1.JANA Marga : The route of knowledge – it is for the realised saints who follow this route to attain His proximity
2.Bhakti Marga: The route of Devotion – it is for the lesser mortals who by devoting their thoughts, by repeated recitation of the Lord’s name ( nama smarana), and other means of Pooja and worship, can attain the Supreme Happiness.
In this Kali Yug, the Bhakti Marga itself assumes relevance due to the extreme nature of human mind which is immersed in the logical explanation for every circumstance of the Nature.
It is at such instances when there was a decadence of the Quality of life for Human beings, and in order to upkeep the Sanatana Dharma, that Lord had descended to this Universe in various forms (avatars) and destroyed the evil nature prevalent in the human minds, thus upholding the basis of Universal Peace.
During the early 7th Century, ( about 1400 years ago), Lord Shiva Himself took the form of a realised saint – Adi Guru Shri Shankaracharya Bhagavatpada, and produced many many texts of spiritual awareness and Stotras in praise of Devi and had in a very short time written scriptures of Vedic relevance. Extensively traveling all across the country, Adi Guru Shri Shankara had re presented the relevance of Sanatana Dharma, and propagated the ideals of Universal peace ( lokaha Samasthaha sukhino bhavantu)
He had clearly foreseen the decadence of the human race and had scripted the detailing of Panchayatana Pooja. It is said that the 5 basic elements that govern the Universe – Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Space – are also the basic 5 basic elements of the Human body. Further, it is also said that our primordial deities Surya, Ganapati, Devi, Vishnu and Shiva respectively represent these Five elements.
So, Adi Guru Shri Shankaracharya had pre-empted this and had described in his scriptures that the Human entities by performing obeisance to these 5 Primordial deities, can overcome the bondage of life and thus attain the Supreme Happiness (usually referred as Moksha). However, He also had foreseen the fact that in Kali Yug, people will not have the ability to practice these at home and usually are deprived of the Supreme Happiness, and hence in order that every one could practice these in their life cycle, he propagated the concept of creating a common place of Worship. Here all the 5 primordial deities should be established so that all different followership of principles can come together..
Hence in this direction, it was by His Holy Grace that the Scholarly noble and realised Acharya Sri Soori Ramachandra Shastri ji, thought of bringing this concept to the proximity of human beings, and had as such made his disciple Sri Sridhara Bhatt aware of this and had prompted the formation of this Holy abode in this life time..
As such with the great amount of dedication, and devotion joined by a team of similar thinking Devotees and Donors, the Shiva Panchayatana Temple has been established in the premises of Sri Prasannachandrashekhara Ashrama, at Shree Chakranagara in the outskirts of Bangalore, near Magadi Road. For the very first time in 1400 years the Philosophy propagated by Adi Guru Sri Shankaracharya, has been brought into reality
This Holy abode has been created in the lines of “Vesara” principle of Temple construction, with each of the 5 Deities having a separate Sanctum Sanctorum (Garbha Gudi), and represents the every architecture of the Human body.
In this holy abode, the 5 deities – Surya, Ganapati, Ambika, Vishnu and Shiva – represent Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Space in that Order..Hence worshipping these 5 deities, is said to enhance the 5 elemental qualities in Human beings. Added to this, the Vedic scriptures also depict that these Five deities will grant the elemental ethos of nature, namely, Arogya (health), Nirvighnata (devoid of Hurdles), Aishwarya (Wealth), Jnana (supreme Knowledge), Moksha ( Supreme Happiness)
Here in this premise, all those functionalities which go to form a Punya Kshetra ( Abode of Sacred purity) are made available:
1. The 5 primordial Deities Temple
2. A cow Shed – Gau Shala – where Holy Cow is reared
3. A Holy Pond – Pushkarani / Kalyani – a pond of pure Water, for the immersion and bathing of the ceremonial deities ( Utsava Moorthi)
4. The Holy plantations – Rashi vana, Nakshatra Vana, Navagraha vana,Saptarshi vana, Ayur vana.
5. Yaga shala – place of performing Holy rituals
6. Prarthana Mandira – place of Meditation
7. Library of Vedic and purana Granthas (Holy books)
In all, this place has attained the abode of Purity ( Punya Kshetra) and transcends morality, Devotion. The continuous reciting of hymns, and continuing performances of Holy obeisance from time to time, has instilled an intrinsic Vibration that rejuvenates one’s spiritual thoughts and ultimately leads to Supreme Happiness..
Come and beget the benefits of the Holy Grace, and attain the sanctity of Life.
Lokaha Samasthaha sukhino Bhavantu