Kalahasteeswara Swamy Temple, Sri Kalahasthi – Religious
Practices & Festivals
The
temple follows Saivite tradition. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The
temple rituals are performed four times a day: Kalasanthi at
6:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 11:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at
5:00 p.m and Sayarakshai between 7:45 - 8:00 p.m. Each
ritual has three steps: Alankaram (decoration), neivedhyam (food
offering) and Deepa aradhanai (waving of lamps) for both
Srikalahasteeswara and Gnana Prasunambika. There are weekly, monthly and
fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The temple is open from 6am - 12
pm and 4-8:30 pm.
Kalahasthi
temple is closely attached with the history of Kannappar, whose bhakti
(devotion) is yet to be equaled in the history of the religious literature of
Tamilnadu. Acharya Shankara had devoted a verse in praise of Kannappar in his
celebrated Shivanandalahari. Sekkizhar, in his Periyapuranam elaborately sings
the greatness of Kannappar in 185 verses. Kannappar performed abishek to the
Lord bringing water from the Swarnamukhi river in his mouth. Vibhuti Prasad is
not offered in this temple, but symbolizing the Abishek Theertha of Kannappar,
only Theertha Prasad (water) is offered to the devotees mixed with Pachai
Karpooram. It is offered through a conch.
The
Vibhuti (sacred ash) brought by the devotees are placed at the feet of the
Lord, an Arati is offered and returned to the devotee. Abishek is performed to
the Lord only with water mixed with Pachai Karpooram. Other Abisheks are
offered only to the stage (called Avudayar – the Linga Peetam). As the Shrine
is related to Rahu-Ketu planets, devotees do the Pradikshina in an
anti-clockwise way. As sage Bharadhwaja performed penance here, only those
belonging to the Bharadhwaja Gotra are appointed as archakas in the temple.
The Kavacham covering the Lord has the symbols of the
planets, hence there is no separate shrine for the Navagrahas except for
Saturn. Garlands are not offered
on the body of Lord. An Angi – upper cloth – is placed on the Lord on which
Thumba Flower Garland is placed. In the Oddiyanam (belt made of gold studded
with pearls and precious stones), of Mother Gnanaparasunambikai, the symbol of
planet Kethu is carved. There is a temple for Lord Manikandeswarar on the
slopes of the hill through which Kannappar went on the hill taking his Abishek
Water from Ponmuhali river.
There is
also a mandap called Manikarnika Gattam near this temple carved out of the
hill. The story goes that it is here Lord Shiva uttered the Tharaka Mantra to a
woman (commonly known as Karna Manthra being uttered on the ears of the
departing soul) as Lord Viswanatha did in Kasi – Varanasi to a devotee.
Following this tradition, devotees use to bring those nearing their end to
Manikarnika Gattam and place them lying here so that the last breath may leave
the mortal body through the right ear. Procession of Lord is taken from the
North tower entrance. As Maharishis worshipped the Lord facing the east after a
dip in the Ponmuhali river, Lord Kalathiappar is facing west to bless the
Rishis.
Maha
Shivaratri is the most important
festival when lakhs of devotees offer prayers to seek the blessings of
the Lord. Mahasivarathri Brahmotsavams are celebrated in par with Maha
Shivaratri for 13 days during which the Utsava Murtis of Siva and Parvati will
be taken on Vahanams in a procession around the temple streets. The fifth day of
the festival in the month of Maasi coincides with the Maha Shivaratri. Mahasivarathri,
Nandi Seva, Lingodbhavam, Rathotsavam, Theppotsavam and Swami-Ammavarla
Kalyanotsavam are the important aspects of this festival. Shivaratri, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Vijayadasami, Thirukarthigai in November-December, Oonjal festival
on all Fridays, Makara Sankaranthi (Pongal) in January and Giri Valam on Shivarathri
day are the other important festivals celebrated here.
