16. The Rahu–Kethu Kshetra (Srikalahastheeswara swamy Temple )
| Address | Srikalahasti mandalm of Chittoor district. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | Chittoor district | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| State | Andra pradesh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | South India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year of Construction | According an inscription of Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara empire dating back to 1516 A.D., he constructed the Hundred Pillared Mantapam and the other tall Galigopuram that faces west to east. In 1529 A.D., King Achutaraya of the Vijayanagara empire got his coronation performed here, before he celebrated in his capital City. The Natukottai Chettiars of Devakottai gave the final shape to the temple in 1912 by donating around nine lakhs of rupees in the period of Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type of Construction | Ancient | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type of Building | This ancient temple is one of the panchabhootha stalams (temples celebrating Lord Siva as the embodiment of the primary elements), air being the element | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dedicated To |
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| Saint |
praised the deity in their hyms tevaram | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Main diety | Sri kalahastiswarar ,Gnanaprasunamba (Parvathi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Deities |
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| HISTORY |
Sri Kalahasthi Temple is in fact considered as the Kailash of the south or Dakshin Kailash. The merciful Lord Siva, the Three-eyed, manifested in the form of Vayu linga in the Bilwaka grove on the banks of river Suvarnamukhi. Lord Siva, manifest in the form of Vayu linga, is known to the devotees as Sri Kalahastheeswara.
The greatness of the temple at Sri Kalahasthi is mentioned in the Sivapuranam.
There is legend associated with the manifestation of Lord Siva as Vayu linga at Sri Kalahasthi. According to it, Lord Brahama was asked by Lord Siva to create Kailash. As Brahma was struggling with the task, as piece fell on the earth in the south and came to be known as Dakshin Kailash and Lord Siva chose to manifest at Dakshin Kailash as Vayu linga representing wind, is one of the five elements of nature, to satisfy the desires and wishes of his devotees.
Ever ready to provide succor to devotees in distress, Lord Siva manifested at Sri Kalahasthi yielding to the request by the three dumb creatures – the Spider, the Serpent and the Elephant.
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| Religion | Hinduism | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Famous For | all parigara poojas and homas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Etymology |
The name of the place comes from three animals, Sri(spider), Kala(snake) and hasti(elephant) who worshipped Shiva and gained salvation here. A statue that shows all three animals is situated in the main shrine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significance: |
Of the 108 sacred Spots devoted to Sakti (feminine aspect of the godhead), the sacred spot of Goddess Jnana Prasunambika signifies Jalandhara. It is said that she also represents an aspect of Santanalakshmi. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu had created 108 sacred spots devoted to Sakti with the Sudarshana chakra.
When Satidevi gave up her body in the fire during Daksha's Yajna and Lord Siva was carrying her body on his shoulder, Lord Vishnu with his Sudarshana chakra divided the body into 108 parts and the places where these fell have, it is believed, transformed into these 108 sacred spots. It is said that the skull portion was brought by Vishnu to Sri Kalahasthi in Dakshin.
Of recent origin is the worship being conducted at Sri Kalahasthi temple for people seeking protection against Sarpadosha (death/ harm due to a serpent) and for people for whom there is delay in getting married.
Worship of Raahu and Ketu is also being conducted at Sri Kalahasthi temple. On Sunday and Tuesday, community worship is conducted. For the childless, there is the 'Uyala Seva' being conducted for the goddess.
at the linga, the tusks of the elephant can be seen at the base, a serpent can be seen in the middle and at the back, near the base, a spider web can be seen. We are told that as this linga is self-born it is considered very sacred and not touched even by the priests. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Temple (Holy) Tree &threetham | Temple (Holy) Tree (Sthalavirutsha):- Tirthas within the Kailasagiri hills are famous and sacred. 1. Harahar Tirtham, which is three miles from Kalahasti, 2. Kalinga Tirtham, which is five miles from Kalahasti towards the east, 3. Sahasra Linga Tirtham which is five miles southwest of Kalahasti, 4. Markandeya Tirtham, six and a half miles from Sahasra Linga Tirtham, 5. Mayura Tirtharn, named after Mayura Maharshi, 6. Bharadwaja Tirtham, which is three and a half miles from the main temple, 7. Narada Tirtham in the entree of the town, 8. Saraswati Tirtham, which is said to have the property of making the dumb people speak if they take the water of this as Prasada for forty days, 9. Suka Tirtharn after Suka Maharshi, 10. Brahma Tirtham, 11. Manikarnika Tirtharn and 12. Tatwa Prakasa Tirtham.Sacred Tank (Theertham):- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Festival | Maha sivarathiri: 1. The first night is known as Devaratri, 2. the second is Bhuta ratri, 3. the third is Gandharva. ratri, 4. and the fourth is Naga ratri. 5 the fifth nightis Siva ratri (a special pooja takes place at midnight to commemorate lingodhbhava ) (Siva emanating from the linga). 6.The sixth night is known as Brahma ratri (a chariot is taken out in procession on this night. ) 7.The seventh night is known as Sakanda ratri ( the Kalyanam (marraige) of Parvati and Parameshwara is celebrated) 8.The eighth night is known as Ananda ratri ( the night on which the celestial beings (devas) worship Lord Siva and celebrate) 9.The ninth night is known as Rishi ratri. ( the idols of Parvati and Parameshwara are taken out in procession )
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| the custom of worshipping. | Darshan
After a bath in the Swarnamukhi, the devotee passes through Bikshala Gopuram, worships Kasi Viswanatha, Balagnanamba and Pathala Vinayaka enshrined deep below. He worships Nandi, Vinayaka and Subramanya on either side of the western Gopuram and Ashtotharalinga before entering the main building by crossing two brass thresholds. He pays his obeisance to Ganapathi, four Tamil saints, Subramanya, processional deities and passing round the Dwajasthamba he enters the sanctum sanctorum. He has a look at the Swayambhu nandi and worships the most marvelous Vayu Linga with the Navagraha kavacha on. He can worship the Linga without this kavacha in its natural form during abhisheka, visualizing the symbols of the spider, serpent and elephant on it. After coming out he has a glimpse of the imposing idol of Kannappa, Sahasra linga, Sani bhagavan, Durga, 63 nayanmars, Yagasala and enters the sanctum sanctorum of Gnanaprasunamba (Parvathi) and worships the divine mother. Then visiting the shrine of Chandikeswara and viewing the sikharas and Kannappa hill through an opening he proceeds to worship a Sphatikalinga installed by Adisankara, Mritunjaya and Dakshinamurthi. He then bows down to the Samadhi of Romasa between the two brass thresholds and finally prostrates before the two tall flagmasts. He can then worship the idol of Kali at the southern gopuram and visit Manikarneswara shrine before proceeding to Nataraja rangasthala to revel at the exquisite rock - cut sculptures and Panchamukheswara. Everyday men in distress, men seeking knowledge and wealth and men imbued with wisdom flock to this sacred place and return with contentment.
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| Best Time | All seasons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opening Schedule | 5.30 a. m to 1. p.m., 3.p.m. to 10.p.m. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Visit Timings | 5.30a. m to 1. p.m., 4.p.m. to 10.p.m. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pooja Schedule | 5.30 a. m to 1. p.m., 4.p.m. to 10.p.m.
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| special pooja | NAME OF SEVA
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| pooja details | #01 RAHU - KETU SARPA DOSHA NIVARANA POOJA
Thousands of devotees from the country and abroad perform this poojas and fulfill their vows again and again after receiving good results. pooja timings 6.30 am. And 9.00 p.m. payment :
#02 KALASARPA DOSHA POOJA *** NITHYA KALYANOTSAVAM: Nithya Kalyana Seva is conducted to Sri Siva-Parvathi daily in the name of donors along with abhisheka - aradhana, Payment Rs. 500/. The devotees, who make permanent endowment of Rs. 5000 for Nithya Kalyanolsavam, can perform the seva on any day chosen by them (except on 12 days of Mahasivarathri Brahmotsavam). The devotees who perform their pooja will recive
***NITHYA ANNADANA SCHEME: There is no gift superior to Annadanam. . 'Annadata Sukhibhava' (may be provided of food be happy) Annadanam is arranged in the name of the donor, on the day chosen by him/her making use of the interest accrued on the donation (donors can contribute any amounts, not less than Rs. 1116 / annadanam is provided every year on the day of donor's choice utilizing only the interest derived from the endowment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entry Formalities | Free | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accomodation | Many hotels and restaurant are there in kalahasti | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accesibility | Tirupati (30km) is the nearest airport and is perhaps the most convenient base for visiting Kalahasti as it (Tirupati) is endowed with several modern lodging facilities. A one day trip from Chennai is also possible, as Kalahasti is well connected by road with Tirupati and with Chennai and is only a four to five hour drive from Chennai.
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