Mystery – Lord Siva Temples in India on almost Same Longitude

According to Hinduism, Lord Shiva is the representation of the Supreme Being. He is one among the three supreme gods of Hinduism, the divine Trinity (Trimurti), while Lord Brahma and Vishnu are the other two. Brahma is known as the creator and Lord Vishnu, the protector. Lord Shiva is believed to control the five elements of nature called the Pancha Bhoota.  Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space constitute the Pancha Bhootas.

Five primordial Elements Temples (Pancha Bhoota Stalams)

South India boasts of the famous Pancha Bhoota Stalams, which houses the five sacred temples built representing the manifestation of these five prime elements of nature. These temples are primarily dedicated to Lord Shiva. The five elements of nature are believed to be manifested in the form of five holy Lingas, which represents the divine form of Lord Shiva. Each linga of Lord Shiva in these Kshetras is known by that particular name of  the element. The word ‘Pancha’ indicates ‘Five’ and ‘Bhoota’ means elements. ‘Stala’ refers to the place. All the five Pancha Bhootha temples are located in South India, with four of these temples in the state of Tamil Nadu, and the remaining one in Andhra Pradesh.

Pancha Bhootha Stalas are regarded as the greatest Shiva Kshetras of South India. The following are the respective Stalas for every natural element – Thiruvanaikaval for water, Thiruvannamalai for fire, Kalahasti for air, Kanchipuram for earth and Chidambaram for space/sky. All these Stalas except Kalahasti is situated in the state of Tamil Nadu.

There is an intriguing geographic pattern associated with these five temples. All these five temples were believed to have been built according to the yogic sciences. They are positioned in places which are geographically aligned with each other and also reflects their association with their respective element of nature.

Out of the five Pancha Bhootha Stalas temples, three are geographically aligned in a straight line, located exactly at 79 degrees 41 minutes East longitude. The renowned Chidambaram Natraja Temple, Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar Temple and Srikalahasti Temples are aligned exactly in a straight line.

These temples were constructed more than 1000 years ago when there was no satellite technology, yet their locations are so accurately aligned in a straight line. These three temples are a quintessential piece of engineering which also stands as a proof to the brilliance and accuracy of ancient Indian astrology and geology. Of the other two temples, Thiruvanaikkaval is located at around 3 degrees to the south and exactly 1 degree to the west of the northern tip of this divine axis, while Thiruvannamalai is around the midway located 1.5 degree to the south and 0.5 degree to the west.

One other amazing feature of these temples is its association with their respective element of nature. A flickering lamp in the Sri Kalahasti temple displays the play of wind. The water spring in the innermost sanctum of the Tiruvanaikkaval temple shows its relationship to the element water. The annual Kartikai Deepam festival celebrated at Tiruvannamalai where a giant lamp is lighted atop the Annamalai hill, reflects Lord Annamalaiyaar’s manifestation as the divine fire.

Lord Ekabareshwarar in Kancheepuram graces as a swayambhu linga made of sand, which signifies the deity’s association with the element earth while the formless space at Chidambaram displays the association of the almighty with formlessness or nothingness.

Other Three Temples

The world famous and most revered Shiva temple at Kedarnath, in the Himalayas is almost in the same longitude as these temples. Other prominent Shiva Kshetras like the
Kaleshwaram temple (where Lord Siva and Yama are placed on the same platform) and the Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram are also almost aligned in line with the above-mentioned Stalas.

Lord Siva Temples in India on almost same Longitude

1.  Kedarnath – Kedarnath Temple (30.7352° N, 79.0669)
2. Kaleshwaram – Kaleshwara Mukteeshwara Swamy Temple (18.8110, 79.9067)
3. Srikalahati – Srikalahasti Temple (13.749802, 79.698410)
4. Kanchipuram – Ekambareswarar Temple (12.847604, 79.699798)
5. Thiruvanaikaval – Jambukeswara Temple (10.853383, 78.705455)
6. Tiruvannamalai – Annamalaiyar Temple (12.231942, 79.067694)
7. Chidambaram – Nataraja Temple (11.399596, 79.693559)
8. Rameswaram – Ramanathaswamy Temple(9.2881, 79.3174)

It is also believed that there must also be many more temples located between Kedarnath and Kaleshwaram, which might fall on same straight line.

If you know any please share it with us.