Elegant Eternal

Showing posts with label Temples. Show all posts

Srikalahasti Temple is one the most renowned Hindu temple with the main deity Lord Shiva and Goddess Prasoonambika. It is approximately 6 hours on train from Bangalore. Srikalahasti has been well connected by buses and trains. If you don't find a direct train, then hop off at Tirupati and board a bus to Srikalahasti.

The place has an interesting tale on how it got its name. The spider (Sri), snake (Kala) and elephant (hasti) worshipped Lord Shiva, with selfless devotion and offerings. The spider protected the Shiva Ling from the wind and it sacrificed its life during the fire. The snake prayed offering various gemstones to the Lord. Whilst the elephant would shower the Lord with the water it carried in its truck and place the leaves pushing the gemstones aside. This continued everyday which made the snake angry.

the duo died quarreling with each other whilst.

Another story is about the great devotee, Kannappa, who was a hunter. He offered the water from his mouth and also the flesh that he hunt. When the temple roof collapsed on the idol, the Lord's eyes were hurt and bleed. Kannappa removes one eye and places on the Lord's eye,

The tea staller narrated the story of Bedara Kanappa and how

One would come across the street sellers and shop owners narrating these stories.

The temple is vast and the devotees have to be in queues for a long time.

Place is well connected

Next station after Tirupati - can visit both the places

Lunch is free -

You can buy prasadam after the darshan at a nominal price - laddu

Accomodation
The temple provides the room to the devotees at a nominal price for 24 hours ONLY. In case you wish to stay for two days, then you have to request the receptionist for the extension on a daily basis. You cannot book the room for one week at once. Please note there is no reservation and you would get a room on first come first serve basis only.

Autos - several but remember to bargain

Leave your phones at the room or you can park your phone for Rs 5 at the store. Photography and videography are prohibited at the temple.

The picture frame of the Lord Shiva and Goddess Prasoonambika on the wall at the hotel room

My first travel trip this year started whilst visiting Hyderabad city and the much appraised Lord Balaji of Chilkur, which is more often popular "Visa Balaji Temple" or "Visala Devudu" (in Telugu, it means, Visa granting God). It was a Monday morning, 10th Feb 2014, I changed 3 buses to see the lord and Hyderabad being unfriendly in terms of weather, around 40 degrees centigrade. Having traveled handful places, sometimes alone, this too was on my wishlist for a long time and the time had come to visit alone.

Shops at Chilkur, on the way to temple

Entrance to the Balaji temple

Entrance to the temple

Balaji Temple Gopuram

I reached the temple around 12 noon and was taken by surprise to see the rush. The devotees have to leave behind their mobile phones and cameras, any other belongings if you wish, in the locker before entering the temple. You have to deposit a small fee, as less as Rs 5 or Rs 10 to obtain the locker. As I entered the temple, I made a struggle to enter the Garbha Gudi to see the idol. The boards display that the devotee should make a wish without closing the eyes. You would also notice that there is no Hundi here. Lakhs of people visit the temple everyday and make a single wish by making 11 rounds and once the wish is fulfilled, you have to visit the temple and make 108 rounds. The temple provides the printed sheets from 1 to 108. Remember to take a pen to strike off the number as you complete a round.

I was mesmerized seeing the Bhakti of the devotees, young and old, men and women, rich and poor, busy making rounds and chanting "Govinda Govinda" with the palms joined. The Lord does not demand anything except 108 rounds, not even a Hundi as you see in other temples.

Street side shop selling bangles

Shops on the way to the temple.

It is believed that, a decade ago, when the visas were being rejected by the US embassy, people would visit the temple and then there were no rejections at all. I would definitely visit this temple again for its ambiance and divinity, though its not for a Visa. :)

I was at Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh (which is now Seemandhra!) in April to visit a friend. Chittoor is a stop before Tirupati and 1 hour on road to Vellore, Tamil Nadu. The temperature here goes as high as 40 degree Centigrade during summer and frequent power cuts. The nearby places to visit are a few temples at Tirupati, Kanipkam Vinayaka Temple, ArdhaGiri Anjaneya and Mahalakshmi temple at Vellore.

Having less time and considering the climate, Kanipakam was the nearest place to visit from Chittoor which is 30 minutes on bus. On reaching the temple premises, we deposited the cell phones and cameras at the counter. Note that the phones and cameras are not allowed and you might end up paying huge fines if you take them along inside.

The temple has a pond or "sarovar" at the entrance where you can wash the feet before entering the temple and few people also float the "deepa" or light.

Entrance of Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple

We bought a quick Darshana ticket costing Rs 51 thinking that we will see the god in no time, but stood in the queue for a long time and finally the Darshana lasted only a few minutes as there were many devotees in the queue. The Ganesha idol is a small one which is believed to be emerged out of waters and keeps growing in size. The temple is vast and well-maintained. Many men and women shave their head once their wish is fulfilled and many young new married couples, still in their wedding attire, come to the temple to seek the Lord's blessings.

There are many shops at the temple premises selling the "malas" worn around the neck, Ganesha idols and what not.