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SRI KALAHASTI TEMPLE
Sri Kalahasti temple is located 36 km away from Tirupathi in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradhesh, India. The inner temple is constructed around 5th century and the outer temple was constructed in the 12th Century.Srikalahasti is one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams of Lord Shiva, the other being Tiruvannamalai, Chidambaram, Thiruvanaikaval and Kanchipuram.
The name of the town is a combination of three words, 'Sri' meaning a spider, 'Kala' meaning a serpent and ‘Hasti' meaning an elephant. As per mythology, these three creatures are believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva at the site to attain salvation. The religious centre known as Kalahasti or Dakshina Kailasam is referred to as a spiritual abode of Lord Shiva.
Srikalahasti has an ancient Shiva temple that has several mentions in Skanda Purana, Shiva Purana and Linga Purana. Several Tamil Shaivite saints had visited the shrine for seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva. The famous shrine of Srikalahasti was built by Kulothunga Cholan I, II and III during the 11th century. A huge mandapam was later added in the 16th century by Krishnadevaraya.
Sri Kalahasti is also considered a Navagraha Sthala, dedicated to Rahu and Kethu. Navagraha Sthalas are those places where the nine planets are said to have worshipped Lord Shiva. They are revered as Parihara Sthalas (places where the devout get themselves redeemed of papas or sins committed). There are two hills on either side of the temple, known as Dakshina Kailasam or Kannappamalai and Durgagiri. There are shrines dedicated to Lord Kannappeshwara and Devi Durgamba.
Legend Of Sri Kalahasti Temple
According to Puranas, a spider (Sri), a snake (Kala) and an elephant (Hasti) worshipped the Lord here and attained mukti (salvation). Hence the Linga is known as Sri Kala Hasti Eshwara. This legend is very similar to that of the Jambukeshwaram temple in Tiruvanaikkaval in Tamil Nadu, which is also another Pancha Bhutha Sthala, dedicated to Appu Linga (Water).
The hills are closely associated with a legend on a tribal hunter and an ardent Shiva devotee Kannappa. His original name was Thinna. One day he noticed a priest performing Shiva puja and followed it regularly. In course of time, the hunter became so devoted that he started worshipping the Lord, offering meat of hunted animals. This infuriated the priest, who wanted to teach the hunter a lesson. But the Lord wanted to prove that between Him and a true devotee, irrespective of caste or creed, nothing else can stand. He decided to enact a divine drama. One day, an eye of the Lord started bleeding. The devout Thinna, unable to withstand this, gorged out one of his eyes and offered it to the Lord. The bleeding stopped and Thinna was extremely happy. But the Lord apparently wanted to test Thinnas devotion further. The second eye started bleeding now. Thinna was such a staunch devotee that without any hesitation, he scooped out his second eye also, holding the Lords bleeding eye with one of his feet. Moved by this act, Lord Shiva appeared before Thinna, called his devotee by the name Kannappa. (kan in Tamil means eye) and gave him mukti (salvation). The priest, who witnessed this high drama hiding himself in the neighbourhood, realised what true devotion is. In commemoration of this legend, the hill was named after Kannappa and he is immortalised as one of the 63 Saivite saints (63 Nayanmars).
Please see this Video
6azZ88itug
blessingsonthenet.
.boloji.
This post is for sharing knowledge only, no intention to violate any copy rights
Sri Kalahasti temple is located 36 km away from Tirupathi in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradhesh, India. The inner temple is constructed around 5th century and the outer temple was constructed in the 12th Century.Srikalahasti is one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams of Lord Shiva, the other being Tiruvannamalai, Chidambaram, Thiruvanaikaval and Kanchipuram.
The name of the town is a combination of three words, 'Sri' meaning a spider, 'Kala' meaning a serpent and ‘Hasti' meaning an elephant. As per mythology, these three creatures are believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva at the site to attain salvation. The religious centre known as Kalahasti or Dakshina Kailasam is referred to as a spiritual abode of Lord Shiva.
Srikalahasti has an ancient Shiva temple that has several mentions in Skanda Purana, Shiva Purana and Linga Purana. Several Tamil Shaivite saints had visited the shrine for seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva. The famous shrine of Srikalahasti was built by Kulothunga Cholan I, II and III during the 11th century. A huge mandapam was later added in the 16th century by Krishnadevaraya.
Sri Kalahasti is also considered a Navagraha Sthala, dedicated to Rahu and Kethu. Navagraha Sthalas are those places where the nine planets are said to have worshipped Lord Shiva. They are revered as Parihara Sthalas (places where the devout get themselves redeemed of papas or sins committed). There are two hills on either side of the temple, known as Dakshina Kailasam or Kannappamalai and Durgagiri. There are shrines dedicated to Lord Kannappeshwara and Devi Durgamba.
Legend Of Sri Kalahasti Temple
According to Puranas, a spider (Sri), a snake (Kala) and an elephant (Hasti) worshipped the Lord here and attained mukti (salvation). Hence the Linga is known as Sri Kala Hasti Eshwara. This legend is very similar to that of the Jambukeshwaram temple in Tiruvanaikkaval in Tamil Nadu, which is also another Pancha Bhutha Sthala, dedicated to Appu Linga (Water).
The hills are closely associated with a legend on a tribal hunter and an ardent Shiva devotee Kannappa. His original name was Thinna. One day he noticed a priest performing Shiva puja and followed it regularly. In course of time, the hunter became so devoted that he started worshipping the Lord, offering meat of hunted animals. This infuriated the priest, who wanted to teach the hunter a lesson. But the Lord wanted to prove that between Him and a true devotee, irrespective of caste or creed, nothing else can stand. He decided to enact a divine drama. One day, an eye of the Lord started bleeding. The devout Thinna, unable to withstand this, gorged out one of his eyes and offered it to the Lord. The bleeding stopped and Thinna was extremely happy. But the Lord apparently wanted to test Thinnas devotion further. The second eye started bleeding now. Thinna was such a staunch devotee that without any hesitation, he scooped out his second eye also, holding the Lords bleeding eye with one of his feet. Moved by this act, Lord Shiva appeared before Thinna, called his devotee by the name Kannappa. (kan in Tamil means eye) and gave him mukti (salvation). The priest, who witnessed this high drama hiding himself in the neighbourhood, realised what true devotion is. In commemoration of this legend, the hill was named after Kannappa and he is immortalised as one of the 63 Saivite saints (63 Nayanmars).
Please see this Video
6azZ88itug
blessingsonthenet.
.boloji.
This post is for sharing knowledge only, no intention to violate any copy rights