The Pancha Bhuta Sthalam (, ) refers to five temples dedicated to Shiva, each representing a manifestation of the five prime elements of nature: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. Pancha indicates "five," Bhuta 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 on the element represented. All five temples are located around the 78ðE and 79ðE longitudes and between 10ðN and 14ðN latitudes.
The presiding deities are revered in the 7th century Tamil Shaiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The four temples in Tamil Nadu are maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
According to the Vedas, the material world is a combination of the five fundamental elements of nature namely earth, water, fire, air, and ether. Bhuta (Sanskrit:à ¤Âà ¥Âà ¤¤) in Sanskrit means element and maha bhoota indicates a fundamental element. According to Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical system, the equilibrium of the body with the pancha bhuta is governed by the principles of tridoshas - kaph (phlegm), pitta (bile), vayu (gas), dhÃÂtu and malas (waste products). Rabindranath Tagore, 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.
In the temples, Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the respective forms of the five elements. . The Agni (fire) Lingam explains the mythics of life - duty, virtue, self-sacrifice and finally liberation by and through ascetic life at the end of Agni kalpa. The five lingams are revered in the 7th century Tamil Shaiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Four lingams (earth, water, fire and space) are in Tamil Nadu while the air lingam (Srikalahasti) is in Andhra Pradesh. Three of the four temples in Tamil Nadu are maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Maintenance and administration of the Space lingam is ensured by a religious denominational community called the Dikshitars.
Muthuswami Dikshitar composed many Krithis in groups.The Panchabhoothalinga Krithis of Dikshitar are dedicated to these five forms of Lord Siva. These Krithis are composed respectively at the temples of Chidambaram (ether), Kalahasti (air), Tiruvannamalai (fire), Kanchipuram (earth) and Jambukesvaram (water).