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Pancha Bhoota Stalam
Pancha Bhoota Stalam
Pancha Bhoota Stalam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pancha Bhoota Stalam or Pancha Bhoota Stala refers to the five Shiva temples,[1] dedicated to Shiva, 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 in Tamil Nadu and one in presentday 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 distinct names
based on the elements they represent.
Contents
1 Pancha Bhootam
2 The Five Temples
3 Gallery
4 Notes
5 References
Pancha Bhootam
According to Hinduism, life and the various species originated by the combination of planetary globes and the five
manifestations of nature namely air, water, fire, land and sky. Bhoota(Sanskrit:भूत) in Sanskrit means compound
and maha bhoota indicates a big compound.[3] 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 lauerate for literature, in
his poem, 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.[5]
The Five Temples
In Tiruvannamalai temple, Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form of 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. Agni Lingam explains the mythics of life duty, virtue, self
sacrifice and finally liberation by and through ascetic life duty, virtue, selfsacrifice and finally liberation by and
through ascetic life at the end of Agni kalpa.[6]
In Thiruvanaikaval temple, Shiva represents water element where the appu lingam is submerged in water[1] and a
perennial sub terrain spring gushes around the lingam.[7]
In Chidambaram, empty space is worshiped as Shiva (akasha lingam) to signify God is beyond human
comprehension. It is unusual where there is no physical stone lingam present, unlike other temples of Shiva.[8]
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Gallery
Natarajar Temple,
Chidambaram, Tamil
Nadu (Sky)
Notes
1. Ramaswamy 2007 , pp. 301302
2. A dictionary, Canarese and EnglishWilliam Reeve, Daniel Sanderson
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3. Daivajña 1996, p. 12
4. J. 2008, p. 215
5. Tymieniecka 2002, p. 40
6. Blabatsky 1981, p. 176
7. Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu.P.76
8. M.K.V 2007, p. 37
9. Tirtha: holy pilgrim centres of the Hindus : saptapuri & chaar dhaam, Subhadra Sen Gupta, p. 66
10. Knapp 2005, p. 121
11. http://www.templeadvisor.com/temples/info/10190
12. Bajwa 2007, p. 271
References
Bajwa, Jagir Singh; Ravinder Kaur (2007), Tourism M.K.V., Narayan (2007), Flipside of Hindu Symbolism:
Management, New Delhi: S.B. Nangia, ISBN 81313 Sociological and Scientific Linkages in Hinduism,
00471. California: Fultus Corporation, ISBN 1596821175.
Knapp, Stephen (2005), The Heart of Hinduism: The Daivajña, Veṅkaṭeśa (1996), Sri Sarwarthachintamani:
Eastern Path to Freedom, Empowerment and English translation, Volume 1, Delhi: Motilal
Illumination, NE: iUniverse, ISBN 9780595350759. Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited, ISBN 81208
Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2007), Historical dictionary of the 13529.
Tamils, United States: Scarecrow Press, INC., J., Agarwal (2008), I Am Proud to be a Hindu, Delhi:
ISBN 9780470829585 Hindoology Books, ISBN 9788122310221.
Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu (2007), Tourist guide to Tymieniecka, AnnaTeresa (2002), Analecta
Tamil Nadu, Chennai: T. Krishna Press, ISBN 81 Huseerliana The Year Book of Phenomenal Research,
74781773. Volume LXXVI Life, truth in its various perspectives:
The Theosophical Glossary (1918), The Theosophical cognition, selfknowledge, Creativity, Scientific
Glossary, California: Theosophical Publishing House, Research, SharinginLife, Economics..., Netherlands:
ISBN 8174781773. Kluwer Academic Publishers, ISBN 1402000715.
M.K.V., Narayan (2007), Flipside of Hindu Symbolism:
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