Pancha Bhuta Stala — Five Element Shrines of Shiva
Pancha Bhuta Stala Yatra
verified evidenceverified600 km700 CE – present
Five Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu where the lingam represents each of the five classical elements: Chidambaram (Akasha/Ether), Thiruvannamalai (Agni/Fire), Kanchipuram (Prithvi/Earth), Thiruvanaikaval (Jala/Water), and Srikalahasti (Vayu/Air).
Names in other languages
- पञ्च भूत स्थल यात्राhin / Deva
- பஞ்சபூத ஸ்தல யாத்திரைtam / Taml
- పంచ భూత స్థల యాత్రtel / Telu
- ಪಂಚ ಭೂತ ಸ್ಥಲ ಯಾತ್ರೆkan / Knda
- പഞ്ച ഭൂത സ്ഥല യാത്രmal / Mlym
Stations (5)
- 1
Station 1
Akasha linga — Shiva as the infinite sky
- 2
Station 2
Agni linga — the hill of fire (Arunachala)
- 3
Station 3
Prithvi linga — earth element, mango tree lingam
- 4
Station 4
Jala linga — water spring inside the sanctum
- 5
Station 5
Vayu linga — the lamp flame flickers in the wind inside the sanctum