Panchabhootas
- Bhoomi (Earth),
- Neeru (water),
- Agni (fire),
- Vaayu (air), and
- Aakasam (sky) are called Panchabhootas.
‘Pancha’ means five and ‘Bhoota’ means compound. These five elements which are very important for life have been worshipped since the olden days.
Siva, the God of Destroyer within the Trimurthis, manifested himself as Panchaboothas in the form of panchabhoota lingas. Where the panchabhoota lingas offered pujas are called ‘Panchabhoota Kshetras‘. Lord Siva appears in different elements in every kshetram.
Panchabhoota kshetras are
- Pruthvilingam – Sri Ekambareswara Swamy – Kanchipuram
- Jalalingam – Sri Jambukeswara Swamy – Jambukeswaram
- Agnilingam – Sri Arunachaleswara Swamy – Thiruvannamalai
- Vayu Lingam – Sri Kaalahasteeswara Swamy – Srikalahasti
- Akasa Lingam – Sri Natarajaswamy – Chidambaram
Pruthvi Lingam – Sri Ekambareswara Swamy – Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram is located 76 km from Chennai, Tamilnadu. According to the Sthalapuranam, in the olden days, Goddess Parvathi turned into a small girl growing up in Kathyana Maharshi Ashram. She wished to marry Lord Siva. With the Suggestion of Maharshi Sri Katyani Devi reached the present Kanchipuram and made Sivalingam with sand and worshipped Lord Siva in the form of Pruthvi Lingam.
When Parvathi Devi was worshipping Pruthvi Lingam, the Kampa river overflowed and threatened to engulf the Siva Lingam. At that critical movement, Goddess Parvati embraced the Lingam. When Lord Siva touched Goddess Parvathi, He identified Goddess Parvathi as his consort and married her.
The Lingam which was created by Goddess Parvathi is being worshipped now in the name of Ekambareswara Swamy and Goddess Parvathi is worshipped as Sri Kamakshi Devi, who is one of the Ashtadasa Shakthis.
Jala Lingam – Sri Jambukeswara Swamy – Jambukeswaram
Jambukeshwaram is the second of the Panchabhuta Linga temples. Jambukeshwaram is located at a distance of 11 km from Trichy in Tamil Nadu. Jambukeshwaram is also known as Thimevakai and Thiruvanaikaval. This means that Lord Shiva was worshipped here by elephants.
In the olden days, this place was famous for its jambu trees (white apricot trees). A sage named Shambhu lived here. The sage was a devotee of Lord Shiva who would not even receive fresh water without worshipping the Lord. As time went on, Shambhu once had a desire to worship Lord Shiva directly. Thus he began to do penance to please Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appreciated his penance, appeared before him, and granted him a boon.
Shambhu sought the blessing of direct worship of the Lord. Bhola Shankara agreed and said that he would appear in the form of a linga, and Shambhu would worship Him in the form of a jambu tree. Jambukeshwar is located on the banks of the holy river Cauvery.
The locals call this river Ponni. Ponni in Tamil means gold. The locals believe that bathing in the river Cauvery is the best way to worship Lord Shiva as Jambukeshwar. Swamivari Deveri is Sri Akhilandeswari Devi.
Agnilingam – Sri Arunachaleswara Swamy – Thiruvannamalai
Thiruvannamalai is located in the State of Tamil Nadu. It is also known as Arunachalam. In the olden days once there was an argument between Brahma and Sri Mahavishnu about superiority between them.
At that time, Lord Siva appeared in the form of Agni Linga and asked Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu to find the beginning and the ending of the Agni Lingam. They both failed to find and pray to Lord Siva and then Lord Siva transformed into Sri Arunachaleswara and became Agni Lingam (Tejo Lingam). Sri Arunachaleswara Swamy’s Consort is Sri Unnamalai Devi.
Vayu Lingam – Sri Kaalahasteeswara Swamy – Srikalahasti
Srikalahasthi is situated 36 km away from Tirupati on the banks of the Swarnamukhi River in the state of Andhra Pradesh. In the olden days at the time of celestial Siva Parvathi Kalyanam, a large number of Gods, Maharshis attended for Marriage and the earth leaned to one side.
Then sage Agasthya prayed to Lord Siva in the bank of Swarnamukhi to balance the earth and Lord Siva settled in the form of Vayu Lingam. Afterwards, Lord Siva gave salvation to the spider, elephant, and serpent who were ardent devotees of Lord Siva located here, and the Lingam is named after these three and Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy.
Lingam is the incarnation of Vayu the evidence is two lamps in the Garbhalayam move always. Swamivari Consort is Sri Gnanaprasunaambaa Devi.
Akasa Lingam – Sri NatarajaSwamy – Chidambaram
In Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram is situated 250 Km away from Chennai. In the olden days, Adisesha, who was born in Pathanjali was wandering in various places and finally, he reached Chidambaram. He spent a few days meditating with Lord Siva. At this time Lord Siva appeared in the form of Nataraja Swamy and as per Patanjali’s wish, he settled in Chidambaram. The primary deity in this temple is Natarajaswamy.
By the side of the Natarajaswamy, there is a room. In this room, there is a Yantram on the wall. It is always closed with curtains. It appears only at the time of Harathi. Everyone will have different experiences and they don’t know exactly what it is. Some may feel like the sky and the sky itself is Lord Siva. Swamivari Deveri is Sivakama Sundari Devi.
