Srikalahasti-Temple1.jpg
27/Sep/2022

Legend

All the 27 Nakshatras and 9 Rashis are integrated into the self-manifested Lord Shiva idol in Srikalahasti Temple. Surprisingly, only Srikalahasti Temple remains open during the entire eclipse. Priests do not touch the linga with their hands on any day. The temple, which is famous as one of the Panch Bhoot Sthalas, houses a linga dedicated to the Vayu element or the wind god.

Kalahasti Vayutattva Linga is one of the five elements considered to be the five elements of Lord Shiva in South India. There is also a Shaktipeeth out of 51 Peeths. The right shoulder of Sati had fallen here. Srikalahasti Temple is on the banks of river Swarnamukhi. There is little water in this river. This temple is situated on the bank of the river.

Srikalahasti Temple

Skanda Purana, Shiva Purana, and Linga Purana all mention the old Shiva temple at Srikalahasti. Many Tamil Shaivite saints have come there in search of the blessings of Lord Shiva.

Two legends are well known associated with Srikalahasti, one about the devotee Kannappa and his fervent devotion to Lord Shiva. This linga is collectively known as Sri Kala Hasti Ishwar because at one time an elephant, a snake, and a spider worshiped Lord Shiva here and attained salvation here.

There is a legend associated with a tribal hunter named Thinna who was a devotee of Shiva. He decided to offer daily worship to the Lord one day after being impressed by the worship being done in the temple of Lord Shiva. As the days passed, he became so deeply in love with Lord Shiva, that he started feeding the meat of hunted animals to the Lord. Enraged by this incident, the temple priest reprimanded Thinna. But one day when one eye of the Lord started bleeding, Thinna took out one of his eyes and offered it to the Lord.

The blood is no longer flowing from the eyes of the Lord. Lord Shiva gave his darshan to Thinna and named him Kannappa. God gave him salvation. The priest then understood what true devotion was like and saw how qualified Kannappa was. The hill is named after Kannappa, a great Nayanmar who created history (Shaiva saint).

Skanda Purana, Shiva Purana and Linga Purana all make reference to this ancient temple. According to Skanda Purana, Arjuna came here to worship Lord Shiva and, on his way, back met Bharadwaja Rishi while climbing the hill.

Srikalahasti Temple

The Temple

One of the five oil lamps is always flickering in the sanctum, which has five oil lamps, one for each element but there is no air. This is the most popular place to worship to remove Rahu and Ketu doshas. Let us know more about the other features of this Srikalahasti Temple.

 

About 36 miles from the Tirupati temple is the Srikalahasti temple, one of the most notable Pancha Bhoot sites. The Srikalahasti Temple, which is on the west, is situated on the Durgambika hill in the north, Kannappar hill in the south, and Kumaraswamy hill in the east. It was built next to a hill on the banks of the Swanmukhi River.

Srikalahasti Temple

Why Srikalahasti Temple famous for Rahu Ketu Puja

Rahu-Ketu Puja is popular worship in this temple. It believed that performing this puja will protect people from the astrological effects of Rahu and Ketu. According to Hindu mythology, Brahma worshiped Kalahateshwara here in each of the four Yugas.

Usually, Rahu Puja starts in the morning Saturday and ends in the evening Saturday. The day on which Rahu Puja begins may change from time to time, depending on how long it may take the pundits to chant the Rahu Veda Mantra.

 

Who Build Srikalahasti Temple

The description of this ancient Shiva temple is mentioned in the Puranas. Many devotees of Shiva have praised this temple since the 7th century. Nakkishar is a Tamil poet. has praised the glory of Kalahastishvara in the 8th century. Chola Rajaraja I renovated it in 989 and got beautiful paintings painted inside the temple. The famous 12th-century poet Sekkijhar praised the palace of this temple in detail in his treatise ‘Periya Purana’. J Krishnadeva built a seven-story gopuram in 1516. The Chola king Vijayanagara Raya and the Pallava kings have done various construction works in this temple from time to time and have got a lot of patronages.

Srikalahasti Temple

The architecture of Srikalahasti Temple

A short distance from the entrance is a large gopuram with a small tower on top. The innermost prakaram houses the shrines of Lord Shiva and Parvati, while the outer prakaram houses a Ganapati temple.

The 120 feet high gopuram that can be seen above the main gate of this monolithic temple built by the Pallava kings in the fifth century is famous. While it was repaired and renovated by the Cholas in the tenth century, the Vijayanagara kings built the outer walls and four gopurams. The great gopuram and the 100 pillared mandapam, which date from 1516, built by Krishnadevaraya. Its structural grandeur and architectural beauty is largely due to the joint efforts of the Chola and Vijayanagara emperors.

Vayu Sthalam also known as Dakshina Kashi which represents the element of air, has an internal association with Rahu and Ketu. Two shadowy planets, which seen in a hostile position in the birth chart seriously harm the prospects of the person. Even the most difficult doshas related to Rahu and Ketu can be removed through the worship performed at Kalahasti temple.

Nandi at the Temple

Festivals of Srikalahasti Temple

The main deities of this temple are Srikalahasteeswarar (Shiva) and Jnana Prasunambika Devi (Parvati). Thus, Mahashivratri celebrated for a whole month. It is an important festival that falls on the fifth day of the month of Masi.

Rahu-Ketu Dosha Remedy

A person who has inauspicious Rahu in his birth chart bound to lead a troubled and stressful life with significant ups and downs in his personal and professional finances. The best way to remove any Sarpa or Rahu dosha by performing Sarpa Dosha Puja, which performed in front of Lord Shiva at Sri Kalahasti temple. As a result of all Rahu, dosha removed by luck.

It is one of the most popular Navagraha sites which completely dedicated to Rahu and Ketu. Worshiped Lord Shiva in Navagraha sites. The temple surrounded by two hills named Durgagiri and Kannappanamalai along with other temples for Lord Kannappeshwar and Goddess Durgamba.

gopuram

How to do Rahu Ketu Puja in Srikalahasti Temple

The silver idol should be carried by the devotee and placed in the hundi, which found inside the temple. The worshiping devotees can sleep on the floor the night before. The next morning, after taking a bath, go early to the temple to perform the Abhishek.

Rahu Ketu Puja takes 30 to 40 minutes, and it is always better to perform the Puja when under the influence of Rahu Kalam. Rahu Ketu Nivaran Puja performed solely by chanting mantras for two steel snake stripes standing for Rahu and Ketu. This in contrast to other pujas in which Havan or Homa (fire ceremony) used.

To end the entire worship ritual, flowers and vermilion given or sprinkled on Rahu Ketu, which represents metals, as the mantra cantilevered. Mantras also chanted to benefit the gotra, caste, and birth constellation. There is no need to take a bath or change clothes after the puja. You can wear the same outfit.

What not to do for worship at Srikalahasti Temple

After the puja is over, you must be careful not to see any friends or relatives on the way back from the temple. Dosh Nivaran Puja should not be performed on pregnant women. Additionally, they should avoid visiting any temple where this done. No Nag Devta temple should accept prostration namaskar. Oil should not be applied to your hair before entering this temple. What to do for worship at Srikalahasti Temple. One should take a bath before the worship begins. Worship can be performed by women before or after a period of eight days.

It considered the most ideal time to perform Rahu Ketu Dosh Nivaran Puja twice a year, once during Dakshinayana and once during Uttarayan. After the puja, Rudra Abhishekam is a must.

The annual income of the temple is Rs 30 crore. Veda Pathshala, Narsingh School, and Engineering College  run by the temple. The temple has seven gates.

How to reach Srikalahasti Temple

The nearest airport to Srikalahasti Temple is Tirupati which is 30 km away from Srikalahasti Temple. There are hotels available for affordable accommodation in Tirupati. If you want, you can also go to Srikalahasti Temple by road.

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