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Annamalaiyar, Tiruvannamalai (Fire)
Agni — Fire. Shiva revealed himself here as an infinite column of jyoti that Brahma and Vishnu could not find the ends of. The 14 km Girivalam around Arunachala hill is performed on every full moon.
best time
— पुण्यक्षेत्राणि —
Pancha Bhuta Stalams
— पुण्यक्षेत्राणि —
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Ekambareswarar, Kanchipuram (Earth)
Prithvi — Earth. The lingam is swayambhu, formed of river sand; never bathed, only anointed. Parvati's embrace left the marks of her bangles on the murti. Set in a 25-acre Pallava–Chola complex in Kanchipuram.
best time
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Jambukeswarar, Thiruvanaikaval (Water)
Appu — Water. The sanctum has an underground spring — the lingam stays submerged. Five concentric prakarams, the outermost 2 km long — the Vibhuti Prakara is said to have been built by Shiva himself.
best time
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Nataraja, Chidambaram (Sky)
Akasha — Sky. Shiva as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer. The central rahasyam of the sanctum is an empty space — the formless akasha lingam. Revealed behind a curtain only during specific poojas.
best time
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Sri Kalahasti (Air)
Vayu — Air. Oil-lamp flames inside the sanctum flicker constantly though there is no draft — the breath of the lingam. Also the foremost Rahu-Ketu dosha parihara kshetra in India.
best time
may this yatra walk with you.
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