Srikalahasti Temple
Srikalahasti temple near Tirupati is considered a holy place near the state of Andhra Pradesh which is located near the river swarnamukhi banks which is formed by a branch of river Pennar. This is considered as the sacred place where one of the 63 Saivite Nayanars, Kannapa offered his both eyes to close the place from where the blood was flowing in the Shiva linga and thus he was granted salvation by the blessings of Lord shiva who stopped him.
The construction of the temple took place in 12th century by the kind Rajarajendra who was the Chola king. When Vayu got the incarnation as lord Shiva, in form of Kalahasteeswara, the main idol of the temple became a Vayu linga or Air linga.
Rahu and Ketu also have some association with the temple, who are considered as the two powerful grahams of the Indian astrology. The West wall of the Sri Kalahasthi temple is washed by River Suvarnamukhi, which goes northwards at this point near the Srhi Kalahasthi and goes towards Chittor district of Andhra Pradesh.
Sri Kalahasti has been named in accordance with the hardcore devotees of Shiva. The names are Sri or Spider, Serpent or Kala and Hasti or Elephant. Due to their staunch devotion, Shiva blessed them that there will be a merger of their names with Vayulinga and the three were together known as Sri Kalahasteeswara. Because Parvati married Shiva, she was named as Bnana prasunamba or Gnana.
Ghanakala, who was given the curse to convert into a ghost, prayed in Srikalahasti for a time of 15 years. After reciting the Bhairava mantra for several times, her original form was restored by Lord Shiva. After praying at Srikalahasti and dipping themselves in River Swarnamukhi, the curses of Mayura, Devendra and Chandra were freed. Lakhs of devotees pray during the mahasivaratri for blessings of Lord Shiva with the aim to attain salvation. It was in Srikalahasti that the Lord appeared before bhakta Markandeya and told that esoteric teachings can only be imparted by a Guru only and therefore that person can be Brahma, maheswara and Vishnu, all in one.
