Shiv Shakti Aksh Rekha

The Shiva Shakti Aksha Rekha (Sanskrit: शिवशक्तिअक्षरेखा, romanized: Śivaśaktiakṣarekhā), also known as Shiva Aksha Rekha, is a geographical imaginary line in India, consisting of eight prominent Shiva temples that were constructed during the ancient period. Spanning over 2,383 km (1,481 mi) the temples are simultaneously located on Longitudinal line 79°E, that pass over Kedarnath in the North to Rameshwaram in the South India. The temples are constructed on a line to align with Kedarnath temple located near the Mandakini river, in the state of Uttarakhand. Seven of these eight temples are situated in the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and five of these temples represent the Pancha Bhuta Sthalam—each representing a manifestation of the five prime elements of nature: earth, water, fire, air, and space.[1][2] Though not an ancient temple, the Ramappa Temple constructed in the year 1213 CE, is also a Shiva temple in Warangal, Telangana, it was also constructed on the same Longitude 79E, and in the year 2021, Ramappa Temple was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[3][4]

Temple locations

Constructed 4,000 years ago, these temples are spread over 2,383 km (1,481 mi) apart from each other with a distance of hundreds of kilometers. The temples are: Kedarnath Temple; Uttarakhand, Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy Temple; Telangana, Srikalahasteeswara Temple; Andhra Pradesh, Ekambareswarar Temple, Jambukeswara Temple, Annamalaiyar Temple, Nataraja Temple and Ramanathaswamy Temple; Tamil Nadu.[2][5]

Legends

The location of temples are separated by hundreds of kilometers with each other and it is still mysterious about the purpose of constructing the temples with the geographical alignment. As per scholars there are no relevant records to prove the motivation behind the construction in similar fashion and it could be a coincidence or esoteric.

Though according to the Puranic Hinduism perspective, these temple are built at a very place where some divine events occurred, according to a popular legend the Kedarnath temple was constructed by the Pandavas—the five legendary brothers who ware central characters of the Mahabharata. Another legend suggest that the temple is believed to be built on the spot where Shiva disappeared. The prevailing Kedarnath temple was restructured by Adi Shankara—a 8th Century Hindu scholar and teacher, his samadhi is constructed behind the Kedarnath temple, and according to G.C Pande (2011); Adi Shankara died in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu a city which houses one of the Shiva temple (the Shiva Shakti Aksha Rekha).[6][7] The Trilinga Kshetras-consist of the Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy Temple.

According to Outlook India as published on 16 June 2023; Historians and archaeologists had initiated a research program to explore the mysterious construction of theses temples in the single geographical alignment.[1]

List of famous temples
Temple Photo Location Details
Kedarnath Temple Kedarnath 30°44′6.7″N 79°4′0.9″E It is one of the twelve jyotirlinga of Shiva.
Kaleshwara Temple Kaleshwaram 18°48′43″N 79°54′14″E The temple is significant because of the two Shiva lingas that are found on a single pedestal.
Ramappa Temple Warangal 18°15′33″N 79°56′36″E Though not an ancient temple, but it is renowned for its architecture for which it was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[4]
Srikalahasteeswara Temple Kanchipuram 13°44′58″N 79°41′54″E It is one of the most famous Shiva temples in South India.
Ekambareswarar Temple Kanchipuram 12°50′51″N 79°42′00″E Shiva is worshiped as Ekambareswarar or Ekambaranathar,
Jambukeshwarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval Thiruvanaikaval, near Trichy 10°51′12″N 78°42′20″E The sanctum of Jambukeswara has an underground water stream and in
Arunachaleswara Temple Thiruvannamalai 12°13′31.02″N 79°4′28.91″E Shiva is worshiped as Arunachalesvara or Annamalaiyar, and is represented by the lingam,
SriKalahasti temple Kalahasthi, Andhra Pradesh 13°44′58″N 79°41′54″E Kalahasthi is one of the most famous Shiva temples in South India,
Thillai Natarajar Temple Chidambaram 11°23′58″N 79°41′36″E Chidambaram, the name of the city and the temple literally means "atmosphere of wisdom" or "clothed in thought",

References
  1. Kulkarni, Gumpanpally Santosh (16 June 2023). "79° Longitude Aligns Us Global Citizens With An Invisible Thread Using God's Positioning System (GPS)". Outlook India. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  2. "Eight ancient Shiva temples on the same Longitude". The Décor Journal India. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  3. "Telangana's Ramappa Temple becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site". The Indian Express. 2021-07-26. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  4. "Kakatiya Rudreswara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  5. Vemsani, Lavanya (2022). Hinduism in Middle India Narasimha, The Lord of the Middle. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 9781350138520. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  6. Madhava, Vibha.B (7 June 2019). "Kedarnath - history, legend and sacred journeys". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  7. Pande 2011, pp. 31–32, also 6–7, 67–68.
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