Pancha Bhoota Stalam
Pancha Bhoota Sthalam
Refers to five temples dedicated to Shiva, each representing a manifestation of the five prime elements of nature: earth, water, fire, air, and space. Pancha indicates "five," Bhoota means "elements," and Sthala means "place." The temples are located in South India, four in Tamil Nadu and one in Andhra Pradesh. The five elements are believed to be enshrined in the five lingams of the temples, with each lingam named based on the element represented.
Pancha Bhootam
According to Hinduism, life and the various species originated by the combination of planetary globes and the five manifestations of nature namely earth, water, fire, air, and space. Bhoota (Sanskrit:) in Sanskrit means compound and maha bhoota indicates a big compound.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). Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel laureate for literature, in his book, 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.
The Five Temples
Earth
Prithivi Lingam-Ekambareswarar Temple-Kanchipuram
Water
Appu Lingam (Jambu Lingam)-Jambukeshwarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval-Thiruvanaikaval, near Trichy
Fire
Agni Lingam (Jyothi Lingam)-Arunachaleswara Temple-Thiruvannamalai
Air
Vayu Lingam-Kalahasti temple-Kalahasthi, Andhra Pradesh
Space
Aagaya Lingam (Akasha Lingam)-Thillai Natarajar Temple-Chidambaram