Srikalahasthi - Lord Srikalahasthishwarar and Goddess Gnanaprasoonambika

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Sri Kalahasthisvara Temple, Kalahasthi

 

The temple has four huge towers on all its four sides. A huge tower of height

120 ft. known as Raja Gopuram gives the temple a majestic look. The Gopura of

the temple is adorned with various sculptures of Gods and Goddesses.The temple

stands close to Swarnmukhi River. The earliest inscription in this temple

belongs to the period of Rajaraja Chola. It is a repository of artistic

excellence in Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagara tradition.

 

Vijayanagara Structures in the Kalahastisvara Temple, Kalahasti

 

Kalahasti, a taluk headquarters Chittoor district is about twenty-four miles

from Tirupati. The town is famous for the Kalahastisvara temple, which is

situated amidst a singularly picturesque setting at the foot of a curved hill,

named Daksina kailasam. The temple is visited by a large number of devout Hindus

from all parts of India. There are about seventy Vijayanagara inscriptions in

this temple covering the reigns of Harihara II, Devaraya II, Krishnadevaraya,

Achyutaraya, and Sadasivaraya. The earliest Vijayanagara record found in this

temple is dated in 1401 A.D., while the latest is dated in 1569 A.D. It is

evident from the large number of inscriptions found in this temple that it

received active patronage of the Rayas of Vijayanagra.

 

The entrance to the first enclosure is surmounted by another gopura of the

Vijayanagara period. In all probability this gopura was constructed by one of

the predecessors of Krishnaraya. This gopura faces the North and has a narrow

pillared mantapa in two sections, on either side of the passage in the front

covering the adhistana. In a niche in the back wall of the mantapa to the right

of entrance is a fine icon of Durga. Correspondingly in a niche to the left of

the entrance is the icon of Nrtta-Ganapati. Each of the two sections of the

mantapa contains two pillars each with a pillaret projecting from the main

block. The pillars have Vijayanagara capitals.

 

The second gopura, which gives access to the second enclosure, seems to belong

to the pre-Vijayanagara period. To the south of the gopura, built against the

prakara wall are two small shrines, one dedicated to Ganapathi and the other to

Lord Shiva. The Ganapathi shrine consists of a mantapa in two sections and the

garbhagriha built in the back section of mantapa. The front section of the

mantapa contains two rows of four round pillars with Cola capitals. The back

section of the mantapa contains two rows of two round pillars with Cola

capitals. There is a pradakshina round the garbhagriha.

 

The walls of the garbhagriha are plain and the roof is flat. The lintel above

the entrance of the garbhagriha contains the Gajalaksmi. The shrine which is to

the south of the Ganapathi shrine consists of a garbhagriha and antarala whose

walls are plain and the roof flat.

 

How to Reach

 

The Temple is about 38 kms. from Tirupati. Srikalahasthi is well connected by

Road & Rail and there are frequent buses from Tirupati. Private transport is

also available from Tirupati.

 

It is 54 Km from Gudur railway station and 38 km from Tirupati.

Tirupati,Chennai,Bangalore and Hyderabad Air ports.

 

The temple for Siva in the form of a 'Vayulinga' lies 36 km from Tirupati.

According to legend, a spider (Sri) spun a web over the Linga, Kala, a snake,

placed a gem atop it and Hasti, an elephant, brought water in its trunk to wash

the Linga. All three were ardent worshippers of Siva. The flame (deepam) in the

temple flickers frequently as air (Vayu) is said to be constantly emanating from

the Sivalinga

 

Chittoor District

 

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ICT=Chittoor & disp=2