Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy Temple, Srikalahasti
Lord Kalahasteeswara (Vayu Linga)
Srikalahasti, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh
The Vayu (air) Linga among the five Pancha Bhoota Sthalams, famous for Rahu-Ketu sarpa dosha pooja.
History
The name comes from Sri (spider), Kala (serpent) and Hasti (elephant), three devotees who worshipped Shiva here and attained liberation. The hunter Kannappa, who offered his own eyes to the Lord, is the most celebrated devotee of this temple. Parts of the temple were built by the Cholas in the 11th century and the large gopurams and mandapams were added by the Vijayanagara kings, including the 120-foot Gali Gopuram built by Krishnadevaraya in 1516 (it collapsed in 2010 and has been rebuilt). The flame of a lamp inside the sanctum flickers though there is no visible air movement, a sign of the Vayu Linga.
Architecture
Large Dravidian complex at the foot of a hill on the Swarnamukhi river; 100-pillar mandapam with Vijayanagara carvings.
Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri Brahmotsavam
- Karthika Masam
Videos
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Plan your visit
Weather at the temple
Directions to Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy Temple
How to reach
- By air
- Tirupati Airport, about 25 km
- By train
- Srikalahasti station, about 2 km
- By road
- Frequent buses from Tirupati (35 km).
Near the temple
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