Panchamahabhoot- Five principles or Five elements which are the base of construction of everything in this universe. They constitute Pruthvi - Earth, Aap/Jal - Water, Tej- Fire, Wayu- Air and Akash- Sky or Space.
We had heard that there are five Shiv temples representing these five elements. These temples are in South India. We were looking for a chance to visit them. In August 2018 we could visit three of them.
We had started from Kanyakumari. So we visited the Temple For Water first, as it was the nearest temple on the route from Kanyakumari to Chennai.
Jambukeshwaram Temple - Thiruvanaikaval
This temple is on Srirangam island in Trichi district. Srirangam island is surrounded by Kaveri and Colladam rivers. The temple is dedicated to Water principle from Panchamahabhoot and so the lingam is known as Appu lingam. There is a water stream under the Shivlinga which increases considerably in Monsoon season. But all along the year, though not visible, the stream is there which is evident by the wetness of the cloth draped around the Shivling.
The temple campus is huge with a thick outer wall like a fort. There are five enclosures with Gopurams and pillars and water bodies inside them.
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| 📷 YouTube Video (Link Given below) |
You can watch the inside area of the temple in this You Tube video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7bWVNrLyh4
There are many legends attached to this temple. Jambu is a fruit tree, known as Rose apple or Jawa apple in English. I won't go in details about all the legends but the sculptures depicting the legends are worth watching. The carvings on the pillars are beautiful.
What is very unusual about this temple is the entrance of Garbhgruh. When we enter the innermost precinct, the entrance to the Garbhgruha is closed by a stone window having viewing apertures. You can watch the Shivling from the window. For the entrance, you have to turn left from your right hand side and the entrance is very small. You have to bend your neck to enter the temple. Taking into account the huge campus of the temple, towering gopurams and tall compound walls, one keeps wondering why the entrance to the Garbhgruha will be so small!
There is Goddess Akhilanandeshwari Shrine inside the temple as well.
We were lucky to witness a festival and procession on 15th August 2018, when we had visited the temple. The procession started from the innermost prakara and taking a round visited the lake in the campus. Unexpectedly we could enjoy this visual treat.
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| Jambukeshwar Temple. |
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| Jambukeshwar Temple. |
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| Jambukeshwar Temple. |
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| Jambukeshwar Temple. |
The temple houses a school, giving education of Nadhswaram- the classical pipe instrument.
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| Jambukeshwar Temple. |
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| Jambukeshwar Temple. |
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| Jambukeshwar Temple. |
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| Jambukeshwar Temple. |
In Trichi, there is another beautiful temple which is not included in Panchmahabhoot temple, but is one of the largest temples in India. It is Rangnathswami temple. It is a prominent Vaishnavite temple. This is very ancient temple which was looted and destroyed by Mughals in 14th century. More than 10,000 Vaishnava devotees had died at that time in attempts to protect the temple.
It was rebuilt after some decades in the Vijayanagar rule. Again and again this temple and city has faced many invasions. But has sustained all the attacks.
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| Rangnathswami Temple, Shrirangam, Trichi |
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| Rangnathswami Temple, Shrirangam, Trichi |
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| Rangnathswami Temple, Shrirangam, Trichi |
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| Rangnathswami Temple, Shrirangam, Trichi |
The second Panchmahabhoot temple which we had visited was Chidambaram temple.
Thillai Natraja Temple or Chidambaram Natraja Temple.
This temple is in Chidambaram town in Cuddalore district in Tamilnadu. It is around 60km from Pondicherry and 100 kms from Tanjavur.
Shiva Doing his cosmic dance is the main deity of the temple. There are many small temples inside the huge complex and Chidambaram temple has one of the tallest Gopurams.
This temple is dedicated to the Sky principle from Panchamahabhoot. Being a prominent temple, it is always very crowded.
The Shivling is very unusual. There is a dancing natraja Shiva idol and an empty space in the Chit Sabha. It is known as Rahasya in Hindu scripts. It is a curtained space, probably open to sky. If you want to see a glimpse of it, you have to stand in long queue!
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| Thillai Natraja/ Chidambaram Temple |
The third Panchmahabhoot Temple which we could visit was in Kanchi.
Ekambareshwar Temple
This temple is in Kanchi near Chennai. It is one of the most ancient temples in India and it's reference can be found in ancient scriptures. Here is, in the garbhgruh, a shivling representing Earth principle.
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| Ekambareshwar Temple, Kanchi 📷 wikimedia commons |
The tallest temple tower is 192 ft. The unusual fact about this temple is that there is no Parvati temple inside the campus. It is said that Kamakshi Temple in Kanchi is the Parvati of Ekambareshwar.
Kanchi Kamakshi Temple.
One of the most beautiful idols of Devi is the main deity of this temple. Be ready to stand in the long queue but don't miss to see the Devi idol.
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| Kanchi Kamakshi Temple |
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| Rangnathswami Temple, Shrirangam, Trichi |
This temple must be in your 'must visit' list. I would say, the most beautiful Devi Temple. A huge campus of nearly 5 acres consists of many shrines.
When you are in Kanchi, don't miss to visit the Shri Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham and if possible, be present at the pooja timing.
Kanchi is famous for silk and cotton sarees. As a vegan, though I don't buy silk, I could surely buy beautiful cotton sarees! The shop which we had visited was having the largest stock of sarees I had ever seen in any shop!
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| No Caption Needed |
When you are in this region, don't worry about the food! Excellent vegan/vegetarian food is available.
There are two more Panchmahabhoot temple to visit. One is Arunachaleshwar temple (Fire) and Shrikalahasteeshwar temple (Air) in Andhra Pradesh. But couldn't visit it in the same trip.
Chennai is the nearest airport. It is around 70 kms from Kanchi.
Amazing 👌
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