Panchgangeshwar Temple, Varanasi

On a request by Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva narrated the various deities/Shiv Lings/Teerths (Sacred Ponds) spread over the expanse of Kashi. (Kashi Khand, Chapter 97).

Kashi Khand mentions one Panchanadeshwar Ling in the vicinity of Mangala Gauri.  This Ling is called as Pancha Gangeshwar by the locals.

Devotees who worship Pancha Gangeshwar (Panchanadeshwar) will be blessed with all sorts of happiness in life.

LOCATION OF PANCHANADESHWAR

Panchanadeshwar (Pancha Gangeshwar) is located at K.22/11, below Tailang Swamy Mutt.  Without entering the Mutt premises, if a devotee moves around the premises, this Shiv Ling can be seen somewhat below the ground level through a grill gate.  There is also a big Shiv Ling inside the Bindu Madhav temple premises which, the locals say, is Pancha Gangeshwar.

Devotees can travel upto Bhaironath by rickshaw and walk upto this place by enquiring about Tailang Swamy Mutt.  If they travel by boat, they may get down at Panch Ganga Ghat and climb the steps.

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 Panch Gangeshwar

TYPES OF POOJA

The place of worship is open practically throughout.

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Doshas and Ayurveda Body Types

The subtle energies of body are known as Doshas. There are three Doshas or “Tridosha” as described by Ayurveda- Vaata, Pitta and Kapha. Ayurveda insists on maintaining the balance among these three doshas for achieving ultimate health. By establishing balance among the three doshas, one can bring equilibrium of mind, body and soul. Ayurvedic therapies place much importance on balancing doshas to avoid diseases..

Each person is a combination of the three types of doshas which consists of five universal elements- the PanchbhouticSiddanth:

• Aakash (space)
• Vaayu (air)
• Prithvi (earth)
• Agni (fire)
• Jal (water)

Vatha is the combination of air and space. Pitta consists dominantly of fire with some water. Kapha is dominantly water with some earth.

Health and longevity depends on balanced doshas. One can bring this balance through proper 'Aahar' (diet), 'Yoga' (exercise), 'Aahar Pachan' (digestion), and 'Shodhan' (elimination of toxins).

Ayurveda Body Types

All human beings are broadly categorized into three body types- Vaata Type Body; Pitta Type Body; and Kapha Type Body. They are named on the basis of the dominating dosha in the body. However, not always the bodies have predominance of one single dosha. Sometimes there is the state of combined energy when two doshas are at similar level. In such condition, the body types are defined as vatha-pitta, vatha-kapha, pitta-kapha, etc. based on the presence of doshas.

The Vaata Type Body : People with Vata type body tend to be fast, creative, thin and strong. Their primary organ is the colon. Such people need a daily life that is active and challenging so that they may use up their energy. Travel, especially by air, can imbalance Vata. They are aggravated by cold, frozen or dried foods. They should eat warm and moist foods and avoid extreme cold, raw and frozen foods. They should also maintain a regular routine in whatever they do.

The Pitta Type Body : People having a Pitta type body are determined and strong willed. They have good digestion. Their primary organs are the small intestine and stomach. They tend to be hot and oily. As Pitta is associated with the fire element, these people have a fiery quality. In situation of imbalanced, they develop skin problems like rashes, burning, inflammation. They are also prone to fever, ulcers, anger, jealousy, and copious urine. They should try to remain cool and avoid excess heat, steam or humidity. Excessively oily food or fried foods, caffeine, alcohol, red meat, hot spices, and salt is also harmful for them. Fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains are good for them. They should always try to get good amount of fresh air. Suppression of emotions is not good for such people.

The Kapha Type Body : People with Kapha type body have good endurance, strength and stamina. They can easily follow routine. They should sometimes break from routine to get health benefits. They easily get attached to people or things. Food and security have much important for them. Their primary organ is the chest. Pre dominance of Kapha often leads to excessive production of mucus. These people have tendency of congestion, sinusitis, sluggishness, weight gain, diabetes or water retention. They should always remain physically active and avoid fried or fatty foods, icy cool drinks, sweets and excessive amounts of bread. Fresh vegetables are good for them. They should try to bring excitement, change and challenge into their lives.

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Panchbhoutic Siddanth

Living matter is made of five great elements of vital importance. They are Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space, and are known as Panchamahabhoota, and are units to build everything from medicines to human beings.

In Sanskrit, Pancha means five. Akashiya,Apya,Parthiva,Taijasa and Vayaviya are different classifications on the basis of majority of content. The property or quality of anything changes with different combinations and permutations of these five elements.

Existence of matter becomes impossible for the lack of space or Aakashamahabhoota with sound as its important sense attribute, and non-resistance as its important property.

Inheriting shabda or sound as an attribute and chalatwa as its important property, sparsha or touch is Vayumahabhoota. Next is Agnimahabhoota, whose attribute is vision, and property is heat.

Earlier mahabhootas have attributes of sense like, sound and touch are also inherited by Agni. Next is Aapamahabhoota with rasa or taste as its important attribute, and liquidity as important property. This inherits the earlier mahabhootas’ attributes. Prithvimahabhoota is the final one with roughness as important property and smell as its important sense attribute. Moreover, it inherits the earlier mahabhootas’ sense attributes

Ayurveda summarizes the sense attributes and main properties of the five great elements into five categories. They are: Akasha Shabda Aapratighata ,Vayu Shabda, Sparsha Sparsha Chala ,Agni Shabda, Sparsha, Roopa,Sparsha, Roopa Ushna ,Aapa (Jala) Shabda, Sparsha, Roopa, Rasa Drava and Prithwi Shabda, Sparsha, Roopa, Rasa, Gandha Khara.

The knowledge of concept of Panchabhoota would help one understand the wotking of Ayurveda as science. The first element in existence would be Aakasha. Its equivalence cannot be sky but space. It is essential to know and understand all the elements.

Aakasha Shabda

Ayurveda believes that Aaksh is originless and endless, that is, no beginning, no end, and exists everywhere and at all times. In short it is omnipresent.

Moreover, the logic is that all things and beings need space to be present, including the minutest particle called atom or cell. 

The belief is that the outer space reflects the inner space, and thus the concept of omnipresence is proved.

As Aakasha is ever-existent, so is Shabda, the basic sense attribute, and the energy form of Aakasha.

The first shabda as per Hinduism is AUM. Mantra is formed by grouping many shabdas. Believing that it is divine form of treatment, Mantra chikitsa in Ayurveda is given importance. Mani chikitsa is the second followed by Aushadhi chikitsa. 

Vayu Shabda

To make us realize the nothingness of the space through movement, Vayu or air is very important. The main sense attribute of it is touch, or feeling something, and along with this, it carries the attribute of space, that is, sound. Anything that moves or has Chalatwa is only because of vayu or air. Motor or sensory nerve impulses, movement of food through gastro-intestinal tract, joint movements in human beings are possible only through vata dosha, a major constituent of vayu. 

Agni Shabda

Vision is the main sense of attribute, and warmth is its important property. The biological humor Pitta dosha's major constituent is agni. Apart from providing energy for all activities, it helps in viewing the creation of the world. 

Jala Shabda

Jala helps in chemical, biological and biochemical bondings, and also enables bringing two things and keep them together. 

Prithwi Shabda

It inherits all the attributes of other elements, and has smell as its main attribute. It helps in building the whole universe with its simple living and non-living blocks.

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