Pancha Bootha Sthalas
Na = Earth
Ma = Water
Si = Fire
Va = Air
Ya = Space
Thiru Kalahasthi (Air)
This is an important temple dedicated to Lord Siva. This temple has one of the elemental lingas, the vayu (air) linga. There is a lamp inside the inner sanctum that is constantly flickering despite the lack of air inside. The Vayu-linga can be observed to move even when the doors to the main sanctum are closes and which does not have any windows. One can see the flames on several ghee lamps flicker as if blown by moving air. The linga is white and is considered Swayambhu, or self-manifested. To the east of the temple, lies the Kannappan hills and to the west flows the river Swarnamugi. Saints of yore have proclaimed that merely one visit to this temple is adequate for an aspiring devotee to attain salvation and free himself from the cycles of births and deaths. Offering prayers at this temple will enable one to overcome all malefic effects of the two serpentine planets Rahu and Kethu.
Here, Lord Shiva embodies in himself all the 8 planets except Saturn. That is why there is no separate sanctum sanctum for the eight planets. There is only one solitary altar for planet Saturn.
Legend has it that a spider, a snake and an elephant vied with one another in a very destructive way to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. The lord acknowledged the sedulous devotion of all the three creatures and called himself Sri (spider), Kala (snake), Hasthi (elephant).
This temple draws millions of pilgrims during the Tamil month of Masi (Feb 15th to March 15th) when special prayers are offered to Lord Shiva on all the 30 days.
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