Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple / Sri Kalahasthiswarar Temple / Srikalahasti Temple, Srikalahasti, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh.

This is the 19^th Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu., now a part of Andhra Pradesh.  The temple is on the banks of the Swarnamukhi River. This is one of the pancha bootha sthalam (Vayu - Air). 

After the collapse of the original Rajagopuram, this was built in recent years

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar mentions Thirugnanasambandar’s arrival to Kalahasti with his disciples from Thirupachur.

        இந்த மலை காள்னோடு அத்தி நம்மில்

            இகலி வழிபாடுசெய இறையவர் மேவும்

        அந்தம் இல்சீர்க் காளத்தி மலைஆம் என்ன

            அவனிமேல் பணிந்து எழுந்து அஞ்சலி மேற்கொண்டு

        சிந்தைகளி மகிழ்ச்சிவரத் திருவிராகம்

            வானவர்கள் தானவர் என்று எடுத்துச்செல்வார்

        திருந்திய இன்இசை வகுப்புத் திருக்கண்ணப்பர்

            திருத்தொண்டு சிறப்பித்துத் திகழப்பாடிப்

        பொருந்து பெருத்தவர் கூட்டம் போற்றவந்து

            பொன்முகலிக் கரை அணைந்து தொழுது போகி

        அருந்தவர்கள் எம்மருங்கும் மிடைந்து செல்ல

            ஆளுடைய பிள்ளையார் அயன்மால் தேடும்

        மருந்து வெளியே இருந்த திருக்காளத்தி

            மலை அடிவாரம் சாரவந்து தாழ்ந்தார்.

Sundarar, Thirugnanasambandar, and Thirunavukkarasar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. They also sang on Kailash from here.

       

       வானவர்கள் தானவர்கள் வாதைபட வந்தொரு மாகடல்விடம்

       தானமுது செய்தருள் புரிந்தசிவன் மேவுமலை தன்னை வினவில்

       ஏனமிள மானினொடு கிள்ளைதினை கொள்ளஎழி லார் கவணினால்

       கானவர்தம் மாமகளிர் கனகமணி விலகுகா ளத்தி மலையே

......திருஞானசம்பந்தர் தேவாரம்

      விற்றூணொன் றில்லாத நல்கூர்ந் தான்கான்

            வியன்கச்சிக் கம்பன்காண் பிச்சை யல்லால்

      மற்றூணொன் றில்லாத மாசது ரன்காண்

            மயானத்து மைந்தன்காண் மாசொன் றில்லாப்

      பொற்றூண்காண் மாமணிநற் குன்றொப் பான்காண்

            பொய்யாத பொழிலேழுந் தாங்கி நின்ற

      கற்றூண்காண் காளத்தி காணப் பட்ட

            கணநாதன் காண் அவனென் க்ண்ணு ளானே

... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

      செண்டா டும்விடையாய் சிவனேஎன் செழுஞ்சுடரே

      வண்டா ருங்குழாள் உமைபாகம் மகிழ்ந்தவனே

      கண்டார் காதலிக்கும் கணநாதனெங் காளத்தியாய்

      அண்டா உன்னைஅல்லால் அறிந்தேத்த மாட்டேனே

... சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்

Moolavar  : Sri Kalahasteeswara, Sri Kalathinathar, 

                  Sri Kudumi thevar

Consort    : Sri Gnanaprasunambika, Sri Gana poongothai.. 

Some of the salient features of this temple are.......

The temple is facing west and the main entrance is from south. This temple is also called Dakshin Kailash. The temple was built on the banks of river Swarnamukhi, which flows towards the north at this place.

abandoned  dwarapalaka

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.

Two pillar mandapa

Pathala Vinayagar sannadhi

The path turns to the left and we can see the Maha Rishabam 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 Rishabam 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 utsava images 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 Rishabam and a white stone Rishabam are at the front. The white stone Rishabam is about 2 feet below the level of the brass Rishabam. There is a maha Rishabam at the entrance from river Swarnamukhi and Rishabam is facing the moolavar through the stone window. In moolavar sannadhi koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

Moolavar is always covered with a 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 Stalham 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 believed to have been built during the 6^th century by Pallavas and later reconstructed by Tamil Chozhas and later expanded up to Vijayanagara Kings and Nattukottai Nagarathar period (It was told 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, Rajadhiraja, etc,.) and about 71 belong to the Vijayanagara period. Kannada inscriptions are also found in the temple. The earliest inscription belongs to the 10th-year rule of Rajaraja-I (1000 -01 CE) and the latest belongs to Vijayanagaras on 5^th 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,.

Kulothunga Chozha’s 3rd-year reign inscription  (AR 195 of 1892) records the gift of  Seyagangar Sooranayagar’s son Vadavayil Selviyar Kulamdeviyar ( queen? ) brother Arungundrappillai alias Seyagangar 32 sava moova cows and herdsman who received to supply an Ulakku ghee towards burning of perpetual lamp. Another inscription of the same King’s 15th-year reign  ( AR 197 of 1892 ) inscription  records the gift of 3760 kuzhi land to this temple. Another inscription ( AR 198 of 1892 ) of the same King’s 16th-year reign records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Pothappai Chozha’s  Queen Nungammadevi for which 96 Sheep/Goats and the shepherd received agreed to supply quarter ulakku ghee to this temple.

Rajaraja-I, 10^th year reign inscription (AR 196 of 1892) records the endowment of a perpetual lamp for which Yadhavarayar, Queen’s daughter gifted 66 sheep / Goats and a male sheep. The King’s 28^th year reign inscription (199 of 1892) records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Veeranarayanan (?) for which land was donated in Village Ilaiyur of Payurilangkottathu, Thiruvanayur Nadu. The same King’s 8th-year reign inscription (200 of 1892) records the donation of land after exempting all types of Taxes to this temple by Veeranarasingadevan alias Yadava Rayan.

Ref:

Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy Year 1892. 

LEGENDS
The story of Sri Kannappar ( Original name was Thinnan ),  one of the 63 Nayanmar. Lord Shiva wants to show Sri Kannappar’s bhakti,  tested him through the flowing of blood from his eyes. About to remove his second eye,  after removing and placing the first eye on the Shiva Lingam, Lord Shiva appeared before Sri Kannappar and blessed him.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
This temple is a parihara sthalam for Rahu, Ketu, and Sarpa dosha. Apart from Regular poojas, 12 days Brahmotsavam Karthigai month, Unjal seva on full moon day, Nandi Seva, Lingodbhavam, Rathotsavam, Teppotsavam, Sri Swami-Ammavarla Kalyanotsavam, Palki Seva, Maha Shivaratri, Aadi Krithigai for Murugan, Kedara Gowri Vratham on Deepavali day, Vijayadasami, Ugadi, New year day, Mukkoti, special poojas are conducted. 

In another legend, 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 mukthi 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 Snake and Elephant for their bhakti.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple is kept open between 06.00 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’s website. The link is given below.

http://srikalahastiswaraswamy.webs.com/

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 APSTC 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.

The Kalahasti temple is 27 km from Renigunta, 37 km from Tirupati, 40 km from Sullurupeta, and 121 km from Chennai.

The nearest railway station is Renigunta.  

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Kannappar sannadhi on the top of the Hill

Ambal believed to be worshiped by Kannappar

Shiva Linga believed to be worshiped by Kannappar

Ambal sannadhi opposite Kalahasti Hill

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---