Srikalahasti Temple reflects Hindu philosophy and its diverse views on cosmos and Truths. It lies in the Chittoor district in the south-east Andhra Pradesh, India. It is one of the most famous Shiva temples in South India, and is said to be the site where Kannappa was ready to offer both his eyes to cover blood flowing from the Sivalinga before the Lord Siva stopped him and granted him mukti.
Srikalahasti temple, situated 36 km away from Tirupati is famous for its VayuLinga, one of the Panchabhoota Sthalams, representing wind. The inner temple was constructed around 5th century and the outer temple was constructed in the 12th century by the Chola kings and the Vijayanagara kings. Lord Shiva in his aspect as Vayu is worshiped as Kalahasteeswara.
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Temple
This ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the five Panchabhootha stalams (temples celebrating Lord Shiva as the embodiment of the five primary elements), air (wind) being the element in this case; the other elements being water at (Thiruvanaikaval), fire at (Annamalaiyar Temple), earth at (Ekambareswarar Temple) and space at (Chidambaram Temple) that Shiva embodies. These five lingas are praised by Muthuswami Dikshitar in his celebrated Panchabhuta Kirthis.
There is a lamp inside the inner sanctum that is constantly flickering despite the lack of air movement inside. The air-linga can be observed to move even when the priests close off the entrance to the main deity room, 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.
Kalahasti is surrounded by two sacred hills. The Durgamma temple is on the northern hill. On the south hill there is the shrine of Kannabeswara, in memory of the Sage Kannappa, who offered his eyes to the Lord Shiva. There is also a temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya on one of the surrounding hills.
The Shiva linga is considered self manifested or Swayambhu and is white in colour. It is said to be in the shape of a spider if seen from the bottom, like the trunk of an elephant which has tusks on either side or like a snake with five hoods when seen from the top. The main linga is untouched by human hands, even by the priest. Abhisheka (bathing) is done by pouring a mixture of water, milk, camphor, and panchamrita. Sandal paste, flowers and the sacred thread are offered to the utsava-murti, not the main linga.
It is also said to be the only Hindu temple in the whole world which has been kept open even during the times of Solar Eclipses and Lunar Eclipses. Its importance as a Shiva temple can be gauged from the fact that it is also referred to as ‘Dakshina Kailasam’ or ‘Dakshina Kashi’.
This temple has also been associated with the two grahas Rahu and Ketu(which are among the Nine Navagrahas or celestial bodies linked to Indian Astrology) and is also called Rahu Ketu Kshetra. People who have Rahu Ketu doshas, who have sarpa dosha, who are unmarried, who are childless or who face multitude of other problems in life perform poojas to these grahas in order to alleviate their problems and get desired benefits.
Must visit for Rahu – Ketu Pooja
One of the Pancha Bhoota temples of Shiva Kalahasti enshrines the Vayu Lingam – representing the element wind – of the five elements of Agni, Vaayu, Aakasam, Jalam and Prithvi.
Pancha Bootha Stalam or Lingam… Each One Represents A Natural Elements..
1) Ekambareshwar Temple Represents – Land (Pritvi)
2) Arunachaleshwar Temple Represents – Fire (Agni)
3) Jambukeshwar Temple Represents – Water (Jala)
4) Thillai Nataraj Temple Represents – Sky (Akash)
5) Shri Kalahasti Temple Represents – Air (Vayu)
History
There are inscriptions dating back to the tenth century that indicate that the Vijayanagara Kings and the Chola Rulers had given patronage to the temple in the form of land endowments. Inscriptions show that the Chola King Kuluthungan built the galigopuram in the 11th century and Veeranarasimha Yadavaraya constructed the Prakara or compound wall along with the four Gopurams in the 12th century. Further inscriptions show that the 100 pillared mandapa was built in 1516 AD by the Vijayanagara Kings followed by the Cholas then further construction by the Pallavas and the Pandyas.
Origin of the name Srikalahasteeshwar
Srikalahasti is named after the staunch devotees of Lord Shiva. They were the Spider (Sri), the Serpent (Kala) and the Elephant (Hasti). According to Hindu mythology, the elephant or Hasti used to clean the Shiva deity by watering the idol with the help of river-water carried in his trunks and pray for him by placing Bilva leaves. The spider or Sri tried to protect the deity from external damage by weaving his web and to provide shelter for the Shiva lingam. The snake or Kala used to place its precious gem on the linga to adorn the lord. In this way, they all worshipped the Vayu linga separately without knowing what the other was doing.
One day the elephant noticed the web and thinking it to be dirt washed it off with waters from its trunk thus also removing the precious gem. The snake in anger entered the trunk of the elephant and bit it also dying in the process. The elephant mad with pain dashed itself against the linga dying and crushing the spider in the process. Seeing their selfless devotion Lord Shiva appeared before them and granted liberation to the elephant and the snake while the spider was reborn as a great King who built a number of temples and carried on his good work on Earth. Lord Shiva also blessed them that due to their unflinching devotion their names would be merged with the Vayu Lingam and would be known as Srikalahasteeshwara. It is to be noted that the spider reborn as a King is said to have built the Sanctum in all temples in such a way that no elephant could extend its trunk over the Lord from any side.
Legend of Gnana Prasunambika Devi
There are several other legends connected to the glory of the temple. Prominent among them is of Parvati who was cursed by Lord Shiva to discard her heavenly body and assume the human form. To get rid off the above curse Parvati did a long penance here. Pleased with her deep devotion Lord Shiva again recreated her body – a hundred times better than her previous heavenly body and initiated various mantras including the Panchakshari. Consequent of this, Parvati gained and came to be known as Shiva-Gnanam Gnana Prasunamba or Gnana Prasunambika Devi.
The Legend of Kannappa
At Sri Kalahasti, Lord Shiva tested the unshakable devotion of Thinnadu (Later became Bhaktha Kannappa) before the sages gathered at Srikalahasti. With his divine power, Lord Shiva created a tremor and the roof tops of the temple began to fall. All the sages ran away from the scene except Kannappa who covered the linga with his body to prevent it from any damage.
In another incident, Kannappa plucked out one of his eyes and placed in the eye of Linga which was oozing with blood and tears. When the tears and the blood were still trickling from another eye, Kannappa decided to remove his second eye and placed one of his feet on the spot of the right eye of the Shiva Linga. Before he could pull out his second eye with the arrow, Lord Shiva appeared and restored his eye while granting him a boon to occupy a place close to him.
According to Swami Sivananda’s book, Sixty-Three Nayanar Saints, pg. 44, some Saivite traditions believe that Kannappa was the reincarnation of Arjuna. Arjuna, worshipped Siva for seeking the Pasupatha Astra and failed to recognize Him in the form of a hunter. Thus, according to this tradition, Arjuna had to be born as a hunter and adore the Lord before attaining final liberation.
Architectural details of the temple
The temple is one of the most beautiful and impressive Shiva temples of ancient India. The temple plan is irregular as the temple prakarams follow the contours of the hill that adjoins it. At some points the hill itself serves as the temple wall. The main gate of the temple has an enormous Gopuram (entrance tower) which is said to be 120 ft high. The entire temple is believed to have been carved from a part of a huge stone hill. To the North of the Srikalahasti temple lies the Durgambika hill, to the East is the Kumaraswamy hill and to the south lies the Kannappar hill. In the temple complex is a small underground temple of Lord Ganesha called Patala Ganapathi. It is in the outer prakaram while the shrines of Shiva and Parvati are in the innermost prakaram. It is said to be 30 feet beneath the surface which marks the level of the river that is passing by the temple. The beautiful 100 pillared Mandapam built by Krishnadeva Raya is another remarkable feature of this temple. Kalahasti is surrounded by two hills which are sacred, the one in the South has the shrine of Kannabeshwara which was built in memory of the great Nayanmar saint Kannappa and the one in the North has the temple of Durgamba. To the west of the Kalahasti hill is the Srikalahasteeshwara temple. To the South of the Kannappa hills is a small shrine of Lord Brahma with his four faces in four different directions. Nearby there are rocks where Shaivite mythology sculptures are depicted in bas-relief. The South East side of the temple has the rock cut mandapa called ‘Maniganniagatam’. This is said to have been built in memory of a pious and devout woman who was blessed by Lord Shiva himself who whispered the holy Taraka mantra in her right ear. The Manikanteshwara shrine also lies close by.
The main entrance of the temple is from the Gopuram called Bikshalagali Gopuram. Facing the East close to this is the Kashi Vishwanath and Annapoorna Devi temple.
Goddesses Balambika, Kalimatha, Kanakadurga, Lord Subramanya, Lord Balaji, Lord Shani and Lord Dakshinamurthy are the other deities who have shrines in the temple complex.
The sacred pond inside the temple is the Saraswathi Teertha also known commonly as “Pathala Ganga”. Its waters are considered to be so holy and pure that many chronic ailments, physical defects and other diseases of the devotees are said to have been cured here.
The Sthala Vruksha in this temple is the Bilva tree or the Bel tree. The leaves of this tree are dear to Lord Shiva and hence always used in worship of Shiva lingas in all temples. The saint Kannappa used to venerate the Lord with the bilva leaves.
Religious Significance of the temple
Rahu – Kethu Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Pooja
Srikalahasteeswara Swamy Temple is reputed as the Rahu Kethu Kshetra, If the People who have Rahu Kethu Doshas and Sarpa Doshas, the unmarried and No children and those who are facing various problems for long period and perform the most effective Rahu – Kethu Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Pooja in this Temple all the Doshas get removed and desired results occur. Thousands of Devotees from the country and abroad perform this pooja and fulfill their vows again and again after receiving good results.
Rahu – Kethu Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Pooja can be performed daily between 6:30 A.M and 9:00 P.M. This is a popular puja undertaken by devotees at this temple. This is offered in three variations, all of which serve the same purpose but offer varying degrees of comfort and special treatment for the devotee. There are 3 rates for pooja; Rs. 300/, Rs. 750/- and Rs. 1500/-. While Rs. 300/- and Rs. 750/- pooja is performed outside prakaram (outer courtyard), and Rs. 1500/- is performed within temple premises. While you can perform pooja at any time, performing pooja during rahu kalam is considered to be auspicious. Sunday and Tuesday are the best days to perform pooja as Sunday and Tuesday are the days considered to be for Rahu and Kethu.(The Devastanam will arrange all Puja Materials)
Cultural significance-Poets and Literary mention
Free annadana (Nithya Annadana) or giving food to the hungry is a very famous scheme of the temple which is carried out regularly and various schemes for donations are available for the devotees.
Nithya Kalyanotsavam schemes are present where the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati are performed against donations of devotees.
Muthuswami Dikshitar the famous composer has composed many songs in praise of the Lord Srikalahasteeshwara. Shri Kalahasti Satakam the famous Telugu poem explains the traditions associated with the temple. The Shrikallatipuranam of the three brothers Karunaprakasar, Velappa Dikshitar and Sivaprakasar, Tirukkalatipuranam by Ananda Kootar of Veerainagar and Tirukkalatti Ula by Serraikaveerayar are some of the other works written on this temple.
Shri Adi Shankara is said to have visited this temple and in his great work ’Shivanandalahari’ which is a devotional hymn explaining various kinds of Bhakti has extolled the devotion of Kannappa.
Nakeera, a Tamil poet who existed in the Tamil Sangam Dynasty during the 3rd century composed a number of hymns in praise of Lord Kalahasteeshwara. He is also said to have got rid of a rare disease after bathing in the river Swarnamukhi. A Telugu poet in the court of Krishnadeva Raya lived in Shrikalahasti and composed hundred stanzas on the Lord Kalahasteeshwara.
Temple Timings
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6 am to 9 pm and on other days from 6 am to 9.30pm.
Sevas
5.30 AM Suprabatham
6.00 AM Sarvadarshanam
7.30 AM Pradhama Kala Abhishekam
9.00 AM Dwthiya Kala Abhishekham
10.30 AM Ucchi Kala Abhishekham
11.00 AM Rudhra Homam
11.00 AM Chandi Homam
11.00 AM Nityothsavam
11.00 AM Nitya Kalyanam
5.30 PM Prodhosha Kala Abhishekam
7.00 PM Nirajana Mantra Pushpam
9.00 PM Ekantha Seva
9-00 PM (every day) 9-30 PM (on Saturday to Monday) Temple Closing time
Abhishekams or bathing of the linga is part of the daily prayers and the most important ritual in this temple. Abhishekams are performed four times a day to both the main shrines of Lord Shrikalahasteeeshwara and Goddess Prasunambika Devi.
There are various kinds of Abhishekams like the Camphor Or Pachakarpur Abhisheka, Rudrabhisheka, Milk or Pal Abhisheka, Panchamrutha Abhisheka, Sanishwara Abhisheka(which is offered to the God of Saturn Shani.) The idol of Shani is located opposite to the Srikalahasteeshwara shrine inside the temple.
Festivals
Mahasivaratri is an important festival when lakhs of people offer prayers to seek the blessings of the Lord to attain Mukti.
How to Reach
By Train
All trains from Vijayawada to Tirupathi halt at Srikalahasti as it is on Tirupathi-Vijaywada broad gauge route. Another nearest railway station to reach Srikalahasti is the Renigunta Junction Railway station.
By Road
APSRTC buses are available from Tirupati Central bus station every 10 minutes.
By Air
Tirupati is the nearest airport and it is connected to Chennai, Madurai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The nearest International airport to Srikalahasti is Chennai International airport.