Om Namah Shivaya, known as Shiva Panchakshara, is composed of five syllables believed to represent the five elements of nature: earth, water, fire, air, and space. It is believed Lord Shiva manifested himself across five lingams, the Pancha Bhoota Stalangal, so people could worship each element and live in spiritual harmony. All five temples lie along the 79th meridian east, the Madhya Rekha of ancient Hindu temple construction.
Ekambareswarar Temple (Earth) - Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. Legend says Parvathi, seeking redemption after playfully closing Shiva's eyes, made a lingam from earth and hugged it to protect it as Shiva tested her by releasing the Ganga to flow over her. Pleased by her devotion, Shiva married her here. A 3500-year-old mango tree at the temple is said to have branches representing the four Vedas.
Jambukeswarar Temple (Water) - Trichy, Tamil Nadu. Built around 1800 years ago, legend tells of Goddess Parvathi converting water from the Kaveri into a lingam beneath a Venn Naaval tree where Saint Jambu attained liberation. The spring beneath the lingam is said to never dry, even in the hottest seasons.
Arunachalesvara Temple (Fire) - Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. Legend says Shiva appeared as a towering column of fire to settle a dispute between Vishnu and Brahma over who was greatest, later manifesting as the Agni Linga at the foothills of Arunachala hill.
Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple (Air) - Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. The only Pancha Bhoota Stalam outside Tamil Nadu, this temple honours Lord Vayu, god of wind, who performed penance here and was granted that the lingam bear his name.
Thillai Nataraja Temple (Space) - Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. Here Shiva took the form of Nataraja to perform the cosmic dance and crush the demon Apasmara. The temple's architecture intricately mirrors the human body - 21,600 gold roof tiles representing daily human breaths, and 72,000 nails representing the body's nerves.