PANCHA BHOOTHA TEMPLE TOUR

The term "Pancha Bhootha Sthalam" denotes five temples devoted to Shiva, with each symbolizing a manifestation of the five fundamental elements of nature: earth, water, fire, air, and ether.

Kalahasti - Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple (Air)

Kancheepuram - Ekambareshwarar Temple (Earth)

Thiruvannamalai - Arunachaleswarar Temple (Fire)

Chidambaram - Thillai Nataraja Temple (Space)

Trichy - Jambukeswarar-Akilandeswari Temple (Water)

CHENNAI – KALAHASTI – KANCHEEPURAM – THIRUVANNAMALAI – CHIDAMBARAM – TRICHY

5 NIGHTS / 6 DAYS

DAY 1 : CHENNAI – KALAHASTI (120 KM)

On arrival in Chennai, you will be received and transferred to Kalahasti. Check in to your hotel and later proceed to visit Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple, a Pancha Bhoota Stalam, worships the presiding Vayu linga and is hailed as the 'Kashi of the South'. Kalahasteeswara is the name given to Shiva in his Vayu form. The name Srikalahasti is derived from 'Sri', symbolizing a spider, 'Kala', representing a serpent, and 'Hasti', signifying an elephant. According to legend, these three creatures worshipped Lord Shiva at this site and attained salvation. The elephant (Hasti) performed Abhishekam of the Linga with water from the nearby river, the spider (Sri) protected the Linga with its webs, and the serpent (Kala) adorned it with a precious gem (Naga Manikyam). Once these three happened to cross their paths. The elephant considered the action of the spider to be disrespectful to the lord and at once splashed away the spider’s web with his trunk-full of water. The spider and serpent were enraged by how the elephant’s destroyed their Pooja. The serpent entered the elephant’s trunk and discharged its venom there…The elephant in writhing-pain smashes its trunk against the Lingam and kills the serpent. The spider also dies in this tussle. It is followed by the death of poison-driven elephant. The Lord Maheshwara mightily pleased with this self-sacrifice gave Moksha’s to all the three creatures. The spider takes birth as a great king who continues with his divine task while the elephant and the serpent reaches the heaven attaining liberation from their earthly life- cycle.

The temple is situated on the banks of the River Swarnamukhi, a tributary of the River Pennar, one of South India's major rivers. It is also associated with Rahu and Ketu, celestial bodies in Indian astrology, offering solace to those affected by unfavorable positions of Rahu in their horoscopes.

Despite the absence of natural air currents, an eternal lamp inside the inner sanctuary continually flickers, symbolizing divine presence.

[Darshan Timing : 5AM – 9PM]

DAY 2 : KALAHASTI – KANCHEEPURAM (120 KM)

After breakfast check out and proceed to Kancheepuram. Check in at your hotel. Later visit Ekambareshwar Temple. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Ekambareshwarar Temple is one of the Pancha Bhootha temple representing the element earth or Prithvi.According to legend, the lingam housed within the Ekambareswarar Temple was both crafted and revered by Goddess Parvati herself. The story goes that once, in a playful gesture, Goddess Parvati covered Shiva’s eyes, casting the world into sudden darkness. With Shiva temporarily blinded, even the Sun and Moon were shrouded in darkness. Witnessing the unintended consequences of her action, Parvati was filled with remorse and sought penance to absolve her karmic debt. Reincarnating as Kamakshi, she undertook rigorous penance, made a Shiva linga from sand and revering Lord Shiva in the form of the Prithvi Lingam (Lingam made of earth) beneath an ancient mango tree within the temple premise. During this period of penance, Shiva, tested Kamakshi's devotion, caused a flood while she was deeply engrossed in her worship. Fearing for the safety of the Lingam, Kamakshi clung to it tightly, her unwavering love and devotion melting Shiva's heart, causing him to manifest in human form and marry her. The ancient temple mango tree, under which Kamakshi worshipped the Shiv Lingam, remains standing to this day, boasting an age of over 3500 years. It serves as a revered symbol within the temple, with each of its four branches symbolizing one of the four Vedic texts and bearing fruits of four distinct flavors.

[Darshan Timing : 6:30AM – 12:30pm, 4PM – 7:30PM]

DAY 3 : KANCHEEPURAM - THIRUVANNAMALAI (120 KM)

Today after an early breakfast, drive to Thiruvannamalai. On arrival check into your hotel. Later procced to Arunachaleshwar Temple. Overnight stay at the hotel.

As one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams, which signify the five fundamental elements of existence—Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Sky—the Arunachaleswarar Temple holds a special place as a sacred shrine representing the element of Fire. Accordingly, Lord Shiva is revered here in the form of Agni Lingam, symbolizing the fiery aspect of divinity. The tale surrounding this temple recounts the manifestation of Lord Shiva as a pillar of light or fire, symbolizing the eradication of ego from humanity. It commences with a dispute between Lord Vishnu, the preserver, and Lord Brahma, the creator, each vying for supremacy among the Trimurtis. Claiming seniority, Lord Brahma asserts his dominance, while Lord Vishnu counters by stating that Brahma emerged from his navel. Amidst their contention, Lord Shiva intervenes, materializing as a fiery column between them, challenging them to ascertain its limits to determine the most supreme among the Trimurtis. Lord Vishnu, assuming the form of a boar, and Lord Brahma, as a swan, embark on separate quests. However, Brahma, upon encountering a Thazhambu flower, coerces it into bearing false witness to Shiva, claiming to have reached the end of the column. Enraged by this deceit, Shiva curses Brahma, decreeing that no temple shall worship him on Earth, and curses the flower to be unsuitable for rituals. Lord Vishnu, acknowledging the futility of his pursuit, humbly bows to Shiva. This fire column is said to be represented by the Arunachala Hills next to the Arunachaleswarar Temple. Arunachaleswarar Temple houses eight lingams known as ashtalingam, which are positioned at different locations facing different directions. These lingams are named as Indralingam (East), Agnilingam (South East), Yamalingam (South), Niruthilingam (South West), Varunalingam (West), Vayulingam (North West), Kuberlingam (North) and Esanyalingam (North East) (representing each directions of earth).

[Darshan Timing 5:30AM – 12:30pm, 3:30 – 8:30PM]

DAY 4 : THIRUVANNAMALAI – CHIDAMBARAM (140 KM)

Today checkout and drive to Chidambaram. Check in at your hotel. Later visit Thillai Nataraja Temple. Overnight stay at the hotel

Chidambaram is one of the five Pancha Bootha Sthalams, the holiest Shiva temples each representing one of the five classical elements; Chidambaram represents akasha (aether).The legend says, Lord Shiva, accompanied by Mohini (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu), wandered into the Thillai forests. These woods were inhabited by a community of sages who believed in the power of enchanting mantras to control the divine. Mesmerized by the radiance and beauty of Shiva and Mohini, the sages and their wives became enchanted. In response to their wives' enchantment, the infuriated sages invoked serpents by chanting mystical mantras. Lord Shiva then adorned these serpents as ornaments, further fueling the anger of the ascetics. Subsequently, the sages summoned a tiger, whose skin Lord Shiva draped around himself as a shawl. As the sages grew increasingly wrathful, they pooled their spiritual strength and conjured a mighty demon, symbolizing arrogance. In response, Lord Shiva mounted the demon's back and performed the Ananda Thaandava, the cosmic dance, revealing his true divine form. This revelation prompted the ascetics to realize that this Lord transcended all mantras and rituals, embodying ultimate truth.

Chidambaram temple embodies the following characteristics :

This temple is located at the Center Point of world ‘s Magnetic Equator.
Among the “Pancha bootha” temples, Chidambaram denotes the Space. Kalahasthi denotes Wind. Kanchi Ekambareswar denotes land. All these 3 temples are located in a straight line at 79 degrees 41 minutes Longitude.
Chidambaram temple is based on the Human having 9 Entrances denoting 9 Entrances or Openings of the body.
Temple roof is made of 21600 gold sheets which denotes the 21600 breaths taken by a human being every day (15 x 60 x 24 = 21600)
These 21600 gold sheets are fixed on the “Vimanam” (Roof) using 72000 gold nails which denote the total no. of Nadis (Nerves) in the human body.
“Ponnambalam ” is placed slightly tilted towards the left. This represents our Heart. To reach this, we need to climb 5 steps called “Panchatshara padi ” “Si, Va, Ya, Na, Ma ” are the 5 Panchatshara mantras. There are 4 pillars holding the Kanagasabha representing the 4 Vedas.
Ponnambalam has 28 pillars denoting the 28 “Ahamas “as well as the 28 methods to worship Lord Shiva. These 28 pillars support 64 +64 Roof Beams which denote the 64 Arts. The cross beams represent the Blood Vessels running across the Human body.
Kalasas on the Golden Roof represent the 9 types of Sakthi or Energies.The 6 pillars at the Artha Mantapa represent the 6 types of Sashtras.
The 18 pillars in the adjacant Mantapa represents 18 Puranams.

[Darshan Timing 6AM – 12PM, 5PM – 10PM]

DAY 5 : CHIDAMBARAM – TRICHY (150 KM)

After an early breakfast check out and drive to Trichy. Visit Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari Temple. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Also known as Thiruvanaikoil, Thiruvanaikaval, a stone’s throw from the city, is home to the Jambukeswarar-Akilandeswari Temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple is one of the panchabhoota sthalam (shrines representing one of the five elements of nature) and represents water. Legend says, there were two disciples of Lord Shiva who lived in Kailash: ‘Malyavan’ and ‘Pushpadanta’. Constantly at odds with each other, their conflict reached a peak when Malyavan cursed Pushpadanta to become an elephant, while Pushpadanta retaliated by cursing Malyavan to become a spider on Earth. Both of them came to Jambukeswaram temple and worshipped Lord Shiva. Each day, the elephant would perform ablutions on the Lingam with water from the Cauvery river, while the spider diligently spun its web over the Shivalingam to shield it from dust and sunlight. However, the elephant mistakenly interpreted the spider's web as dust and continued to pour water over it, much to the spider's dismay. Frustration reaching its peak, the spider crawled up the elephant's trunk and fatally bit it, leading to the demise of both creatures. Pleased by their unwavering devotion, Lord Shiva granted them release from their curses.

The origins of the name "Jambukeswarar" stem from a tale involving a sage named "Jambu Munivar". After offering a sacred 'Venn Naaval' fruit to Lord Shiva, the deity consumed it and spat out the seed. Jambu Munivar, considering the seed sanctified by the Lord's touch, ingested it, leading to the growth of a "Naaval" tree atop the sage's head. Upon Jambu Munivar's plea, Lord Shiva consented to reside beneath the tree. Over time, Goddess Akilandeswari performed penance and worshipped Lord Shiva under the same tree, prompting the deity to manifest before her and establish his abode under the Jambu Tree. Thus, he became known as "Jambukeswar. The tree became “Sthala Vrikhsham” (Temple’s sacred tree), and is still present in the temple, being hundreds of years old. The Shivalinga is place under the Jambu Tree in this temple

[Darshan Timing 5:30AM – 1PM, 3PM – 9PM]