Vayu Lingam

 Vayu linga Kshetram called Kalahasti is in the chittoor District of Andra Pradesh . This temple is dedicated to Lord Siva. It is also a sacred Sakthi peetam. This temple is situated between two steep hills called Sripuram and Mummidi-cholapuram. But the vedic book says the temple formed part of Seshasaila Mount Meru in the ancient times.The river Swarnamuki flows on one side and the other sides are bounded by hills. In between the huge temple is located with magnificent towers.

The linga in Kalahasti kshetra is one of the five supreme Lingas representing the five great Elements. These are installed in five great Kshetras.The five elements are water, fire, Air, earth and space. Kalahasti is called Vayu Kshetram which is one of the five elements. In proof of the above one can see that in the sanctum of the temple there is a hanging lamp (Deepam) that always keeps swinging with a flickering flame though there is no visible inlet for wind. Where the wind comes from is a mystery.In the sanctum there is no physical idol of a linga.The air ( ' Vayu ' ) there is said to be the icon.

The legend is lord Siva was worshiped by a snake, spider and an elephant. The spider worshipped the Lord by spinning a web over it, the snake by placing a gem on it and the elephant by washing the linga with water. These three attained moksha in the temple by their devotion to the Siva. Even now one can the marks of these three on the central Linga. This together with the ancient Nandi in front is white in color and hence held to be swayambu (self incarnation)

The river Swarnamuki takes northerly course at Kalahasti and the river washes almost the west wall of the temple. The Main entrance of the temple is on the south though the god faces the west.

Another ancient holy book says as a result of an altercation between Adishesha - the Serpent god and Vayu three blocks seperated themselves from mount meru and fell at differant places. One of these is Kalahasti. The other two are in south India and Ceylon. Since Kalahasti is thus a chip which fell off Mount Meru it is said to form a part of it though geographically Mount Meru and Kalahasti are very far.

The temple of Kalahasteeswarar is situated to the west Kalahasti hill. The two entrance towers of the shrine are impressive in appearance. In the second part of the temple is an underground cell where there is an idol of lord Ganapathi called Pathala Ganaesh on a base which is about 30 feet. The surface is said to mark the level of the river Swarnamukhi. The idols of sage Kannappa, Sakthi Vinayaka as well as the bronze idols of Saivate saints (Nayanars) in the temple are ancient and beautiful.

The Kalahasti Sthalapuranam states as to which Rishis worshipped which Llngam in each of the four yugas in order to attain salvation. The sthalapurana says that when Brahma the creator began to perform penance in the presence of this linga Lord Shiva left Kailash and took his abode in this idol. Goddess Parvathi finding that she had been left alone also came to this linga and began her poojas and penance. During this period Durga was Parvathi's attendant. After completion of the penance of Brahma and Parvathi, Lord shiva appeared before them. Durga the attendant was granted a boon according to her wish to became a goddess. Hence there is a hill here called Durga hill. The lord and the goddess are taken out in processon on two occasions on the ninth day of Mahasivaratri and Makara-sankaranthi day.

Abishegam is performed with the camphor mixed with water, milk and panchamurdh to the icon representation of the Linga. The abishagam to the Icon is performed only by priests belonging to Bharadwaja Gotra of Apastambha sutra and who have undergone the prescribed Diksha initiation in the temple. Flowers, sandal paste and the sacred thread (Dhandyam) are also offered to tyhe idol.

Kalahasti is an ancient holy place mentioned in vedic books and sung by famous mystic poets. Its historical background runs to ages. 

Om Hreem Namasivaya!

Location

30 kilo metors from Thiruppathi
One can reach it easily by road from Gudur
on the Chennai-Vijayawada line