Pancha Bhoota Sthalams

► Kanchipuram (Moksha Puri) (Shakti Peetha) (Pancha Bhoota Sthalam) (Paadal Petra Sthalam)
(Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu)

☗ Hastigiri Hill (Sri Varadaraja Temple)
▬ River Vegavathi flows
▬ River Palar flows
▬ River Kampa flows (Puranic)
☘ Mango Tree (Aamra) (Devi Parvati penance)
(Tamil Nadu Plain)

- Devi abides in Kanchipuram as Kanchi Shakti Peetha (identified with Devi Kamakshi).
- Devi Parvati (Kamakshi) performed penance in Kanchipuram and got united with Lord Shiva.
- Lord Shiva abides in Kanchipuram as Lord Ekambareshwara where Devi Parvati (Kamakshi) performed penance.
- Kanchipuram has several other Shiva Temples apart from the main Ekambareshwarar Temple.
- Lord Vishnu abides in Kanchipuram as Lord Varadaraja (a Divya Desam) where Lord Brahma performed penance in Satya Yuga, Gajendra in Treta Yuga, Brihaspati in Dwapara Yuga and Adisesha in Kali Yuga.
- Kanchipuram has several other Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu apart from Lord Varadaraja Temple.

◍ Thiruvanaikaval - Abode of Lord Shiva (Pancha Bhoota Sthalam):

- Thiruvanaikaval (Pancha Bhoota Sthalam) (Paadal Petra Sthalam)
(Tiruchirapalli district, Tamil Nadu)
Shiva: Jambukeshwarar
Devi: Devi Akhilandeshwari
▬ River Kaveri flows
☘ Jambu Tree

► Thiruvannamalai (Pancha Bhoota Sthalam) (Paadal Petra Sthalam)
(Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu)

☗ Arunachala Mountain
(Tamil Nadu Uplands)

(Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya)

- Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is the place where Lord Shiva manifested as an infinite Taijasa Lingam (Column of Fire).
- Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is the place where Lord Shiva later manifested in a smaller form as the Arunachala Mountain.
- Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) is the place where Devi Parvati performed penance after performing penance at Kanchipuram.

◍ ► Srikalahasti (Pancha Bhoota Sthalam) (Paadal Petra Sthalam)
(Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh)

- The temple can be visited from Tirupati (40 km) and Chittoor (120 km).

▬ River Swarnamukhi flows
◼ Bharadwaja Teertham (Near Srikalahasteeshwarar Temple)
(Andhra Pradesh Ghats)

(Srikalahasteeshwara Sthala Purana)

• Shiva: Lord Shiva was worshipped by spider Sri, serpent Kala and elephant Hasti at Srikalahasti. They finally attained salvation by worshipping that Linga. Lord Shiva abides here as Srikalahasteeshwara along with Devi Gyanasundari.
- Srikalahasteeshwarar Temple

○ Kanappa Nayanar (5th - 9th Century): Sri Kanappa Nayanar worshipped Lord Shiva in Srikalahasti.
- Srikalahasteeshwarar Temple


(Srikalahasteeshwara Sthala Purana)

▬ Worship of Srikalahasteeshwara in various yugas
(Srikalahasteeshwara Sthala Purana - 3)
▬ Worship of Srikalahasteeshwara by spider Sri
(Srikalahasteeshwara Sthala Purana - 28)
▬ Worship of Srikalahasteeshwara by serpent Kala and elephant Hasti
(Srikalahasteeshwara Sthala Purana - 29)

► Chidambaram (Pancha Bhoota Sthalam) (Paadal Petra Sthalam)
(Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu)

☸ Thillai Vana (Puranic)
▬ River Vellar flows
▬ River Kollidam flows (5 km south)
◼ Shiva-Ganga Teertha (Temple Tank)
(Tamil Nadu Plain)

(Chidambara Mahatmya)

- Lord Nataraja danced the Ananda Tandava in Thillai Vana (Chidambaram) before sages Vyaghrapada, Patanjali and other celestials and sages.
- Devi Thillai Kali had a dance competition with Lord Shiva in Thillai Vana (Chidambaram).