SRI KAALAHASTHREESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE - SRI KALAHASTHI - HISTORY-POOJAS-OTHER INFORMATION

SRI KAALAHASTI




Sri Kalahasti is one of the most sacred Siva kshetras. It is in Srikalahasti mandalm of Chittoor district. It is about 60 kms from Tirupati . The presiding diety is Srikalahasteeswara. The temple is connected by train and it halts at Srikalahasti railway station. The A.P.S.R.T.C has provided number of buses from different routes to reach Kalahasti. Private taxis also take the pilgrims to the devasthanam.


History of the temple in Brief


SriKalahasti is named after the staunch devotees of Lord Shiva. They were the Spider(Sri), the Serpent(Kala) and the Elephant(Hasti). Appeased with their unflinching devotion, Lord Shiva gave them a boon that their names be merged with the Vayulinga and called as SriKalahasteewara. 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 assumed the human form. To get rid off the above curse Parvati did long penance here. Pleased with her deep devotion Lord Shiva again restored her body hundred times better than her previous heavenly body and initiated various mantras including Panchakshari. Consequent of this, Parvati gained Shiva Gnanam and came to know as Gnanaprasunamba. Cursed to became a ghost Ghanakala prayed at Srikalahasti for 15 years and after chanting Bhairava Mantra many times Lord Shiva restored her original form. Mayura, Chandra and Devendra were also freed from their curses after taking bath in Swarnamukhi and prayed at Srikalahasti. To Bhakta Markandeya, Lord Shiva appeared in Srikalahasti and preched that a Guru alone could make esoteric teachings and, therefore he is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. At Srikalahasti, Lord Shiva tested the unshakable devotion of Kanna (Later became Bhaktha Kannappa) before the sages gathered at Srikalahasti. With his divine power, Lord Shiva created a Tremour 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 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.


Importance of the temple


Srikalahasti is a very sacred Kshetram where the Lord Shiva's consort Parvati did penance and gained with his blessings a body hundred times better than her previous heavenly body and learned Panchakshari Mantra to become Gnanaprasunamba. It is the place where Sri(Spider), Kala(Serphant) and Elephant(Hasti) were granted boons by Lord Shiva to merge their names with Vayu Linga and called the place as Srikalahasteeshwara. In this holy place Ganakala, Mayura, Chandra and Devendra washed off their sins after taking bath in Swarnamukhi and offerrd prayers. Bhakta Markendeya was taught by Lord Shiva that a Guru could make esoteric teachings and therefore he is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. Bhakta Kannappa was granted a boon by Lord Shiva in this Kshetra who occupy a place close to him. Mahasivaratri is an important festival when, Lakhs of people offer prayers to seek the blessings of the Lord to attain Mukti.


OM SRIKALAHASTI EASWARA NAMAHA


Lord Siva as Vayulingam in South India A.P.


Introduction


Sri Kalahasthi is presided by a naturally formed Vayulingam .This area is reputed as Rahu Ketu Kshetra.The shivling here is covered by a nava graha kavacha with 27 stars marked on it .this represents the nine planets including rahu and ketu and the 27 constellations.The very atmosphere is sanctifying .While temples all over the world are closed during an eclipse special abhishekams and pujas are performed to SriKalahasthieaswara. The vayulingam is observed inside the sanctum sanctorum on the basis of the ever fluctuating flame of the lamp placed inside the sanctum sanctorum.


Sarp Dosh or Kal Sarp Yoga


People from all over with sarp dosha or kal sarp yoga flock to this place to offer prayers and inspire many more to come here and obtain the blessings of Lord Siva.


The temple authorities have made elaborate arrangements for devotees offering prayers and the costs are extremely nominal

Fees

Entry fees Rs 2 per person. Sarvadarsanam


Special entrance Rs 20 per person per temple -There are two temples for which there is a charge inside the temple complex-one for Srikalahasthieaswara and one of Ammavari Gnanaprasunambika Devi.


Sarp Dosh Pooja Rs 200 per person -3 persons are allowed inside the temple on the basis of one ticket of Sarp Dosh Pooja. This includes the price of the samagri for the sarp dosh pooja.

Time


The temple remains open from 6 AM in the morning till 9 PM in the evening


It is considered best to offer prayers during Rahu kalam time(one and a half hours) as under


Monday 7.30 AM to 9 AM

Tuesday 3PM to 4.30 PM

Wednesday Noon to 1.30PM

Thursday 1.30PM to 3 PM

Friday 10.30 AM till Noon

Saturday 9 AM to 10.30 AM

Sunday 4.30PM to 6 PM


What is sarp dosha


Sarp dosha occurs if a persons planets fall on one side of Rahu (head of a snake )and ketu (tail of a snake ) or if the moon is in the eighth house from rahu .There are several other methods in which this dosh occurs and it requires an astrologer -a real good one (I would say a super specialist) to diagnose such dosh.Sarp dosh or Kal Sarp Dosh results in

* unhappy or no marriage
* spouse prone to fighting
* endless struggles in life
* No children
* Lack of peace of mind
* Enmity in family or society etc.

Prayers

Prayers should be offered as many times as the number of houses are affected by rahu and ketu .One should preferably go out of town for the night and come back and offer prayers again . Prayers are offered first to Patal Vighneshwara Lord Ganesha and then again to Lord Ganesha .The two silver snake icons after prayer have to be put into the kanuka ( offering box ) of Lord Sri kalahasthieaswara. One should be alert during the prayers and should take a seat next to a person who understands your language as well as the local dialect -tamil or telugu. YOU MUST KNOW YOUR NAME (!) ,YOUR GOTRA AND THE CONSTELATION UNDER WHICH YOU WERE BORN AS THE PRIEST WILL ASK THIS INFORMATION AND IN THIS ORDER.Apart from the samagri given by the temple authorities some people sell lotus flowers (Rs 20) and the priests also ask for a fees or a dakshina -these days they specify Rs 31 minimum.

Charity

Charity in form of food to the hungry or needy is called for and one may get food packets distributed to the poor at the entrance to the temple .Annadan or charity of food after the prayers have been offered .Coconut is a semblence of ones own head being offered to the Lord or the Goddess and breaking it symbolises ones own head .Some bilva leaves are also offered to Sri Kalasthieaswara. There are a no. of other statues inside the temple complex and one should pay obeisance to as many as possible.( but to Lord Shani one must.)


Anusasana parva 13.63.3-6

Legend of Swarabhanu

The legend of Swarabhanu needs to be mentioned here as he was a demon and tried to partake the nectar by deceit but was observed by the sun and the moon and Lord Vishnu slaughtered Swarabhanu and since he had had the nectar or amrit he became immortal with two bodies -rahu and ketu. These are the shadow planets or the unseen planets and even western astronomers have placed the intersection of the moons orbit by the earth as somewhat a shadow.


As rahu and ketu are unseen yet they manifest themselves and made themselves known to us through some mysterious force similarly it is vayu that pervades every where yet we cannot see.Some people regard Lord Siva and Parvati as rahu and ketu respectively .Vayu or air pervades everywhere yet we cannot see it but can feel it similarly the vayulingam at Srikalahasthi is the Vayulingam one that is every where but which can be felt but not seen .Lord Siva has 12 Jyotirlingas mainly Kedarnath,,Rameshavaram, Somnath, Mallikaarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Mamleshwar or Parmaeshwar, Vaidnath, Bheemashankar, Nageshwar, Vishavanath, Triambakam, Dhushmeshwar.


The panchbhootas or the five elements have five lingas that is air, water, earth, ether and Vayu.The vayulingam is at Srikalahasthi Andhra Pradesh .

Location -how to reach

Sri kalahasthi is only 60 kilometeres from Tirupati and about 135 Kilometeres north of Chennai or Madras.It is a small town with about 20,000 people and some lodges and choultries and dharamshalas.The nearest railheads are Renugunta and Gudur about 50 kilometeres on each side.Kalahasthi has a small railway station but it is well connected by bus to Chennai or Madras and also to Tirupati.

Food

No north Indian food is available in the town and most restaurants do not even serve tea. Food is sumptuous and wholesome -the south Indian food. Good place to eat near the temple are Bheemas and a couple of other restaurants with a similar menu and rates.Parts of these restaurants are air conditioned as well .One can eat lunch/dinner for Rs 20 and Kings breakfast for a similar sum -all south Indian .Drink your own water and as far as possible eat fried or steamed vadas or idlies .

Stay

A good place to stay is the MSM LODGE -about half a kilometer from the temple . They have rooms with TV and some AC rooms as well. A single room (Non AC -NoTV)is Rs 100 for 24 hours and double for Rs 175 .WC are mostly Indian style (-preferable as chances of hepatitis infection is lesser in such cases.) .Free choultries (dharam shalas are in plenty near the temple) and even some lodges and cheaper places to stay.

Communication and Language



Nobody speaks Hindi and even english speaking people are very rare in Kalahasthi and communication can be a real problem for a tourist. Even instruction inside the temple are given in Tamil or may be Telugu.


Plenty of International telephone booths, fax centers and even E mail -cybercafes are there in Kalahasthi.

Shopping

Tit bits as icons ,bell metal items etc may be purchased .One item I recommend is a tape by Shiva audios called Dakshina kasi -Suprabhatam and sthothras by Shiva audio company ,kalahasthi . It has two women singers -Lalita nad Malathi singing praises to Lord Siva.This also includes the SIVA SATHANAMA STOTRAM by Adi Shankara Charya .This tape is in Sanskrit.

About the temple in brief (Best book on the temple -Srikalahasthieaswara Mahima by Pavani Sitaramaiah )

The name Kalashathi is derived from the staunt devotees of Lord Siva -

1. Sri -the spider
2. Kala-the snake
3. Hasthi-the elephant

These devotees were so dear to the Lord that they are forming a part of the Vayuingam with an eternal message that the Lord considers all as equal and even animals can attain him.Doing and contemplating the unknown and endeavoring to grasp the significance of the omniscient Vayu-the air of our being and becoming Pranavayu -though present everywhere yet to grasp it is ever eluding !!!

The other place of prominence is for his devotee Bhakat Kannapa.He was a hunter who used to pray to the Lord in his own manner -by offering him meat and water which he carried in his mouth .No priest could stop him since he was a hunter and lost his temper very fast.Yet when he saw that one of the eyes in Sivalingam was red he took out both his eyes and offered them to the Lord.

The holy river Swaranmukhi flows northwards from the temple into the sea.

The place is also known as Dakshin Kashi or Dakshin Kailash.A visit to this place is a must for the spiritual aspirants (though all priests are commercial in nature)

Architecture

The temples architecture and design is beyond description and is based on the nervous system of the body and is also linked very closely to the Isopanishad -the very essence of Hinduism. Dakshinamurthy and the statues have a meaning for the seeker IF only one has the inquisitiveness and the brains and the patience to understand what the sages and the artists wanted to convey. Our sages endeavoured to convey to us the meaning of great truths indirectly (Paroksha ) by means of stories, edicts , riddles, sculptures, paintings etc. and left the individuals to contemplate and draw their own conclusions as best as they could. It can only be experienced and no words can describe a visit to this small dusty town of SriKalahasthi.I find myself at peace after a visit here.

Dakshinamurthy is supposed to have a lot of divine powers and is considered the preceptor of all the worlds ,the healer of the diseases associated with birth as well as the repository of all learning.



Temple Address:
Sri Kalahastiswaraswamy vari Devastanam
SriKalaHasti
Chittoor District. Andhra Pradhesh
PIN: 517644

Telephone: 08578-221655, 222787



Temple Executive Officer Info:

Phone: (8578)221140, 221185, 221336, 222430, 222510,

Address:
1) The Executive Officer, Sri Kalahastheeswar Devasthanams,Near E.O.Quarters, SriKalaHasti, PIN 517640
2) The Executive Officer, Sri Kalahastheeswar Devasthanams,Inside Temple Office, Sannidhi Street SriKalaHasti, PIN 517640