Sri Kalahasti Temple

Sri Kalahasti Temple

From Tirupati, the Kalahasti temple is easily accessible through both train and roads. At a location about 38 km from the north of Tirupati central, you can reach the town through any of the Vijayawada-Tirupati trains. It is also accessible through the numerous APSRTC buses plying through the route.

Significance of Sri Kalahasti Temple

Among the many illustrious south Indian Shiva temples, the Sri Kalahasti temple always commands special respect and devotion. With its ardent Purana and rich architecture, the Sri Kalahasti temple is assured to be a great experience for a devotee. Apart from the blissful Darshan, Sri Kalahasti is also the place that liberates you from the effects of faulty planetary orientation.

Rahu-Ketu / Sarpdosha/ Grahadoshas / Sarvadoshas Pooja

A person with faulty Rahu-Kethu planetary positions has a worry-laden life in front of him. He/She could be constantly bombarded with personal, official and financial issues. The roots of these problems could only visible to a professional astrologer, which is the Kaal Sarp Yoga. It invariably leads to the Sri Kalahasti. The Rahu Ketu Sarpdosha Pooja performed at Sri Kalahasti is the ultimate remedy for this problem.

In the inimitable presence of Lord Shiva, Sri Kalahasti is the ultimate place for the Rahu Kethu Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Pooja. Here the blessing of Lord Shiva obliterates the problems of faulty planetary positions to enlighten you to your potential.

At a purely astrological point-of-view, the Prahara Pooja is best performed during the ‘Rahu Kalam’. Each of the Pooja batches lasts around the forty-five minute mark. You can choose from the three ticket options available – Rs. 300/- Rs.750/-, Rs.1500. With patience and planning, you can arrange your Pooja to happen during the ‘Rahu Kalam’, bringing maximum benefits for your prayers.
•For Rs. 300/- Pariharam (Pooja) will be done in a huge hall outside the temple premises.
•For Rs.750/- Pariharam (Pooja) will be done near the main temple premises in an A/C hall which has Shiva Sannidhi inside.
•For Rs.1500/- Pariharam (Pooja) will be done inside the temple premises, which are also considered as VIP tickets.

Sri Kalahasti Purana or History

The Sri Kalahasti temple is renowned for Lord’s many devotees and how the Lord Maheshwara has blessed them beyond measures. There are many stories about the selfless sacrifices from devotees for the lord, we can also see the Lord Shiva who deeply cares for his devotees, and he also endows the visitors with generous blessings.

The name Sri Kalahasti comes from the three unlikely, but ardent devotees who sacrificed their lives for Lord Shiva – ‘Sri’ for a ‘Spider’, ‘Kala’ for ‘Serpent’ and ‘Hasti’ for ‘Elephant’. Each of the above was occupied with Shiva Pooja in their own ways. The Elephant (Hasti) used to Abhishek the Lord’s Linga with the water brought from the neighboring river. The Spider (Sri) used to weave his strong threads around the Linga to protect it from the natural elements. At this time Serpent (Kala) used to place his dear stone (Naga Manikyam) as a decoration for the Shiva Linga. Once these three happened to cross their paths. The elephant considered the action of the spider to be disrespectful to the lord and at once splashed away the spider’s web with his trunk-full of water. The spider and serpent were enraged by how the elephant’s destroyed their Pooja. The serpent entered the elephant’s trunk and discharged its venom there…The elephant in writhing-pain smashes its trunk against the Lingam and kills the serpent. The spider also dies in this tussle. It is followed by the death of poison-driven elephant. The Lord Maheshwara mightily pleased with this self-sacrifice gave Moksha’s to all the three creatures. The spider takes birth as a great king who continues with his divine task while the elephant and the serpent reaches the heaven attaining liberation from their earthly life- cycle.
Another important story is that of the Shiva devotee Sri Kannappa Swamy, belonging to the 63 sanities. It’s said that he saw blood oozing out of the Lord Shiva’s eyes. In desperation, the Kannappa Swamy plucked-out his own eyes and placed at linga. As he was about to tear down his other eye, the Lord Shiva stopped him and gave Divya-Darshan as Sri Kannappa has passed the divine test.