17, September 2014
In general 13th is
not an auspicious day for most people, but it was a good day for
me to have the darshan of Sri Kalahasteeswara on the 13th, of September 2014. Also, it was a testing ground to check the strength of my right leg by
climbing the hills, after the injury. Prepared for the next day's visit to
Sri Kalahasti on the 12th night and set an alarm on my old mobile to start from home
before 05.00 hrs. My wife woke me at 05.30 Hrs and reminded me. Found that the time on the mobile was not updated. This changed my entire plan. After a bath
and in-house pooja, I was able to start from home by 06.00 Hrs. Reached
Koyambedu and got a seat on a Tirupati bus to Kalahasti. Reached Kalahasti
around 10.30 Hrs. I was not in a hurry for darshan since the temple was
not closed after uchi kala (midday) pooja.
Usually lot of rush
will be there for darshan during weekends. The devotees proceeding to
Tirupati through Kalahasti will also stop for darshan. The front of Rajagopuram was rebuilt after it collapsed a few years before and the painting was not
completed. Since the mobile and Camera are not allowed inside the temple, I
could not take photographs inside the temple. Had the darshan of Sri
Kalahasteeswara through a Rs 50 ticket and half the way the Q was diverted to the
break darshan / VIP darshan. Really it was a wonderful darshan and able to
notice the sanctum lamp flames waves without wind. Could not notice the
elephant’s tusk, spider, and snake's hood at the base of the avudayar due to
‘jarkandi’. But the Q passes twice around ‘HUNDI’ while going for darshan and
coming out after darshan for the temple's collection. We could not see the
sannadhis in the praharam, since we were not allowed to go through.
After moolavar and
Ambal’s darshan, had the darshan of Moolavar Gopuram, Ambal Gopuram, and
Kannappar Hill through the ceiling opening from the places marked between
moolavar and Ambal sannadhi, near Chandikeswarar. In the meantime, a devotee also joined with me for the Kannappar Hill temple. Lord Shiva and
Ambal shrines are old (The old Madras roof can be seen from the photograph) and the Sri Kannappar shrine was constructed recently on the hilltop. It was a
panoramic view of the main temple with Swarnamukhi river from Sri
Kannappar Hill temple. We also had the view of Sri Durgambika temple on the
north side of Sri Kannappar Hill temple, which is equal in height.
Decided to visit the Sri Durgambika temple also.
At the base of the
Sri Durgambika Hill temple, there are shrines for Sri Mallikeswarar and Bairavar. Sivachariyar pointed out this is very similar to
Srisailam Temple ( In both places Ambal is in a higher place than Lord
Shiva ), when we asked why the Sri Durgambika shrine is on the top of the hill.
Shared the tamarind rice, which I brought from home while climbing down.
When we reached the bus stand through a shared auto, there was a TNSTC bus ready to
depart to Chennai. Expected to reach home by 18.30 Hrs, but it was delayed by
an hour due to a bus breakdown at Kavarapettai. Out of 14.00 Hours from
start to finish, the bus journey alone took around 10 Hours.
19.
SRIKALAHASTEESWARA TEMPLE, SRIKALAHASTI.
This is the 19th Paadal
Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. Sundarar, Thirugnanasambandar, and
Thirunavukkarasar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. They
also sang on Kailash from here. This is one of the pancha bootha sthalam (Vayu
- Air).
North side entrance Rajagopuram - recently built after the original gopuram of 7 tiers was collapsed
Moolavar : Sri Kalahasteeswara, Sri Kalathinathar,
Sri Kudumi thevar
Consort : Sri Gnanaprasunambika, Sri Gana poongothai..
Some of the salient
features of this temple are.......
Sri Kalahasti is the
name derived from SRI = Spider, KALA = Serpent ( Snake), and Hasti =
Elephant. It was believed that all three worshipped Lord Shiva of this
temple and attained mukti. The story goes like this... The Spider weaved a
shade to avoid leaves falling on Lord Shiva. This was destroyed by wind with
fire and Lord Shiva gave mukti to Spider. The snake used to worship Lord Shiva
by offering precious gems which it brought from its naga land. This was cleaned
and worshiped by the elephant through water which it brought from
the river. On seeing this, the snake got angry and went inside the trunk and
killed the elephant through bite and injected its poison. The
elephant hits its head on the rock to kill the snake and dies. Lord Shiva gave
mukthi to both snakes and elephants for their bhakti.
LEGENDS
The second story is
of Sri Kannappar (Original name was Thinnan), one of the 63 Nayanmar. Iraivan wants to show Sri Kannappar’s bhakti, tested him
through the flowing of blood from his eyes. About to remove his second eye also
after removing and placing the first eye on the Shiva Lingam, Lord Shiva
appeared before Sri Kannappar and blessed him.
The temple faces west and the main entrance is from south. This
also called as Dakshin kailash. The temple was built on the banks of river
Swarnamukhi, which flows towards the north at this place.
ARCHITECTURE
The
original main entrance gopuram ( Galigopuram ) with 7 tiers was built
in 1516 CE by Krishna Devaraya, the Vijayanagara King. The next 2nd level
gopuram is the Pikshala gopuram was also built during the 12th century.
After 2 Rajagopuram
on the left sannadhi for Sri Balaganambal, Pathala Ganapathi, Panchamukeswarar,
with old Ambal.
Pathala Ganapathi is
about 35 feet below the ground level with 20 narrow steps. At a time only 10
people are allowed to enter. Next on the right 2
pillar mandapam.
The path turns to the left and we can see the Maha Nandhi on the left and thirumanjana rajagopuram on
the right. This gopura passage leads to river Swarnamukhi.
On the east side 4
pillar mandapam, and sannadhi for Asthoralingam, Panchasanthi vinayagar and 100
pillar mandapam. There were built during 1516 CE by Sri Krishnadevaraya.
On the east side
before dwajasthambam statues of Sri Krishnadevaraya and Devakottai.
Me. Aru. Tha. Ramanathan Chettiar is enclosed. Ramanathan Chettiar had done
thirupani and kumbhabhishekam, during 1912 CE with his own money of
Rs 9 lakhs.
There are two
Nandhisthamba of which one is made of single stone to a height of 60
feet. A small Nandhi is placed on the top. Next is the 11th-century
Dakshina Rajagopuram. It was built by Kulothunga Chozha-I.
In the inner
parakaram Sannadhi for, Dakshinamurthy, Sangarpa
Ganapathy, Nalvar, Sengalvarayan ( Arumugam ) with Valli
Devasena. On the east side corridor urchava Sculptures / moorthangal of
Kalatheeswarar, Gnana Poongothai, Kannappar, Arumugar, Valli, Devasena,
Bharadwaja maharishi, Pichadanar, Asthira Devar, Vinayagar, Thondaman King,
Spider, Elephant and Serpent. At the entrance of the main shrine, there is a
dwajasthambam with a Balipeedam.
Moolavar is of
swayambhu, tall theenda thirumeni ( Not touched by the Gurukkal ( Bharadwaja
gotra ) ) and abhishekam is done for square avudayar only. A brass Nandi and
a white stone Nandhi are at the front. The white stone Nandhi is about 2 feet
below the level of the brass Nandhi. There is a Mahanandi at the entrance from
river Swarnamukhi and Nandhi is facing Moolavar through the stone window. In
moolavar sannadhi koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and
Durgai.
Moolavar is always
covered with golden plate, kavasam signifies 27 nakshatras. At the base of the avudayar relief of spiders, elephant tusks and snakes can be seen. Abhishekam will
be done only once a year on Maha Shivaratri day, with warm water mixed with
camphor. I was told that the Shiva Linga was not made of Stone, but may be of
fossilized material or athi wood.
The lamps inside the
sanctum waves without wind/ air signify the presence of vayu ( AIR ) in the
sanctum. Hence this sthalam is called vayu sthalam, one of the pancha bootha
sthalam.
When we came out of
moolavar sannadhi, in the same inner praharam sannadhi
for Sahasralinga, Sri Subramaniar with Valli
Devasena, many lingas installed by various kings and saints,
Kannappar, Spatika lingam, etc.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS:
The temple was built
during the 6th century by Tamil Chozhas and later expanded up to Vijayanagara Kings and Nattukottai Nagarathar period (It was said that an amount of 50
lakhs was spent towards the reconstruction of Ambal Temple, Prakara, etc.).
There are about 221
inscriptions recorded in this temple, of which most of them are in Tamil (From,
Rajaraja-I, Rajendra-I, Rajaraja-II, Rajathiraja, etc,.) and about 71 belong
to the Vijayanagara period. Kannada inscriptions are also found in the
temple. The earliest inscription belongs to the 16th-year rule of Rajaraja-I (1000 -01 CE) and the latest belongs to Vijayanagaras on 5th Feb
1792 CE. As per the inscriptions during Chozha's period, Kalahasti was under Jayangonda Chozha mandala
Atrur Nadu. The inscriptions mainly record the gifts of Tax-free Lands, cattle
like Cows, Goats, and Sheep, and money donated to this temple, towards the burning of perpetual lamps, Naivedyam,
etc,.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS:
The temple is kept
open between 05.00 Hrs to 21.00 Hrs without break.
The temple is open
even on Lunar and solar eclipse days with additional poojas.
CONTACT
DETAILS:
Additional details
may be obtained through the temple website. The link is given below.
Sri Kalahasteeswara
Swamy Vari Devasthanams,
Sri Kalahasti,
Chittoor District,
Andhra Pradesh-517644
e-mail: eo_srikalahasthi@yahoo.co.in
Contact Telephone Numbers: 08578-222240,221336, 9885974050
Contact the temple authorities during the Temple Timings 6:00 am to 9:00 pm only.
HOW
TO REACH:
This temple is
located in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
Srikalahasti temple
is situated 36 km away from Tirupati.
110 km from Chennai
via, Koyambedu, Red Hills, and Tada. Both TNSTC and APSRTC buses are available
from the Koyambedu Mofussil bus terminus. 3 to 31/2 hours journey from Koyambedu bus
terminus.
Bus facilities are
also available from Tirupati, Chennai etc.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
Dwarapalakar in front of a Shiva sannadhi after 2nd Rajagopuram
Pathala Ganapathi sannadhi
2 pillar mandapam with Vinayagar
Maha Nandhi in the outer praharam on the west side facing moolavar
West side Rajagopuram - leading to Swarnamukhi river
The statue might be Sri Kannappar on the pillar of the west side of Rajagopuram
South side of the temple asbestos mandapam with sthala viruksha
South side entrance arch
Southside Rajagopuram is also called Dakshina Gopuram, after
dwajasthambam. This was built during the 11th century by King Kulothunga
Chozha-I under the direct supervision of a team formed by the king.
Temple complex view from Sri Kannappar hill
The Madras-type roof of the Kannappar Hill Shiva Temple
Ambal Sannadhi at Sri Kannappar Hill
Shiva Sannadhi at Sri Kannappar Hill
Sri Kannappar Sannadhi
Sri Durgambika Temple Hill view from Sri Kannappar Hill
Bhairavar sannidhi at the base of Sri Durgambika Hill
Sri Mallikeswarar Temple at the base of Sri Durgambika Hill
Sri Durgambigai temple
SOME OF THE IMPORTANT TIPS FOR
DEVOTEES.
Naga, Raghu, and Kethu doshas are
performed in this temple with a tariff of Rs 300, Rs 500, Rs 750, and Rs 1500. No
other materials are required.
- Buying coconut from the outside shops is a waste since you cannot offer it at the sanctum. The coconuts are broken at the entrance by an auctioneer for Rs 10, creating the feeling of cheating.
- Between Moolavar and Ambal sanctum there are markings with name boards. Standing from there you can worship moolavar, Ambal sanctum vimanas, and Sri Kannappar temple. To show this some people act as guides and ask for money.
- Mobile and cameras are not allowed to be taken inside. This may be deposited at Gate no 2 near the river.
- Free Devasthana footwear stand is available before 2nd Rajagopuram with the camera and mobile phone deposit center.
- Pathala Ganapathi shrine is about 20 feet below the ground with narrow steps and at a time only 10 devotees are allowed. Others have to wait till they return.9 Hence there will be always a Q )
- Boarding and lodging facilities are available at Sri Kalahasti.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---