Panchabootha Temples in India

Kanchipuram - (Earth Element)

2008-04-17T20:55:00.000-07:00

Located 70km southwest of Chennai, Kanchipuram is known as the “Golden City of Temples.” It is considered one of the seven main sacred cities of India. It has over one hundred temples now, but at one time it is said to have had about one thousand. Kanchipuram is believed to give eternal happiness to one who goes there. Eventhough Kanchipuram was the capital of the Pallavas rulers from the 7th to 9th centuries, it also played important role during the Chola, Vijayanagar, and Nayaka periods. It is an ancient place. It was mentioned in the Mahabhasya, written by Patanjali in the 2nd century BC.

Ramanujacharya lived in Kanchipuram during his youth, and Sri Chaitanya visited here 500 years ago. Four of the Alwars—Pey Alwar, Poygai Alwar, Bhutatt Alwar, and Thirumalisai—were born within 50 miles of Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram is famous for hand-woven silk fabrics and saris. The weavers use the highest quality silk and pure gold thread. This place is known to be the best source of high quality hand-woven silk items, and Varanasi is known to be the best place for machine-made silk items.

The city of Kanchipuram is on the north bank of the Vegavati River. The bus stand is in the center of town on Kamaraj Street (also called Kossa St), which goes north-south through the center of the city. The railway station is in the eastern part of the town, about 2½ km from the river. The temples and hotels are scattered within about 3km of the bus station, in the center of town. Siva Kanchipuram is west of the railway station, and Vishnu Kanchipuram is about 3km southeast.

The temples are well spread out across the city and you need at least four hours to see the major ones. You can have a cycle-rickshaw driver take you around to the temples for Rs 50 to Rs 100, depending on how many temples you go to see.

You have to visit the temples either in the morning or late afternoon, as they are closed between 12.30 and 4 pm .

The tourist office (631-502) is at the Hotel Tamil Nadu, Kamatchi Amman Sannadhi St. The Archaeological Survey of India office is helpful. It is located opposite the Kailasanatha Temple.

The State Bank of India (22987), 16 Gandhi Rd, only accepts travelers checks. Some other banks change cash.

The Head Post Office (22080), Railway Rd, is open Mon to Fri 9 am to 5 pm. Internet at Dishnet, 81C Kamaraja St (Hours: 9 am to 9 pm) for Rs 25 per hour. In the summer, temperatures are between 21ºC (70ºF) and 37ºC (98ºF), and in the winter the range is 20ºC (68ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF).

Sri Ekambaranatha Temple This temple is dedicated to Lord Siva and is the largest temple in Kanchipuram. This temple is also known as the Ekambareswara Temple. The Pallava kings built parts of the main temple, but the rest of the temple complex was mainly built in the 16th and 17th centuries. It has the towering 60m (188 ft) high Raja Gopuram, which was built by Krishna Deva Raya of the Vijayanagar Empire in 1509. No two towers of the temple are opposite each other, nor are the walls of the temple parallel to each other.

There are almost no right angles in the temple. It has a 1,000-pillar hall (actually 540). Most of the pillars are intricately and beautifully carved. There is a mango tree behind the inner sanctum (main temple) that is said to be 3,500 years old. It has four branches, said to represent the four Vedas (sacred Hindu scriptures). Each leaf of this tree is a different shape. The name of the deity itself is believed to have been derived thus: Eka-Amra-Natha, meaning the “Lord of the Mango Tree.” The fruit from each branch has a different taste.

In the path around the tree is a Siva-linga made of 108 small lingas and another one made up of 1008 lingas. You should circle around the tree clockwise (the other way is considered inauspicious). The huge linga is known as the Prithvi-linga, or earth linga.

The other four are the Agni-linga (fire) at Thiruvannamalai, the Appu-linga (water) at Jambukeswara, the Vayu-linga (air) at Kalahasti, and the Akasha-linga (ether) at Chidambaram.

The story of the temple is that while Lord Siva was meditating, Parvati playfully covered his eyes for a moment. This resulted in the earth being covered with darkness for years. This angered Siva who cursed Parvati to go to earth and do severe penance. She came to earth and created the earth linga and worshiped it under a single (eka) mango tree in Kanchipuram. Siva sent different obstacles to test Parvati’s sincerity. When he sent a flood, she clasped to the linga so tightly that imprints were made on it. It is believed that if a woman seeking a child worships here, her desire will be fulfilled.

Non-Hindus are not allowed in the inner sanctum. This temple is between North Made and West Made Streets in the northwest part of the city. Open 6 am to 12.30 pm and 4 to 8 pm. There is a Rs 5 camera fee.

Shopping

Kanchipuram is famous for its silk products. The silk saris are hand-woven and some take two weeks to complete. Some have borders made of pure gold or silver. There are several shops on the road to the Sri Varadaraja Temple. Even though silk saris are produced here, because of the many tourists that come here, the prices are often higher than in Chennai. To get a decent price you have to take your time and bargain hard.

You can see saris being made at Handlooms Weavers Service Centre, at 20 Railway Station Rd, by the post office. They can give you sound shopping advice. Open only on weekdays.

Where to Stay:-

Ashok Travellers Lodge, near the railway station, is a basic, cheap place.

Rajam Lodge (22519), 9 Kamarajar St, has basic rooms with bath for Rs 100/120.

Raja’s Lodge (22603), 20 Nellukkara St, near the bus station, has basic rooms for Rs 100/140 and with A/C for Rs 450. It is not very clean, but it is adequate.

Sri Rama Lodge (22435), next door at 21 Nellukkara St, has basic rooms with hot water for Rs 100/150 and Rs 300/400 for a room with A/C. It is better than the other budget places. Some rooms have a small TV. It has a good, cheap vegetarian restaurant.

Sree Kusal Lodge (223342), 68C Nellukkara St, has clean rooms for Rs 155/275 and Rs 500 with A/C, hot water and TV. It is one of the better cheaper places.

Hotel Jayabala International (224348), 504 Gandhi Rd, has basic singles with common bath for Rs 250. The clean doubles are much nicer and go for Rs 425/600 and Rs 700/750 for an A/C room. It is conveniently located, but can be noisy. It has a good veg South Indian restaurant.

Hotel Tamil Nadu (22553; fax 22552), Kamatchi Sannathi St, near the railway station. Normal rooms are Rs 550 and comfortable A/C rooms cost Rs 600 and Rs 750. The rooms have hot water, and are good-sized and clean. It is full most of the time, so it is best to book a room in advance at a Hotel Tamil Nadu in another city.

The best place in town is the modern Hotel Baboo Soorya (222555' fax 22556), 85 East Raja Veethi, which has comfortable, clean rooms with Star TV for Rs 400/600 to Rs 700/800. There is a 20% luxury tax. It is a recommended place with a good vegetarian restaurant. They accept some credit cards.

Near the bus stand there are several cheap vegetarian places with thali meals for Rs 20. One of the best places in town is the restaurant at the Hotel Baboo Soorya, 85 East Raja St. which serves South and North Indian vegetarian food.

Hotel Saravana Bhavan, inside Jaibala International, has good South Indian food, such as masala dosas (Rs 15). It also has ice cream.

Sri Saravana, 546 Gandhi Rd, has good cheap South Indian food, and quick service. Abirami, Kamaraj St, does not look like such a nice place, but the food is decent.

Local Travel A bike-rickshaw tour of the five major temples should be about Rs 75, but you will be asked for Rs 150 or more.

The temples are too far apart to walk from one to another. You can rent a bicycle for Rs 6per hour (Rs 45 for a day) at stalls near the bus station, or at the bicycle shop on Sannadhi St, just outside the Varadaraja Perumal Temple.

KGT Travels, 66D Salai St, can arrange a taxi.

Travel Air The nearest airport is in Chennai, 71km northeast. Rail From Chennai Beach Station one has to go via Chingleput (Chengalpattu).

There are three trains that go to Kanchipuram from Chingleput at 8.20 am, 5.30 pm and 8 pm. The trains going back to Chingleput leave Kanchi between 6 and 8.30 am and at 6 pm.

To go by train to Chennai takes about twice as long as the bus. From Chennai you can go to Kanchipuram by first going to Arakkonam (Arakonam) from Chennai Egmore Station on the Chennai to Bangalore line. There are only two connections between Arakkonam to Kanchipuram—at 7.50 am and 5.20 pm and from Kanchipuram to Arakkonam at 9.30 am and 6.45 pm.

Bus There are regular buses to and from Chennai (2 hr, #828 or #76B), Tirupati (3 hr), Tiruttani, and Vellore (2½ hr). There are five direct buses a day to Mamallapuram (2 hr, #212A).

There are many buses to Chingleput (Chengalpattu, 1 hr), and from there you can get another bus to Mamallapuram. There are direct buses to Bangalore, Tiruchirappalli (Srirangam, 7 hr), and Pondicherry (3 hr).

There are buses that go directly to Tirupati. There are also buses to a small town near Tirupati, and then you have to get another bus for another 20-minute ride.

The bus stand is on the corner of Nellukkara St and Kamaraj St, in the center of town. Public buses from Chennai depart from Parry’s Corner by the Law Court.

A convenient way to get to Kanchipuram is to get a tourist taxi from Chennai, which should be around Rs 1200 roundtrip plus driving around in Kanchi. Both ITDC and TTDC operate daily conducted tours from Chennai to Tirukkalukundram, Kanchipuram, and Mamallapuram.

Chidambaram - (Ether Element)

2008-04-17T20:44:00.001-07:00

திருமந்திரம்

மானுடராக்கை வடிவு சிவலிங்கம்
மானுடராக்கை வடிவு சிதம்பரம்
மானுடராக்கை வடிவு சதாசிவம்
மானுடராக்கை வடிவு திருக்கூத்தே

The Temple :

The temple occupies an area of about 51 acres. Four imposing towers rise on the four sides of the temple. Each of these towers rises to about 135 ft and are comprised of 7 storeys and are topped with 13 copper 'Kalasam' (finials). The entrances at the base of these towers are quite large rising at least to a height of 40 ft. The outer perimeter wall is about 30 ft high enclosing the outer 'street' (veedhi) and the inner enclosures (praharam).

The shrines of Mukkuruni Vinayagar, Katpaga Vinayagar, Subramanya, Somasundarar, Sivakamasundary and Pandyanayagar are all built along this outer 'street'. The sacred tank 'Sivaganga' and the thousand-pillared mandapam - 'Raja Sabah' - are also situated along this 'street'. The second 'praharam' (enclosure) is connected to the outer 'veedhi' by two entrances, one on the west and the other on the east.

On entering the second praharam you can see the shrine of Kalasamhara moorthy, Oorthavathandava moorthy, Luxmi and Thandayuthapani. The Flagstaff can be seen on the southern section and the 'Nrithya sabah' houses the idol of Oorthavathandava moorthy. The shrine of 'Pollapillaiyar and the shrines for the four 'Nayanmars' Appar, Sundarar, Sambanthar and Manikkavasagar are seen here. The 'Deva Sabah' is also situated along this corridor.

At the entrance to the inner enclosure the golden roof of 'Chittambalam' comes into view. It is in this 'manadapam' that Lord Nadarajah performs his dance (the Anandathandavam) eternally. The Chitsabah and the Kanakasabah are linked together and are called 'Ponnambalam'. This is also called as 'Chittambalam' and 'Gnanasabah'. There isa small entrance to the right of theDancing Siva
('Nadarajah'). During 'pooja' the curtain hung at the entrance is drawn aside and 'araathi' is shown.

There are no images inside but only a garland of golden 'vilva' leaves is seen. This represents the 'Chidambara Rahasyam' representing the Lord in the form of space. Chidambaram thus represents one of the five elements (ether) and is called 'Aakasa sthalam'.As you stand in front of the 'Chitsabah' at the entrance to the inner circuit you can see the South facing Nadarajah and the East facing Govidaraja Perumal (Vishnu). There is no other temple in the south where you can see both the Saivite god Shiva and the Vaishnavite god Vishnu from the same spot.

Legends :

Rishi Madyandinar had a son. He, under the direction of his father, came to the forest of Thillai and worshipped the 'Lingam', which had appeared there. He usually got up early before daybreak to collect flowers with which to perform his pooja. One morning he could not collect the flowers early as it was dark and cloudy and he could not see the flowers. After daybreak he went to collect the flowers and found that the flowers had been polluted by the bees and was grief stricken. Lord Shiva on seeing his devotee grief stricken took pity on him and gave him the eyes and limbs of a tiger so that he could see in the dark and climb trees easily to collect the flowers.

Thus he came to be known as 'Vyagrapadar' and the forest where he lived as 'Vyagrapuram' or 'Puliyoor'. During this time the rishis living in the forest known as 'Tharukavanam' became very arrogant as they had mastered all the 'Vedas', 'Agamas' and 'Shastras' and could raise powerful creatures from the sacrificial fires to do their bidding. Lord Shiva wished to show these rishis their limitations and appeared as a handsome mendicant with Vishnu as his wife 'Mohini'. This created chaos in 'Tharukavanam' as the wives of the rishis fell under the spell of this charming, handsome mendicant while the youthful rishis fell for the allure of Mohini.

The older rishis became very angry and wanted to destroy the pair. They raised a sacrificial fire ('Homam') from which appeared a tiger which was directed at the pair. Lord Shiva killed the tiger, peeled off its skin and tied it around his waist. Then the rishis produced a poisonous serpent, which Lord Shiva caught and wore around his neck. The rishis also sent a demon 'Muyalakan' against Lord Shiva whom he crushed under his feet. Then the rishis sent the sacrificial fire against him which he put on his left hand.

The rishis having lost the fire sent the vedic 'mantras' which the Lord wore around his ankles. At this the rishis conceded defeat and the Lord revealed himself by dancing the 'Oorthava thandavam' with his matted hair unfurling in all eight directions and the world reverberating to his steps.Lord Vishnu described this incident to Adishesa, the serpent on which Lord Vishnu reposes. Adishesha wished to see this dance and taking leave of Lord Vishnu went and prayed to Lord Shiva to grant him the honour of witnessing his dance. Lord Shiva advised Adhishesha to go to Vyagrapuram where he would one day perform this dance.

Adishesha was then born on this land and was given the name Pathanjali. Pathanjali approached Vyagrapadar and told him of his quest. As Vyagrapadar himself was eager to see the Lord's dance he was delighted to receive Pathanjali and accompanied him to the temple of Lord Shiva and prayed for the Lord's appearance. On an auspicious day the celestial beings arrived at Thillai along with other Rishis, and sages and assembled where Vyagrapadar had his temple. The heavenly musicians too arrived. Then Lord Shiva appeared with one of His right hands beating the drums and the other hand bestowing grace.With His left hand holding the fire and the other pointing to his right leg trampling Muyalakan under the foot, He appeared with His left leg raised in a dancing pose.

The guardian of the forest in Thillai, Goddess Kali, refused to allow Lord Shiva to dance in Her domain. Lord Shiva therefore challenged Her to a dance competition on condition that if He won then She would be banished from that area. The competition began. While Naradha played the veena, Nandikeswara played the drums and other celestial musicians accompanied with their instruments Lord Shiva danced with his hair flung in all directions. With the 'vedas' as his anklets, the serpent as his waist band, the tiger skin as his attire with Ganga and the crescent moon on his crest, He performed the 'Ananda thandavam'.

At one stage Lord Shiva took a pose with His left foot raised above His head but modesty prevented Goddess Kali matching the same pose. Thus She lost the competition and had taken residence in the northern end of Chidambaram in the Thillaiamman temple. Every devotee who comes to Chidambaram after worshipping at the Natarajar temple visits this temple too. Pathanjali and Vyagrapadar prayed to Lord Shiva to remain at Thillai as the eternally dancing god 'Lord Natarajar' so that all the earthly beings could witness his dance and receive his grace and blessing.

Opening Timess:The temple is open from 6 am to 12 noon and then from 5 pm to 10 pm

Places to Stay: -

HOTEL TAMILNADU
(Tamilnadu Tourism), 19,
Railway Feeder Road, Chidambaram
PH : 91- 4144- 20056 to 20060 HOTEL PALACE
71-D, Railway Feeder Road, Chidambaram, Tamil nadu, India
PH : 91- 4144- 22639

HOTEL SARADHA RAM
Opp. to Bus Stand,Chidambaram ,
Tamil nadu, India
PH : 91- 4144- 21336

HOTEL AKSHAYA
East Car Street, Chidambaram ,
Tamil nadu, India
PH : 91- 4144-22181

APPOLO LODGE
74, Sabanayagar Street,Chidambaram, Tamil nadu, India
PH : 91- 4144- 22907

KALYANAM BOARDING &LODGING
10, Venugopal Pillai St,
Chidambaram, Tamil nadu, India PH : 91- 4144-22707, 22708

MANSOOR LODGE
91, East Car Street, Chidambaram, Tamil nadu, India
PH : 91- 4144-21072

NATARAJA LODGE
98-A, East Car Street, Chidambaram , Tamil nadu, India
PH : 91- 4144-22968

RAMYA LODGE
46, South Car Street, Chidambaram, Tamil nadu, India
PH : 91- 4144-23011

RATHINA LODGE
26, Elamaiyakinar Koil St,Chidambaram, Tamil nadu, India
PH : 91- 4144- 23118

SABA LODGE
106-106A, West Car Street, Chidambaram, Tamil nadu, India
PH : 91- 4144-23101

SHAMEER LODGE
6,Venugopal Pillai St, Chidambaram, Tamil nadu, India
PH : 91- 4144-21203 22983

PARK-INN BUSINESS
GOVERNMENT APPROVED, No.21, Geetha Hall Road,Coimbatore
Tel: +(91) (422) 301283, Fax: +(91) (422) 301291

Thiruvanaikaval Temple - (Water Element)

2008-04-17T20:43:00.002-07:00

Thiruvanaikoil is a beautiful small urban village at Tiruchirappalli district ('Trichy', 'Thiruchirapalli', 'Tiruchinopoly', 'Tiruchi') in Tamil Nadu of Southern India. Thiruvanaikoil is also familiarly known as Tiruvanaikoil, Tiruvanaikaval, Thiruvanaikaval, Thiruvanaika, Thiruanaikaa.

Thiruvanaikoil is around 3 Kms away from the heart of Trichy city and adjacent to Srirangam another small historic town and one of the holy places in India. Thiruvanaikoil and Srirangam are in the banks of river Cauvery. Literally these two places form an island, surrounded by river Cauvery and river Coleroon.

This ancient temple dedicated to Shiva (Jambukeswara) and Parvati (Akhilandeswari) is one of the foremost Saivite shrines in Tamilnadu. This large temple celebrates Shiva as Jambukeswara, an embodiment of the element water and is often referred to as Appustalam and is hence one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams the other four being Tiruvannamalai (fire), Chidambaram (Space), Kanchipuram (Earth) and Kalahasti (Air) respectively.

The Sri Jambukeshwara Temple is dedicated to Lord Siva and has five concentric walls and seven gopurams. It is built around a Siva lingam partly submerged in water that comes from a spring in the sanctum sanctorum. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple. The complex was built in the same time when Sri Ranganathaswamy temple was also built.

The presiding deity is Lord Siva as Kalahasteeswarar. The Siva Linga here is one of the five supreme Lingas representing the five elements (Panchabutha Lingams): water (appu), fire (tejas), air (vayu), ether (akash) and earth (prithivi). The Linga form in Kalahasti is believed to represent vayu. Even today the flame placed in Garbhagraha inside the temple flickers indicating the presence of the wind while there is no entry of wind to disturb the flame. The air is just sufficient to breathe in. This according to a belief is the existence of Shiva in the temple.

According to the legend there was once a forest of jambu trees in the place of modern Tiruvanaikka. Nearby was a tank called Chandratheertha which was filled by water from the river Cauvery. Lord shiva appeared as a Lingam under one of the trees. The lingam came to be called the Jambulingam. Due to a curse, two of the shiva ganas Pushpadanta and Malyava, were born in the forest as a white elephant and as a spider. The elephant worshipped the Lingam with flowers and with water brought in its trunk. The spider too worshipped the Lingam, spinning out a web over the Lingam to prevent leaves of the tree from falling on it. The spider's web appeared to be unclean for the elephant and it destroyed the web.

This lead to big clash between the two and ultimately resulted in their death. Lord shiva granted Mokshaa (salvation) to both. The spider was born in a royal Chola family as the great king Ko Chenkannan who built about 70 temples (Maadakovils) including the temple of Jambukeswarar at Tiruvanaika. Because the king remembered about his earlier birth, he built the temples in a such way that no elephant can enter the sanctum sancotrum and come near the Sivalingam.

The temple at Tiruvanaikaval is a big one covering an area of about 18 acres with high walls and gopurams on all the 4 sides. The temple has 5 prakarams. The main sanctum sancotrum (the 5th prakaram) can be reached by entering a series of Gopurams (Towers). The shrine for female deity Akilandeswari is situated in the 4th prakaram.

Theerthams: There are nine Theerthams (Holy Water Points) near this temple.

Sreemath Theertham
Rama Theertham
Chandra Theertham
Agni Theertham
Indira Theertham
Akasthiya Theertham
Jambu Theertham
Surya Theertham
Brahmma Theertham

Thiruvannamalai - (Fire Element)

2008-04-17T20:43:00.001-07:00

Tiruvannamalai

Tiruvannamalai is one of the greatest Saivite shrines in Tamil Nadu,India, on a sprawling 24 acre temple campus, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every full moon. The hill here is considered to be a manifestation of Shiva. Tiruvannamalai is one of the Panchabhoota Stalams signifying the 5 elements of wind (Kalahasti), water (Tiruvanaikka), fire (Tiruvannamalai), earth (Kanchipuram) and space (Chidambaram). Kartikai Deepam festival here is of great significance. Manikkavacakar composed his Tiruvempavai here.The Paatala Linga shrine is connected with the spritual savant Ramana Maharishi. Arunagiri Nathar began composing his Tiruppukazh here at this temple.

ThiruvannamalaiThe temple has 9 towers and seven parakrams. The main tower (Rajagopuram) is 217 feet high with eleven stories, and is the second largest tower in South India.

History

In Thiruvannamalai, Lord Shiva took the form of a column of fire which had no beginning or end. This was done to destroy the ego of Lord Vishnu and Brahma. Lord Shiva in ardhanarashwari with one half being Goddess Umadevi is said to have given dharshan to his devotees. This temple was expanded by Chera, Chola, Pandiya and Nayak rulers.

Auspicious Day

Pournami (Full Moon) Day. and also yearly once karthigai deepam

Places to Stay in Tiruvannamalai

Ramanasramam
(Ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi)
Dr S Murthy

ashram@ramana-maharshi.org
www.ramana-maharshi.org
Ashram accommodation on edge of town.

Arunai Anantha
Hotel reception
04175 237 275
hotelarunaianantha@yahoo.co.in
Upmarket 3-star accommodation 2km outside of town but near to arunachala mountain

Arunachala Ramana Home
T Arumugam
04175 236 120
cell: 0 944 348 9811
arhome_sathish@yahoo.com
Guest House in town.

Recommended hotels at Tiruvannamalai

Aruna Lodge (91-04175-323/291), 82 Kosamadam St, is a basic place, about 200m east of the temple entrance. There is a good view of the temple from the roof. It is the best budget place in town.

Udipi Brindhavan Hotel (91-04175-22693), 57 Anna Salai, has very basic rooms with bath for Rs 80/100 and A/C rooms for Rs 325. It has a good, cheap thali restaurant.

Park Hotel is a clean place with basic rooms for Rs 80/100. Rooms have big windows with a view of the temple.

Hotel Trishul (91-04175-222/2219), 6 Kanakaraya Mudai, 3 minutes from the temple, has rooms for Rs 550/650 and Rs 850/950 with A/C. It has a good vegetarian A/C rooftop restaurant, with a good view of the temple.

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Sri Kalahasthi - (Air Element)

2008-04-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

This ancient temple dedicated to Shiva is one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams (temples celebrating Shiva as the embodiment of the primary elements), air being the element in case here, the other five temples being Tiruvannamalai (Fire), Chidambaram (Space),Tiruvanaikkaval (Water) and Kanchipuram (Earth) respectively.

Kalahasti is located near the pilgrimage town of Tirupati and is visited by thousands of pilgrims. This temple is also associated with Rahu and Ketu, (of the nine grahams or celestial bodies in the Indian astrological scheme).

Antiquity: This temple has been referred to in pre-Christian Tamil literature. The Tamil Saivite saints of the 1st millennium CE have visited this temple and sung its fame. The adjoining hill Dakshina Kailasam has many a fine Pallava carving.

The Tamil Cholas and the Vijayanagara Rulers have made several endowments to this temple. Adi Sankara is said to have visited this temple and offered worship here. There are Chola inscriptions in this temple which date back to the 10th century CE.

The Telugu poem 'Sri Kalahasti Satakam' explains the traditions associated with this temple.Muthuswamy Deekshitar, one of the foremost composers in the Karnatic Music Tradition has sung the glory of this temple in his kriti 'Sree Kaalahasteesa'.

Other works on this temple include the Sree-Kalattipuranam of the three brothers Karunapprakasar, Sivapprakasar and Velappa Deekshitar, Tirukkalattipuranam by Aanandakoottar of Veerainagar and Tirukkalatti Ula by Seraikkavirayar.

Architecture: The vast west facing Kalahastiswara temple is built adjoining a hill, and on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. At some points, the hill serves as the wall of the temple. The temple prakarams follow the contour of the adjoining hill and hence the temple plan is rather irregular. North of the temple is the Durgambika hill, south is the Kannappar hill and east is the Kumaraswamy hill.

Krishnadevaraya built a huge gopuram, a few feet away from the entrance to the temple. The entrance to the temple is crowned with a smaller tower. There is an underground Ganapati shrine in the outer prakaram, while in the innermost prakaram are the shrines of Shiva and Parvati.

The present structure of the temple is a foundation of the Cholas of the 10th century, as testified by inscriptions; improvements and additions were made during the subsequent years of the Chola rulers of Tamilnadu and the Vijayanagar emperors.

The Manikanteswarar temple, also in Kalahasti dates back to the period of Raja Raja Chola I (early 11th century), and it was reconstructed in stone in 1196 by Kulottunga III. Shiva here is also referred to as Manikkengauyudaiya Nayanar. There is also a Vishnu shrine in this temple.

Legends associated with this temple: The legend here is similar to that of the Jambukeswara temple at Tiruvanaikka. Shiva is said to have given salvation to a spider, elephant and a serpent who were ardent devotees of the Shiva Lingam located here. The spider is said to have attained salvation in Kritayuga (the first of the four yugas in the Hindu tradition), while the elephant and the snake were devotees in Treta Yugam, the succeeding aeon. The elephant's devotional outpouring was a source of disturbance to the serpent's display of devotion and vice versa, resulting in animosity between the two, until Shiva's intervention gave both the devotees their liberation.

Kannappa Nayanaar, a hunter is said to have been a great devotee of Kalahasteeswarar. Legend has it that he offered his own eyes to the Shivalingam, and for this reason earned the name Kannappan (his original name being Thinnan), and the distinction of having his statue adorn the sanctum. Nakkiradevar, Indra, Rama, Muchukunda and others are believed to have worshipped Shiva at this temple.

Festivals: Maha Shivaratri which occurs in the Tamil month of Maasi (Feb 15 through March 15) is one of the greatest festival seasons here, and the celebrations are marked by processions of the deities. The fifth day of the festival in the month of Maasi coincides with the Maha Shivaratri.

Access and Accomodation: Tirupati (30km) is the nearest airport and is perhaps the most convenient base for visiting Kalahasti as it (Tirupati) is endowed with several modern lodging facilities. A one day trip from Chennai is also possible, as Kalahasti is well connected by road with Tirupati and with Chennai and is only a four to five hour drive from Chennai. If well planned, Tirupati, Tirumala and Kalahasti can be covered in a day's trip from Chennai by car.