* Thousands witness special pujas at Srikalahasti temple

As we all know that, all the Hindu temples across the country will shut their doors during the occurrence of eclipses, to ward off the negative energy. While all the holy shrines will remain close today, the famous Shiva temple at Srikalahasti will open its doors.

According to Hindu belief, the celestial serpents 'Rahu' and 'Ketu' swallow the sun and the moon, to cause eclipses. As both the serpents are tamed and worshipped in this temple, it is strongly believed that the eclipse will not cast any evil effect on the temple. Lets have a report! Srikalahasti is a place of Hindu pilgrimage with a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located at 36 km from Tirupati.

The temple enshrines one of the five prominent Lingas. The presiding deities of Srikalahasti temple are Srikalahastiswara and his consort Gnanaprasunambika. All the local temples across the hindu mythology, will be closed during the eclipse, after the pre-dawn rituals.

One exception is the Srikalahasteeswara Swamy temple, which not only remains open but witness special rituals, conducted on the eclipse-eve. The malefic effects of any eclipse, would have zero impact on this famous Siva temple. The temple will be kept open even as priests performed special Abhishekam to Lord Siva and his consort, amid chanting of Rudhram and Chamakam.

And, elaborate pujas will be performed to Rahu and Kethu in sync with the eclipse period. Thousands of devotes, mostly couples and youths in marriageable age participate in the pujas and other rituals, which lasts over two hours. Since time immemorial, the temple has never been closed during eclipse for this very reason.

There is also a sentiment that offering prayers at the temple during eclipse would rid one of all the ills and misfortune. As a result, locals throng the temple in huge number. While eclipses are a result of the positioning of the sun, earth and the moon in a straight line as per science, mythology has something different to say.

Published Date : Thursday, 16/6/2011 1:54 PM IST