Srikalahasteeswara temple

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Sri Gnanaprasunambika sametha Srikalahasteeswara Temple
శ్రీ జ్ఞాన ప్రసూనాంబికా సమేత
శ్రీ కాళ హస్తిశ్వర ఆలయం
Sri Kala Hasti.jpg
An aerial view of the town and the temple
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
District Tirupati
Deity Srikalahasteeswara (Shiva),
Gnana Prasunambika Devi [1] (Parvati)
Festivals Maha Sivaratri
Location
Location Srikalahasti
State Andhra Pradesh
CountryIndia
India Andhra Pradesh location map (current).svg
Om symbol.svg
Location in Andhra Pradesh
Geographic coordinates 13°44′58″N79°41′54″E / 13.74944°N 79.69833°E / 13.74944; 79.69833
Architecture
Type Dravidian architecture [2]
Creator Rajendra Chola I
Date established5th century CE
Website
Srikalahasti

The Srikalahasti Temple is located in the town of Srikalahasti, in Tirupati district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. According to regional tradition, it is said to be the site where Kannappa was ready to offer both his eyes to cover blood flowing from the Shivalinga before Shiva stopped him and granted him moksha. [3] The inner temple was constructed around the 5th century CE and the outer temple was constructed in the 11th century by the Rajendra Chola I and other Chola emperors such as Rajaditya Chola, Rajaraja Chola I, Rajadhiraja Chola I, Kulottunga Chola I, Kulottunga Chola III, and Reddi kingdom,Vijayanagar Empire. The 120 feet (37 m) high main gopuram and the hundred pillared hall with intricate carvings was commissioned during the regime of the Vijayanagara Krishnadevaraya during 1516 CE. [4] Shiva in his aspect as Vayu is worshipped as Kalahasteeswara. The temple is also regarded as Rahu-Ketu kshetra and Dakshina Kailasam.

Contents

Srikalahasti temple, situated 36 km away from Tirupati, is famous for its Vayu Lingam (Wind Lingam), one of the Pancha Bhuta Sthalams, representing the wind.

Legend

In primordial times, the wind-god Vayu performed penance for thousands of years to the Karpoora Lingam, the lingam of Shiva made of camphor. Pleased with Vayu's penance, Shiva manifested before him and bestowed him three boons. Vayu was blessed to present everywhere in the world in form of air and want to be an integral part of every being in form of vayus. Further, The linga that Vayu worshipped was named as the Vayu Lingam after him and was declared to be worshipped by various beings. [5]

Another legend narrates that Shiva's consort Parvati adamantly asked him to teach her the secret of the Shiva Panchakshari Mantra. Angry with her behaviour, Shiva cursed her to discard her divine form and assume a human form. Parvati fell to the Earth. To atone, Parvati performed penance at Srikalahasti and pleased Shiva. Shiva granted her a heavenly body, a hundred times better than her previous divine form, apologised to her and later taught her the secret lore. Parvati is therefore worshipped as Gnana Prasunambika Devi in the temple.

Cursed to become a ghost, Ghanakala prayed at Srikalahasti for 15 years and after chanting the Bhairava Mantra, Shiva restored her original form.

Mayura, Chandra and Indra were cursed to become a spider, snake and elephant respectively. They sought atonement after taking bath in the river Swarnamukhi and praying at Srikalahasti.

Shiva appeared before the sage Markandeya in Srikalahasti and preached that a Guru alone could make esoteric teachings and, therefore he is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

History

The temple in reconstruction, view from Kannappa Hill near the river (2016) ViewofSrikalahasti.jpg
The temple in reconstruction, view from Kannappa Hill near the river (2016)

Around the 11th century CE, the Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I king renovated the temple and constructed the main structure. [6] Kulottunga Chola I, contrived and built the beautiful gopurams, located at the entrance facing south, during the 11th century CE. Inscriptions of Rajaditya Chola, Rajaraja Chola I, Rajadhiraja Chola I, Kulottunga Chola I, Kulottunga Chola III are found across the temple. The temple received contributions from various ruling dynasties like Chola Dynasty, Reddi kingdom and Vijayanagar Empire. The 120 feet (37 m) high main gopuram and the hundred pillared hall with intricate carvings was commissioned during the regime of the Vijayanagara Krishnadevaraya during 1516 CE. [4]

The main gopuram, built by king Krishnadevaraya, collapsed on 26 May 2010. [7] [8] As per the Archaeology Department, the temple tower stood on a foundation that had a depth of only one-and-a-half feet and had a thin crack 25 years before it collapsed which expanded as years passed by. [9] [10] The Rajagopuram was reconstructed in its original form at the same location with a budget of 45 crores and was consecrated on 18 January 2017. [7]

Architecture

The shrine of Goddess Jnanaprasunambika located parallel to the Shiva shrine Shri Kala Hasti Temple.JPG
The shrine of Goddess Jnanaprasunambika located parallel to the Shiva shrine

The presiding image of Shiva in the form of Linga is made of white stone (believed to be the solidification of camphor) in a tall cylindrical shape resembling an elephant trunk. The stone is divided into 5 segments. The lingam is lit by many lamps in the sanctum. Miraculously, the lingam never caught fire even though camphor is a flammable substance. The temple faces south, while the sanctum faces west. The temple is located on the foothills of a hill, while there is also a belief that the temple was carved out of the monolithic hill. There is a rock-cut shrine of Shiva's son Ganesha, 9 ft (2.7 m) below the ground level. Vallabha Ganapathi, Mahalakshmi-Ganpathi and Sahasra Lingeswara are some of the rare images found in the temple. There is a large shrine of Jnanaprasunambika, the consort of Kalahatisvara. There are smaller shrines in the temple for Kasi Viswanatha, Annapurna, Surya, Sadyoganapathi and Shiva's second son Kartikeya. There are two large halls namely Sadyogi Mandapa and Jalkoti Mandapa. There are two water tanks associated with the temple namely, Surya Pushkarani and Chandra Pushkarani. [4]

Religious importance

Ghat leading to Swarnamukhi River View of Srikalahasti temple.jpg
Ghat leading to Swarnamukhi River

The temple is revered as one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalam where the presiding deity is worshipped as Vayu linga (the embodiment of air). This temple is considered the "Kailash of the South". [11] Saivaite saints of the first century sang about this temple. This is the only temple in India which remains open during Solar and lunar eclipses, while, all other temples are closed. [12] This temple is famous for the Rahu-Kethu pooja. It is believed that performing this pooja will ward the people from astrological effects of Rahu and Kethu, the demigods which cause eclipses. [12] As per Hindu legend, Kalahasteeshwara was worshipped at this place by Brahma during all four Yugas. Arjuna, the Pandava prince during Mahabharata is believed to have worshipped the presiding deity. The legend of Kannappa, who was a hunter and turned into an ardent devotee of Shiva accidentally, is associated with the temple.

Culture

The temple follows the Shaivite tradition.[ citation needed ] Maha Shivaratri is the most important festival when lakhs of devotees offer prayers to seek the blessings of the Lord. Mahashivaratri Brahmotsavams are celebrated in par with Maha Shivaratri for 13 days during which the processional idols of Shiva and Parvati will be taken on Vahanams in a procession around the temple streets. [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "Srikalahasti Temple History". Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Aguilar, Rafael; Torrealva, Daniel; Moreira, Susana; Pando, Miguel A.; Ramos, Luis F. (2018). Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions: An Interdisciplinary Approach. Springer. ISBN   9783319994413 . Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  3. ↑ Devadiga, Disha (31 January 2022). "Srikalahasteeswara temple – The Kashi of South". Temples of India Blog. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Harshananda, Swami (2012). Hindu Pilgrim centres (2nd ed.). Bangalore, India: Ramakrishna Math. pp. 53–7. ISBN   978-81-7907-053-6.
  5. ↑ "Official Wesbsite of Srikalahasti Temple" . Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  6. ↑ Subramaniam, T. s. (4 June 2010). "History begin". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Rajagopuram at Srikalahasti Temple to be opened on January 18" . Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  8. ↑ "Srikalahasti temple tower crashes". The Hindu. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  9. ↑ P Neelima (27 September 2010). "Srikalahasti 'rajagopuram' an architectural wonder," The Times of India
  10. ↑ Subramaniam, T. s. (4 June 2010). "Blow to History". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  11. ↑ "Sivaratri Brahmotsavams begin". Srikalahasteeswar Temple administration. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Temples, barring Srikalahasti, closed for lunar eclipse". The Hindu. 5 April 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  13. ↑ "Srikalahasti gears up for Mahasivaratri Brahmotsavam" . Retrieved 1 March 2017.
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