The importance of Vayulinga Kshetram Srikalahasteeswara Temple

Srikalahasteeswara Swamy Temple is located in the town of Srikalahasti on the banks of SwarnaMukhi in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the most famous Shiva Temples in South India. It is situated 36 km from Tirupati. It is the famous Vayu Linga and Rahu-Ketu Kshetram in Chittoor District. This place is also famous for Dakshina Kailasam. Lord Parvathi as Sri Gnanaprasunambika is worshipped here. 

Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy, Srikalahasti

The Inner portion of this temple was constructed around the 5th century by Chola Kings. The Outer portion was constructed in the 12th century by the Vijayanagara Kings. The Temple is surrounded by famous hills on all sides, On the Northside of the temple there is a Durgambika Hill, Southside there is a Kannapar Hill and on the east side, there is Kumaraswamy Hill.The Vijayanagara King Sri Krishnadevaraya built a huge raja gopuram which is of 36.5 meters or 120 feet high near to Temple entrance in 1516. We can find Pathala Ganapati (underground Ganapati) shrine in the outer prakaram and in the Inner Prakaram we can find Lord Shiva and Parvathi Shrines.

Inorder to search and strive for happiness for Human beings Vedas has posted four ends one is  Duty (Dharma) Security or wealth (Artha), Pleasure (Kama) and Freedom (Moksha). We can find all these four in Srikalahasti Temple in wordly form. These are represented by four deites in four directions. Lord Shiva is in the form of DakshinaMurthy represents desire, It is said that he will also represent the feeling of wealth (Dakshina) that comes to know who you really are, Godess Gnana Prasunamba, also called as mother of all knowledge represents the wealth . Lord Kalahasteeswara faces west and represents liberation. 

The Tamil Cholas and the Vijayanagara Rulers have made several endowments to SriKalahasti Temple. Even today we can find the Chola Inscriptions of 10th Century in the temple. Adi Sankara have visited this temple and Worshipped Lord Shiva. The Famous Srikalahasti Satakam written by Dhurjati explains the important traditions and customs associated with this temple.

During the early days of creation, Lord Vayu performed penance of thousands of years to "Karpoora Lingam". Karpooram means Camphor. Lord Shiva was pleased with the penance of Lord Vayu and granted him three boons.Lord Vayu asked Lord Shiva that he want to present everywhere in the World and he want to be integral part of each and every Jiva which is none other than manifestation of Paramatma. He also wants to name this Karpoora Lingam which represents you after me. Lord Shiva said that "you are qualified for all the three boons and as per your wish you will spread throughout this world. With out you there will be no life. The Linga of mine will be forever known all through your name and all Gandharvaas, Suras, Asuras ,Garuda, Kinneras, Kimpurushas, Siddhas, Saadhvis, humans and others will worship this as Vayu Lingam". Lord Shiva disappeared after granting all the boons to Lord Vayu and thereafter the Karpoora Lingam is worshipped by all the Lokas. 

There are several other legends that are connected to the glory of Srikalahasti temple. Most prominent among them is Parvati who was cursed by Lord Shiva to discard the heavenly body and assume the human form. Inorder to remove the curse Parvati did a long penance here at Srikalahasti. Lord Shiva was pleased with her deep devotion recreated her body a hundred times better than that of her previous heavenly body. Lord Shiva initiated Shiva Pachakshari and other mantras to Parvathi. Parvathi gained fame got name as Shiva-Gnanam or Gnana Prasunamba or Gnana Prasunambika Devi. Cursed to become a ghost, Ghanakala Prayed Lord Shiva by chanting Bhairava Mantra for 15 years at Srikalahasti to restore original form.Devendra, Chandra and Mayura also freed from all curses after taking bath in Swarnamukhi River and praying to Lord Shiva at Srikalahasti.  Lord Shiva appeared to Bhakta Markandeya in Srikalahasti and preached that Guru alone could make abstract teachings and therefore Guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara.