is that, when the curtain which is "maya" is removed one can see his real self. And the seeing of oneself removing the curtain of maya is viewing the secret. According to legend, "Chidambara Ragasiyam" will never be revealed as it is the secret relating to a particular person who sees it removing the screen of "maya". In the temple, when the poojas are performed and the screen is removed, one will be able to see the secret only when he applies this to his mind and soul.

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• Arudhra Darshan: • On Arudra (Thiruvadhirai) day our Moon, Earth and Orion star groups will be in

a straight vertical line in their position and help us sending grace light to change our mind and by changing our mind to change our life

• Arudra designates a golden red, flame, representing Lord Shiva Himself

• The temple's annual festival Margazhi Bhramotsavam will be celebrated for ten days. It is one of the very important festivals.

• On this holy day at Chidambaram more than two lakh devotees will congregate to witness tenthday events of Arudhra Darshan, the most important festival. The holy abhishekam and pooja will be performed and the Lord and His consort will be taken as procession.

• During the procession the devotees (oothuvar) will recite the devotional holy hymns from "Thevaram", "Thiruvasagam" and "Thiruvempavai".

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• The Gopurams The temple has 9 gateways and four of these have towering pagodas or gopurams each with 7 levels in the East, South, West and North. The eastern pagoda has all the 108 postures (karnams) of the Indian dance form – Bharathanatyam sculpted on it. The Five Sabhais There are 5 sabhas or diases or halls: the Chit sabhai, which is the sanctum sanctorum housing Lord Nataraja, his consort Goddess Shivagamasundari

• the Kanaka sabhai – in front of the Chitsabhai, from which the daily rituals are conducted • the Nrithya sabhai or Natya sabhai, to the south of the temple's flag mast (or kodi maram or

dwaja sthambam) where the Lord is said to have danced with Goddess Kali – an embodiment energy and established His supremacy

• the Raja sabhai or the 1000-pillared hall which symbolizes the yogic chakra of thousand pillared lotus or Sahasraram (which in yoga is a 'chakra' at the crown of the head and is a seat where the soul unites with God. This chakra is represented as a 1000-petalled lotus. Meditating by concentrating at the Sahasrara Chakra is said to lead to a state of union with the Divine force and is the pinnacle of yogic practice)

• the Deva sabhai, which houses the Pancha moorthis (pancha - five, moorthis - deities, namely the deities of Lord Ganesh - the remover of hurdles, Lord Somaskanda, a form where

• the Lord is in a seated posture with his grace and consort, the Lord's consort Sivananda nayaki, the Lord Muruga and the deity of Chandikeswarar - the principal and chief of the devotees of the Lord).

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• Significance of the temple design The layout and architecture of the temple is replete with philosophical meanings.

• The 9 gateways signify the 9 orifices in the human body. • The Chitsabai or Ponnambalam, the sanctum sanctorum represents the heart

which is reached by a flight of 5 stairs called the Panchaatchara padi - pancha meaning 5, achhara – indestructible syllables – "NA MA SI VA YA ", from a raised anterior dias - the Kanakasabai. The access to the Sabhai is through the sides of the stage (and not from the front as in most temples).

• The Ponnambalam or the Sanctum sanctorum is held by 28 pillars – representing the 28 agamas or set methodologies for the worship of Lord Shiva.

• The roof is held by a set of 64 beams representing the 64 forms of art and is held by several cross-beams representing the innumerable blood vessels. The roof has been laid by 21600 golden tiles with the word SIVAYANAMA inscribed on them representing 21600 breaths. The golden tiles are fixed using 72000 golden nails which represents the no. of nadis exists in human body. The roof is topped by a set of 9 sacred pots or kalasas, representing the 9 forms of energy.

• (WORD DOCUMENT)

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

Sri Kalahasti - Vayu

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

• A lamp that keeps flickering in the rather airless sanctum shows the manifestation of Shiva as air here.

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

•

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

• Sri Kalahasti is one of the important ancient Shiva Kshetras (Shiva Temples) of South India. The Sri kalahasti Temple occupies the area between the river bank and the foot of the hills. It is popularly known as Dakshina Kailasam, i.e, ‘Kailas of the South’ for more than two thousand years. The small river on whose banks it is present, the ‘Ganges of the South.’ Kailash is the abode of Shiva, from whose head, the Ganges is said to flow.

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

• Significance – There is a lamp inside the inner sanctum that is

constantly flickering despite the lack of air movement inside. The air-linga can be observed to move even when the priests close off the entrance to the main deity room, which does not have any windows. One can see the flames on several ghee lamps flicker as if blown by moving air.

– The linga is white and is considered Swayambhu, or self-manifested.

– The temple is also associated with Rahu and Kethu (of the nine grahams or celestial bodies in the Indian astrological scheme).

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

• Deities – Lord Shiva is worshipped as Sri Kalahastiswara

swamy (Vayu Lingam) with his consort Goddess Jnana Prasoonamba Devi.

– The main linga is untouched by human hands, even by the priest. Abhisheka (bathing) is done by pouring a mixture of water, milk, camphor, and panchamrita. Sandal paste, flowers and the sacred thread are offered to the utsava-murti, not the main linga.

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

• Legend • Sri Kalahasti is named after the staunch devotees of Lord

Shiva. They were the Spider (Sri), the Serpent (Kala) and the Elephant (Hasti). Appeased with their unflinching devotion, Lord Shiva gave them a boon that their names be merged with the Vayulinga and called as Sri Kalahasteeswara.

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

• Legend

• According to Hindu mythology, the elephant or Hasti used to clean the Shiva deity by watering the idol with the help of river-water carried in his trunks and pray for him by placing Vilva leaves. The spider or Sri tried to protect the deity from external damage by weaving his web and to provide shelter for the Shiva lingam. The snake or Kala used to place its precious gem on the linga to adorn the lord. In this way, they all worshipped the Vayu linga separately without knowing what the other was doing.

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

• Legend

• One day, the spider had built a very big and thick web around the deity to protect it from dust and weather while the snake places its gem. The elephant not knowing this and assuming that this form of puja by Sri and Kala is a desecration by the seeming miscreants, pours water on it and cleans it up. This causes a war between the three. The snake punishes the elephant by entering its trunk and in the process kills itself while the elephant runs amok and hits its trunk and head against the shiva linga

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

• Legend • During this struggle, the spider is squashed against the linga by the

elephant's trunk and the elephant dies due to the snake's poison. Lord Shiva then appeared and gave moksha to all three of them for their selfless devotion. The spider takes rebirth as a great king while the elephant and the snake reaches heaven for satisfying all its karma.

• This king continues his good work from his previous birth and builds a variety of temples that seeks to protect the underlying deity with tons of stones. It is interesting to note that all his temples, keep the deity beyond the access of an elephant. In this temple, access to the deity is through a narrow passage in the side of the building that prevents an elephant from extending its trunk over the lord from any side.

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

• Legend

• At the foot of the linga one can see a spider, two elephant tusks and a five-headed (the five elements) serpent to remind the devotee of these acts of supreme devotion.

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

• Other importance • Kalahasti is surrounded by two sacred hills. The Durgamba

temple is on the northern hill. On the south hill there is the shrine of Kannabeswara, in memory of the Sage Kannappa, who offered his eyes to the Lord. There is also a temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya on one of the surrounding hills.

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

• Kannappa • At Sri Kalahasti, Lord Shiva tested the unshakable devotion of Thinna

(Later became Bhaktha Kannappa) before the sages gathered at SriKalahasti. With his divine power, Lord Shiva created a tremor and the roof tops of the temple began to fall. All the sages ran away from the scene except Kannappa who covered the linga with his body to prevent it from any damage

• In another incident, Kannappa plucked out one of his eyes and placed in the eye of Linga which was oozing with blood and tears. When the tears and the blood were still trickling from another eye, Kannappa decided to remove his second eye and placed one of his feet on the spot of the right eye of the Shiva Linga. Before he could pull out his second eye with the arrow, Lord Shiva appeared and restored his eye while granting him a boon to occupy a place close to him.

Sri Kalahasti – Vayu (Air)

• Festivals

• Mahasivaratri is an important festival when lakhs of people offer prayers to seek the blessings of the Lord to attain Mukti. Maha Shivaratri occurs in the Tamil month of Maasi (Feb 15 through March 15) is one of the greatest festival seasons here, and the celebrations are marked by processions of the deities.

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

• Of the five sacred Pancha Bhoota Lingas in South India considered most holy places of pilgrimage, the Agni Linga at Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu is the foremost.

• Lord Shiva Himself is said to have manifested on earth as a column of brilliant light appearing to humans as the hill Arunachala in Kaliyuga.

• Popularly known as the abode of Ramana Maharshi, Annamalai or Arunachala is the most fitting place for serious seekers to pursue the famous quest made by the great sage- ‘Who am I?

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

• The Temple

• This Shiva – Parvathi Arunachaleswarar temple has a 66 metre high gopuram that comprises of 13 storeys or tiers. It is believed that this temple on the foot hill of Annamalai hill came to be built around 750 A.D. period as per the details available from archeological sculptures. These shrines in Thiruvannamalai, on a sprawling 24 acre temple campus, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every full moon. In this holy place the 'Karthikai Deepam' festival is of great significance.

• Legend

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

• Legend

• The Creator Lord Bramha and Protector Lord Thirumal entered into a controversy among themselves so as to ascertain who was the greatest. Lord Siva was asked to be the judge. Lord Siva told them that whoever was able to see his crown as well as his feet would be termed as the greatest. Then Lord Siva transformed himself into a Jothi (a column of fire) touching the heaven and earth.

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

• Legend • Thirumal took the avatar of varaha (wild boar) and dug deep into

the earth to find Siva's feet but at last accepted defeat. Bramha took the form of a swan and flew to see the crown of Siva. Unable to see the crown, Bramha saw a thazhambu flower which had decked Siva's crown falling down.He asked the flower as to the distance of Siva's crown whereby the flower replied that he had been falling for forty thousand years. Bramha, realizing that he would not be able to reach the crown asked the flower to act as a false witness. The thazhambu flower acting as a false witness declared that Brahma had seen the crown.

• Siva became angry at the deception and cursed that Bramha should have no temple on earth and that the thazhambu flower should not be used while praying to Lord Siva. The place where Lord Siva stood as a column of fire to eliminate the ego is Thiruvannamalai.

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

• Legend

The Annamalai Hill was Agni (fire) during Krithayugam, was Manikkam (Emerald) during Threthayugam, was pon (Gold) during Dwaprayugam and rock during Kaliyugam as per the ancient legends.

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

• Legend of Ardhanareeswara and Kartika festival • Lord Siva's wife Goddess Umadevi once playfully closed His eyes which

plunged the world into darkness. All living beings suffered in the dark. To absolve herse of this sin Mother Umadevi created a Sivalingam out of sand and worshipped at Kancheepuram.

• At that instance, Lord Siva ordered her to proceed to Thiruvannamalai and do penance so that she could get half of His body. Likewise Mother Parvathi did penance at Pavalakundru with the help of Saint Gowthama. A demon called Makidasuran disturbed the penance of Mother Parvathi.

• Mother took the form of goddess Durga Devi and destroyed him on the full moon day of the Tamil Month of Karthigai during the auspicious period of pradosham. Lord Siva presented himself in the form of Fire atop the hill and merged Goddess Parvathi on the left half of his body. To commemorate this event, every year during the Tamil month of Karthigai in Kiruthigai Star, exactly at 6.00 p.m. Arthanareeswaramurthi presents himself as Jyothi Swaroopa to his devotees at the time of Karthigai Festival 10th day.

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

• One Thousand Pillared Mandapam • At thenorthern side of the fifth prakaram stands "One Thousand Pillared

Mandapam". Every pillar of the Mandapam is engraved with beautiful figures and the roof with numerous stone Nandis. Thousand pillared Mandapam is used for the deities to be seated for ablutions and worship on Aani Thirumanjanam and on the day of the star Thirivaathirai. This Mandapam consits an underground chamber which houses Sri Pathala Lingam

• Sri Pathala Lingam • Descending stone steps from Thousand pillared Mandapam lead devotees to the

shrine of Sri Pathala Lingam. The sculptured vimanam of this shrine is at the floor level of the mandapam. The stone Lingam found in this shrine stands there undisturbed several hundreds of years.

• This was the shrine where Saint Ramana Maharishi used to meditate during his early days. The meditation was so deep and wonderful that he could not feel pain even though his body was covered with insects and was eaten by vermin. It was at this stage Mahan Sheshadri Swami noticed Ramana Maharishi and arranged assistance to him.

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

• Saints and Other significance

– This temple is a result of building activity over the last one thousand years. However, even seventh century Tamil poetry glorifies this temple and all four Saivite Saints: Appar, Sambandar, Manikkavacakar and Sundarar have sung its praises. It was also at Arunachaleswarar that Arunagirinathar began composing his immortal work Tiruppugazh

– Saints of our times include Ramana Maharsi, Sheshsdri Swamigal

Tiruvannamalai – Agni (Fire)

• Girivalam

• One who thinks Arunachalam and desire to go around by water covering 15km the Arunachala hill and forwarding one foot will get equal benefit of Yagam and for second foot he will achieve the benefit of Raja suya Yagam and with clear mind of third foot will achieve Aswameda Yagam and who continues further will get beneficial of all Yagams.

• Siddhas and devotees from various part of the World walk around on all days. In the full moon day of every month, lakhs of devotees go around the hill regularly.

Tiruvanikkaval –Apaha (Water)

Tiruvanikkaval –Apaha (Water)

• This ancient temple dedicated to Shiva (Jambukeswara) and Parvati (Akhilandeswari). It is one of the foremost Saivite shrines in Tamilnadu. Sri Jambukeswara is an embodiment of the element water and is referred to as Appustalam. Even today one can see water oozing out near the Shivalinga idol in the temple. The Shivalinga ('Swami') here is called as 'Appu Linga'.

• Thiruvanaikoil is a small urban village at Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) district in Tamil Nadu of Southern India.

• Jambukeswaram: – Thiruvanaikoil is also called as 'Jambukeswaram' and the Lord as

Jambukeswara, Jambunathan and Jambulingam. The myth behind this is, there was a Sage by name 'Jambu Munivar' (munivar – sage).

Tiruvanikkaval –Apaha (Water)

• The Sri Jambukeshwara Temple is dedicated to Lord Siva and has five concentric walls and seven gopurams. It is built around a Siva lingam partly submerged in water that comes from a spring in the sanctum sanctorum. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple. The complex was built in the same time when Sri Ranganathaswamy temple was also built.

Tiruvanikkaval –Apaha (Water)

• The Formation of 'Appu Lingam' (Parvathi’s Penance): • Once, Devi Parvati mocked at Lord Shiva’s penance for

betterment of the World. Lord Shiva wanted to condemn her act and directed her to go to the earth from 'Kailayam' and do penance. Devi Parvathi (Akilandeswari) as per Shiva's wish found 'Jambu' forest at Thiruvanaikoil to conduct her penance.

• Devi made a Lingam out of water of river Cauvery (also called as river 'Ponni') under the 'Venn Naaval' tree (the Venn Naaval tree on top of the saint Jambu) and commenced her worship. So, the Lingam is known as 'Apah Lingam' (Water Lingam).

Tiruvanikkaval –Apaha (Water)

• Lord Siva at last gave darshan to Akilandeswari and taught her Siva Gnana. Devi Parvati took 'Upadesa' (lessons) facing East from Shiva, who stood facing West. So as the temples idols are also installed in the same direction. Such places are known as 'Upadesa Sthalams'.

• As the Devi was like a student and the Lord like a Guru in this temple, there is no 'Thiru Kalyanam' (marriage) conducted in this temple for Lord & the Devi, unlike the other Shiva temples.

Tiruvanikkaval –Apaha (Water)

• Other Legends

– Jambu muni is worshipped here

– Elephant and spider worshipped here

– As an elephant worshipped the Lord here, this place came to be known as 'Thiru Aanai Kaa' (Thiru – Holy, Aanai – Elephant, Kaa (Kaadu) – Forest). Later the actual name 'Thiruaanaikaa' become 'Thiruvanaikaval' and 'Thiruvanaikoil'.

Tiruvanikkaval –Apaha (Water)

• Other signifiance

– As Akilandeswari worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple, even today at noon the 'Archakar' (priest) dresses like a female and does Pooja to Lord Shiva and 'Go Maatha' (Cow).

– This noon pooja is very famous and pilgrims wait for this pooja every day. For the purpose of this pooja the temple is growing a 'Karam Pasu' (complete black color cow). Annabhishekam to Lingam (Abishekam with cooked rice) is a daily ritual at Thiruvanaikoil.

Ekambareswara(Kanchipuram) - Prithvi

Ekambareswara – Prithvi (Earth)

• Ekambareswara is located in Kanchipuram. • There is no separate shrine for Ambal or the Goddess in the temple

as she is worshipped along with Shiva, as in every other Shiva temple in the precincts of the town of Kanchipuram.

• There is another shrine of Shiva and Kamakshi under the Stala Vruksham or the Temple tree, which was a mango tree said to be 3500 years old.

• The mango tree is said to be the embodiment of the four Vedas and the tree is said to bear fruits of four different tastes each season here. The Saint poet Sundaramoorthy Nayanar is said to have recovered his eyesight (left eye) after offering worship here.

• The mango tree is no more, instead you see a new mango tree come up instead

• Ekambra is derived from EKA – AMRA one mango tree.

Ekambareswara – Prithvi (Earth)

Ekambareswara – Prithvi (Earth)

• The presiding deity here is Ekambareswarar or Shiva, worshipped as the Prithivi Lingam. A Somaskanda panel featuring Shiva, Parvati and Skanda adorns the rear of the main shrine, which has been held in worship for centuries together.

Ekambareswara – Prithvi (Earth)

• Legend • 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 was doing tapas under the temple's ancient Mango Tree. In order to test her devotion Lord Shiva sent fire on her. Goddess Parvati prayed to her brother, Lord Vishnu, for help. In order to save her, he took the Moon from Lord Shiva's head and showed the rays which then cooled down the tree as well as Parvati

• After that, Lord Shiva again sent the river Ganga (Ganges) to disrupt Parvati's tapas. Parvati devi prayed to Ganga and convinced her that both of them were sisters and so should not harm her. And so Ganga did not disturb her penance after that. Then Parvati made a Shiva Linga out of sand and got united with Lord Shiva.

Ekambareswara – Prithvi (Earth)

• Legend • According to another legend, it is believed that

Parvati worshipped Shiva in the form of a Prithivi Lingam (or a Lingam improvised out of sand), under a mango tree. Legend has it that the neighboring Vegavati river overflowed and threatened to engulf the Shiva Lingam and that Parvati orKamakshi embraced the Lingam. Shiva touched by the gesture materialized in person and married her.

•

Ekambareswara – Prithvi (Earth)

• This is the 1st of the 32 Tevara Stalams in the Tondai region of South India

• There are several Shiva temples scattered all over Kanchipuram, and it is to be noted that there is no separate shrine for Parvati in any of them.The Kamakshiamman temple is the only Ambal shrine in Kanchipuram.

• In Kanchi, the Ekambreswarar, Kamakottam temples with Kumarakottam in between denote Somaskanda

BACKUPS

Chidambaram – Akasha (Ether)

• Significance Chidambaram is also referred to in various works such as Thillai (after the Thillai forest of yore in which the temple is now located),

• Perumpatrapuliyur or Vyagrapuram (in honour of Saint Vyagrapathar).The temple is supposed to be located at the Lotus heart of the Universe": Virat hridaya padma sthalam.

• On the spot where the Lord displayed his dance of bliss, the Änanda Thaandavam - a spot exactly south of the "Thirumoolataaneswar temple", today is the Ponnambalam/ Porsabai (Pon meaning gold, Ambalam/Sabai meaning stage) housing the Lord Shiva in his dancing form. The Lord is also hence referred to as the Sabhanayakar, meaning the Lord of the Stage.