Kalahasti is encircled by 2 sacred hills. The Durgama temple is on the northern hill. On the south hill there’s the shrine of Kannabeswara, in memory of the Sage Kannappa, WHO offered his eyes to the Lord. There’s additionally a Srikalahasti Temple dedicated to LordSubramanya on one in every of the encircling hills.

The main shiva linga is untouched by human hands, even by the priest. Abhisheka (bathing) is completed by running a mix of water, milk,camphor, and panchamrita. Sandal paste, flowers and also the sacred thread are offered to the utsava-murti, not the most linga.

The unique Shiva Linga here is located in picturesque soundings with the Dakshina Kailasa mountain at the back and the north flowing river Swarnamukhi in front.

          Srikalahasti derives its name from His ardent devotees 

1 . Spider called sri 

2 . Serpent called kala 

3 . Elephant called Hasti

                                 Legend of Srikalahasti Temple
Sri Kalahasti is called when the staunch devotees of Lord Shiva. They were the Spider (Sri), the Serpent (Kala) and also the Elephant (Hasti). Appeased with their unintimidated devotion, Lord Shiva gave them a boon that their names be united with the Vayulinga and referred to as as Sri Kalahasteeswara in keeping with Hindu mythology,

The elephant or Hasti used to clean the Shiva god by watering the idol with the assistance of river-water carried in his trunks and pray for him by inserting Vilva leaves. The spider or Sri tried to protect the god from external harm by weaving his net and to supply shelter for the Shiva symbol. The snake or Kala used to place its precious gem on the linga to adorn the lord. during this means, all of them loved the Vayu linga singly while not knowing what the opposite was doing.

One day, the spider had built an awfully massive and thick net round the god to safeguard it from dust and weather whereas the snake places its gem. The elephant not knowing this and presumptuous that this manner of puja by Sri and Kala could be a violation by the superficial miscreants, pours water thereon and cleans it up. This causes a war between the 3. The snake punishes the elephant by getting into its trunk and within the method kills itself whereas the elephant runs amok and hits its trunk and head against the shiva linga.

During this struggle, the spider is press against the linga by the elephant’s trunk and also the elephant dies owing to the snake’s poison. Lord Shiva then appeared and gave moksha to any or all 3 of them for his or her unselfish devotion. The spider takes rebirth as a good king whereas the elephant and also the snake reach heaven for satisfying all its karma.

This king continues his smart work from his previous birth and builds a range of temples that seeks to protect the underlying god with loads of stones. it’s fascinating to notice that each one his temples, keep the god on the far side the access of AN elephant. during this Srikalahasti Temple, access to the immortal is thru a slender passage within the aspect of the building that stops AN elephant from extending its trunk over the lord from any aspect.

                                 Gnana Prasunambika Devi
There are many alternative legends connected to the glory of the Srikalahasti Temple. Distinguished among them is of Parvati WHO was cursed by Lord Shiva to discard her natural object and assume the human type. To induce free off the on top of curse Parvati did an extended penance here. Happy along with her deep devotion Lord Shiva once more restored her body – 100 times higher than her previous natural object and initiated varied mantras together with the Panchakshari. Sequent of this, Parvati gained and came to be called Shiva-Gnanam Gnana Prasunamba or Gnana Prasunambika Devi.

                               Gnanakala of Srikalahasti Temple
Cursed to become a ghost Ghanakala prayed at Srikalahasti for 15 years and when singing Bhairava Mantra over and over Lord Shiva restored her original kind.

                                           Markandeya prayed
To Bhakta Markandeya, Lord Shiva appeared in Sri Kalahasti and preached that a Guru alone may build esoteric teachings and, so he’s Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara.

                                             Kannappa prayed
At Srikalahasti Temple, Lord Shiva tested the unshakable devotion of Thinnadu (Later became Bhaktha Kannappa) before the sages gathered at SriKalahasti. together with his divine power, Lord Shiva created a tremor and also the roof first-rate of the Srikalahasti Temple began to fall. All the sages ran far from the scene except Kannappa WHO lined the linga together with his body to stop it from any harm.

In another incident, Kannappa plucked out one in every of his eyes and placed within the eye of Linga that was oozing with blood and tears. once the tears and also the blood were still trickling from another eye, Kannappa set to remove his second eye and placed one of his feet on the spot of the correct eye of the Shiva Linga. Before he may pull out his second eye with the arrow, Lord Shiva appeared and restored his eye whereas granting him a boon to occupy an area near him.

According to Hindu Sivananda’s book, 63 Nayanar Saints, pg. 44, some Saivite traditions believe that Kannappa was the reincarnation of Arjuna. Arjuna, loved Shiva for seeking the Pasupatha Astra and didn’t acknowledge Him within the style of a hunter. Thus, in keeping with this tradition, Arjuna had to change state as a hunter and love the Lord before attaining final liberation.

Rahu – Kethu Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Puja in Srikalahasti Temple
Srikalahasteeswara Swamy Srikalahasti Temple is purported because the Rahu Kethu Kshetra, If the people who have Rahu Kethu Doshas and Sarpa Doshas, the UN married and No youngsters and people WHO face varied issues for long amount and perform the foremost effective Rahu – Kethu Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Puja during this Srikalahasti Temple all the Doshas get removed and desired results occur. Thousands of Devotees from the country and abroad perform this puja and fulfill their vows once more and once more when receiving smart results.