INTRODUCTION
The most sacred Srikalahasti Temple is situated in Srikalahasti town, in Tirupati district in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the most revered Shiva temples in South India, and it is also one of the Panchabootha Stalas. At this place, once the pious hunter Sri Kannappa had tried to offer his other eye also, after offering one of his eyes to Lord Shiva in order to stop the oozing of blood from the Shiva Lingam and pleased by his pleasant act, Lord Shiva had granted liberation to him and made him as one among the 63 Nayanmars.
Srikalahasti temple is located some kilometres far away from Tirupati, and the Lingam here is known as Vayu Lingam and the Lingam represent the wind. Here Lord Vayu had worshipped Lord Shiva, and there is also a Vayu Lingam temple which is situated in the Girivalam Path of Tiruvannamalai. The temple is also famous for getting relieved from Rahu-Ketu doshams, and from various other doshams also. This is an ancient temple, which was subsequently renovated, repaired and maintained by the Chola kings and the Vijayanagara kings. Lord Shiva in this temple is being worshipped as Lord Kalahasteeswara. Once a spider, elephant and a snake worshipped Lord Shiva at this temple, and finally all three were attained salvation.
As per ancient legend, here Ma Parvati had performed penance on Lord Shiva, in order to attain powers similar to Lord Shiva. Demi gods like Indra and Chandra were got relieved from their curses after taking bath in the holy river Swarnamukhi and praying to Lord Sri Kalahasteeswara.
The ever handsome Rishi Markandeya had once performed penance at this place, in order to get some nice teachings from Lord Shiva, by considering him as Guru Dakshinamoorthy. As per another legend, once Lord Vayu and Sri Shesha Bhagavan had challenged to make a fight with each other at this place, and finally they came to know that Lord Shiva is the most powerful god than everybody.
There is a separate shrine for Ma Shakti Devi who is known here as Ma Jnanaprasanammba and as Ma Jnanaprasanambigai Amman. There are also few more shrines available in the temple like Kasi Viswanatha, Annapurna, Suryanarayana, Ganapathi and Subramanya. There are few halls and two temple tanks which are known as Sri Surya Pushkarani and Sri Chandra Pushkarani.
Lord Brahma performed penance on Lord Shiva at this place, and during the Dwapara Yuga, Arjuna, is believed to have worshipped the Shiva deity. Shaivite Saints like Nakeerar, Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manickavasagar had praised Sri Kalahastinathar in their works. This temple is mentioned in Tevaram, and it is one among the 275 popular temples of Lord Shiva.
Maha Shivaratri is the most important festival celebrated here, and during that day, we can witness lakhs and lakhs of devotees who would keep chanting the Shiva Mantra, “OM NAMAH SHIVAYA, in order to seek the blessings of the great Lord. During that festival day, the Utsava idols of Lord Siva and Ma Parvati would be kept on the holy Vehicles also called as Vahanams and procession would be done in the streets located near to the temple.
“OM SRI KALAHASTEESWARAYA NAMO NAMAHA”
R.Harishankar
