Name: Chittoor
Rating: 3.6

Srikalahasti Temple, Chittoor Overview

Situated in Chittoor, Srikalahasti Temple is popular among devotees who visit the temple along with the highly revered Tirupati Temple, which is just 36 km away. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kalahasti temple has immense religious importance for Hindus and was constructed in the year 1516 by Krishnadevraya, a king of the Vijayanagara empire.

The elaborate structure of the Srikalahasti temple complex is a breathtaking view right from the entrance. It has intricate carvings of numerous mythological illustrations that one can explore in the divine surroundings. This magnificent temple is often reffered as the Kailasa and Kashi of the south. The temple represents one of the five elements (Pancha Bhoota) - Air or Vayu.

The place has an abundance of vibrant, divine aura and has the potential to draw visitors with its ornate shrines and mesmerising beauty. Srikalahasti is an excellent example of South Indian temple architecture where highly ornamented gopurams with expansive intricately carved interiors unfold the magnificent treasures of the Dravidian style of architecture.

Legends of Srikalahasti Temple

The most famous legend states that during the initial phases of the creation of the world, Lord Vayu performed penance to please Karpoora Lingam for thousands of years. Lord Shiva, delighted with Lord Vayu's devotion, granted him three boons. Lord Vayu thus asked for him to grant him worldwide presence, to be an essential part of every living being on the planet and to be given the permission to rename the Karpoora Ligam as Samba Siva. These three requests were granted by Lord Shiva, and Vayu (pranvayu or air) has ever since been an integral part of life on earth and the lingam was worshipped as Samba Siva or the Karpoora Vayu Lingam.

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Another legend states that Goddess Parvati was once cursed by Lord Shiva and was made to abandon her divine avatar and take the form of an ordinary human. Goddess Parvati performed penance for several years at Srikalahasti to liberate herself from the curse. Lord Shiva was immensely pleased with her devotion and dedication, and he recreated Parvati in a heavenly avatar which is known as Gnana Prasunambika Devi or Shiva-Gnanam Gnana Prasunamba.

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According to another legend, Kannappa who was one of the 63 Saivite Saints who devoted all their lives to Lord Shiva. Kannappa willingly wanted to offer his eyes to cover the blood flowing from Lord Shiva's lingam. When Lord Shiva got to know about this, he stopped the saint and granted his release from the endless cycle of birth and death. Some say Ghanakala was cursed to take the form of a ghostly spirit. He offered his prayers to Srikalahasti for 15 years and chanted the Bhairava Mantra to please Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva was pleased with Ghanakala's devotion, he restored her to her previous form.

History of Srikalahasti Temple

The name Srikalahasti was derived from a myth that stated that a Spider (Sri), a Snake (Kala) and an Elephant (Hasti) worshipped Lord Shiva in the town to attain Moksha. The core of this mythology was considered as a sign by many religious believers and hence, in the 5th Century during the Pallava period, the Srikalahasti Temple was built.

Further expansion of the temple complex, renovations and some latest structures were built during the reign of the Chola Kingdom during the 11th Century and Vijayanagara Dynasty during the 16th Century. The works of a Tamil Poet, Nakkeerar, have references to the temple proving its existence during the Tamil Sangam Dynasty. Nakkeerar and another famous Telugu Poet, Dhoorjati, wrote numerous stanzas in praise of Srikalahasteeswara.

Architecture of Srikalahasti Temple

The Srikalahasti Temple is a beautiful illustration of the Dravidian Style of architecture that was built during the Pallava period in the 5th Century. The temple complex is located at the base of a hill. Some even believe it is a monolithic structure. The grand temple complex has its entrance facing the south, while the main shrine faces the west. The white stone Shiva Lingam inside this shrine resembles the shape of an elephant's trunk. The main gopuram of the temple is about 120 feet high.

The mandap in the temple complex has 100 intricately carved pillars that were built during the reign of a Vijayanagara King, Krishnadevraya, in 1516. The shrine of Lord Ganesh in the complex is a 9 feet tall rock-cut shrine. It also houses shrines for Jnanaprasanammba, Kasi Viswanatha, Suryanarayan, Subramanya, Annapurna and Sadyoganapathi that are adorned with images of Ganapati, Mahalakshmi Ganapathi, Vallabha Ganapati and Sahasra Lingeswara. The temple area also has two more mandaps, the Sadyogi Mandap, the Jalkoti Mandap and two water bodies Chandra Pushkarani and Surya Pushkarani.

Srikalahasti Temple Pooja Timings and Cost

Temple Abhishekam - 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday to Sunday - INR 600.
Subhrata Seva - INR 50
Archana - INR 25
Gomatha Pooja - INR 50
Sahasranamarchana - INR 200
Trisathi Archana - INR 125
Rahu Ketu Pooja - 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Sunday - INR 500
Kaal Sarpa Nirvana Pooja - 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Sunday - INR 750
Aseervachana Rahu Ketu Kaal Sarpa Nirvana Pooja - 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM - INR 1500
Special Aseervachana Rahu Ketu Kaal Sarpa Nirvana Pooja - 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM - INR 2500

Tips For Visiting Srikalahasti Temple

1. Do not purchase pooja materials from the stalls outside the temple. You are given all the materials that are needed for the pooja Along with INR 1000 ticket. This ticket also entitles you to an exclusive darshan (glimpse) and archana (special pooja) of the main deities within the temple.
2. Don't forget to see the Pathala Ganapathi underground temple located in the temple complex.
3. Take care if you are in the main sanctum of the temple where the deity is as it is dark and full of roaches. Priests demand money for every statue or thing they show.
4. Certain Dosha Poojas could have a dress code; please check at the ticket counter in advance. These Poojas are also instructed in Tamil, Telugu and English.
5. For darshan, ensure you wear conservative clothing.

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Srikalahasti Temple Reviews

Your rating

Sachin Sairam

on Srikalahasti Temple 3 years ago

Very Nice place, But always crowd need more more facility for devoties ,But we can't able to see the Lord shiva frequently b'cos of rush of the people

Polubotu Jaggu

on Srikalahasti Temple 2 years ago

Suffering some troubles , some persons get temple inside mobile and very little look in free darshnam people, many people suffering in free dharshanm.