Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy Temple

Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy Temple - Sri Kalahasthi

November 13, 2023

Sri Kalahasti Temple is located in the town of Srikalahasti, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also one of the Panchabhoota temples of lord shiva.

Lord Shiva is known as Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy and Parvati Devi are worshipped as Gnanaprasunambika.

Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy is the main deity of the temple. The Lord is an incarnation of Lord Siva. Here the main deity is facing the West direction and he is 2.5 Feet in height. The Lingam here is swayambu and is known as Karpoora Vayu Lingam. The main lingam is shaped like an Elephant Trunk, with tusks on each side and a figure of the Spider at the bottom. If you look at the lingam from above it looks like a Snake with five hoods and it is white in color.

Goddess Parvathi Devi is worshiped here as Gnanaprasunambika. Goddess Parvathi is facing East. Gauri Devi was born during the time of Dakshayagna and wanted to marry Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva asked Gauri Devi to get her powers back then he will marry her. Later Parameshwari prepared Sri Chakra with her own hands, got back her powers, and got married to Lord Shiva.

This temple faces the South, whereas the sanctum faces the west in the temple. Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy temple is built in the Dravidian style of architecture.

The southern gopuram was constructed in the 12th century by Kulothunga Chola. It is said that the Bikshala Gopuram was constructed by Devadasi Bichchalu and the construction was done during the region of Yadava Narasimha.

Krishnadevaraya built a huge gopuram in 1516, a few feet away from the entrance to the temple. The entrance to the temple is crowned with a smaller tower. This ancient gopuram is over the main gate, which is 36.5 Meters (120 feet) high, and the entire temple is carved.

The style of architecture is a mixture of different regimes that ruled the city from time to time. It is an architectural wonder that the 120 feet main tower called Rajagopuram, which was built by the Vijayanagara King Krishnadeva Raya as a commemoration of his victory over the Gajapathi kingdom during the 15th century.

There was a bronze idol of the king in the bottom front portion of the tower. Unfortunately, there was a crack found in the tower 25 years ago, which developed as a vertical fissure and the tower collapsed in May 2010.

A new taller tower has been built on the still-strong base and the consecration ceremony was conducted in January 2017. There are five stages of huge prahara walls. This lithic record is inscribed on the western wall of the second prakara (corridor) and is dated to Saka year 1438 (that is, 1516 CE).

The Golden flagstaff is located outside the main entrance, beside this Dhwajastambham a huge Depastmabham is placed. In Gabhagudi there is a lamp inside the inner sanctum that is constantly flickering despite the lack of air movement inside.

The air can be observed even when the priests close the main deity room, which does not have any windows. When all the lamps in the sanctum glow steadily, one can notice two lamps flickering now and then, proving the lord's inhalation and exhalation. The marks that correlate with the legend are still visible on the lingam, which is a swayambhu (natural).

inscriptions on the temple inform that it was built by the great Pallava kings and followed by the Tondaman Chakravarthi (Pandya Kings). It shows Cholas, Pallavas, Nijam, and Vijayanagar kings giving their sculptures.

There are two large halls namely Sadyogi Mandapa and Jalkoti Mandapa. While in the 12th century, AD Veeranarashimha Yadavaraya contributed to the construction of the temple by constructing the compound wall of Prakara and the four Gopurams. The Mantapams and Galigopurams facing east were developed by the Vijaynagar rulers in the 16th century. In 1516 A. D., the Great King Krishnadevaraya built the huge 100-Pillared Mandapa.

There are two water bodies associated with the names, Surya Pushkarani and Chandra Pushkarani. This holy shrine is built in the Tribal area, and no one has been able to concentrate on the temple’s development and growth till 4 and 5 centuries. But due to Pallava’s arrival in South India architectural masterpiece has grown politically and locally. In those days temples are constructed with Timber, reeds, and soil to prevent temples from quick destroying. Later made up of black stone.

It is the only temple kept open for Darshan on Eclipse days.
In this temple the lights of oil lamps oscillate back and forth, as an indication of swami Uchwasa and Nitchvasa which is direct evidence of Swamy's presence.
Kalankari, one of the most traditional art forms of India is noted for its extraordinarily beautiful hand paintings on fabrics in Srikalahasti.
We can have a great view of Shiva linga where Kannapa (Thinnappan), performed the act of giving his own eye to Lord Shiva located on the top of the hill.

This Temple is famous for Rahu Khetu Pooja.

Temple Timings :

Every day temple opens at 5.30 am

Closes at 9.00 pm

If there is a heavy rush or festival season temple will close at 9.30 pm.

Daily Temple Schedule

	Pooja/Sevas/Abhishekam	Hours
	Suprabatham	05:30
	Sarvadarshanam	06:00
	Pradhama Kala Abhishekam	07:30
	Dwithiya Kala Abhishekam	09:00
	Ucchi Kala Abhishekam	10:30
	Rudra Homam	11:00
	Chandhi Homam	11:00
	Nityothsavam	11:00
	Nithya Kalyanam	11:30
	Prodhosha Kala Abhishekam	17:30
	Nirajana Manthra Pushpam	19:00
	Ekantha Seva	21:00