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Revision as of 15:37, 21 January 2007
This article is about Kalahasti city. For the temple, see Kalahasti temple.Template:Infobox Indian urban area Srikalahasti is a town and a municipality in Chittoor district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks of river Swarnamukhi, a tributary to river Pennar.
It is one of ancient Hindu piligrimages and the site of a famous Shiva temple with magnificiant gopuras, and adjacant to Tirupati, another famous temple town. It is also the house of popular textile painting art called kalamkari.
Legends
The place name comes from three animals, Sri(spider), Kala(snake) and hasti(elephant) who worshipped Shiva and gained salvation here. There is a statue in the temple that shows all three animals.
The Skanda, Siva, and Linga Puranas mention about Kalahasti. The Skanda Purana mentions that Arjuna visited this place, worshipped Kalahastiswara Swami, and met the sage Bharadwaja on the top of the hill. It is believed that Bhakta Kannappa, a tribal devotee has worshipped Siva here.
Brahma, the God of creation, is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva, and bathed in the swarnamukhi river to get rid of "sisuhathya patakam" (the sin of killing childern).
The river Swarnamukhi got its name from a belief that gold was found in its stream. Swarna means gold and Swarnamukhi means gold faced in Sanskrit.
History
The historical reference to this temple occur in the works of Nakkeerar, a Tamil poet in 3rd Century BC during the Tamil Sangam Dynasty. He called it as Southern Kailash. Many more Tamil Saivite saints like Sambandar, Appar, Manikkavasagar, Sundaramurti, Pattinathar and Sri Ramalinga Swami of Vadalur have also visited this place.
The Cholas renovated the old temple constructed by Pallavas earlier. Kulottunga Chola, famous king of early cholas constructed the Galigopuram, the main entrance facing south. In 12th Century A.D., King Veeranarasimha Yadavaraya built the present Prakaras, and the four Gopurams connecting the four entrances. According an inscription of Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara empire dating back to 1516 A.D., he constructed the Hundred Pillared Mantapam and the other tall Galigopuram that faces west to east. In 1529 A.D., King Achutaraya of the Vijayanagara empire got his coronation performed here, before he celebrated in his capital City. The Natukottai Chettiars of Devakottai gave the final shape to the temple in 1912 by donating around nine lakes of rupees.
Geography
Srikalahasti is located at 13°45′N 79°42′E / 13.750°N 79.700°E / 13.750; 79.700 on on the bank of river Swarnamukhi. It is located 80 miles north of Chennai and 30km north of Tirupati.
Economy
The town depends on agriculture and tourism. The main crops are rice, sugar cane and ground nuts. Ground nut was grown extensively that a pathological condition of the crop is found exclusively here, and named as Kalahasti melady. Hundreds of Kalamkari artists also add some revenue.
Government
It is located in Chittoor district. It is part of Tirupati constituency in Indian Parliment.
Demographics
As of 2001 India censusTemplate:GR, Srikalahasti had a population of 70,876. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Srikalahasti has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 59%. In Srikalahasti, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Transport
The nearest airport is Tirupati. It is reachable by road from Tirupati, Chennai or Gudur, the main junction in Madras-Vijayawada rail line. Some trains from Vijayawada to Tirupati halt at Kalahasti. The local transport is by taxis or autos.
Andhra Pradesh State owned Bus services and other tour operators provide package visit to temple towns Tirupati and Srikalahasti.
Culture
The city is also famous for kalamkari art, painting on cotton or silk textiles with dyes made from vegetables. The Rahu-ketu sarpa dosha puja is frequently performed activity.
The Telugu poem collection 'Sri Kalahasteeswara Satakam' by Dhurjati explains the traditions associated with this temple during the times of Vijayanagara Empire. Muthuswamy Deekshitar, one of the foremost composers in the Karnatic Music Tradition has sung of this temple in his bhajans '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.
Relegious attractions
- Srikalahastiswara temple of Siva and his consort Gnana Prasunamba.
- Viswanatha temple
- Kannappa Hill
- The Manikarnika temple.
- Two wells called Surya Pushkarani and Chandra Pushkarani
- The Suryanarayana temple.
- Baradhwaja ashramam and thirtham(Nandanavanam or 'lobavi')
- The Krishandevaraya Mantapa, the Jalakoti Mantapa and the Palagar Mantapa etc. are all situated closes
- Sri Sukabrahmaashramam.
- Veyilingala kona (the valley of the thousand lingas).
Sports
Media
See also
- Tirumala, nearby temple town.
- Lepakshi, another Shivite temple from the period of Vijayanagara Empire.
External Links
 | This article about a location in Andhra Pradesh is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
- http://www.hindubooks.org/temples/andhrapradesh/kalahasti/page5.htm
- http://www.hindubooks.org/temples/andhrapradesh/kalahasti/page8.htm