Day 2: Tirupati to Guntur

Origin: Tirupati
Destination: Guntur
Distance Covered: 376 kms

States Covered: Andhra Pradesh
Districts Covered: Nellore, Ongole, Guntur

Sri Kalahasti Temple:

We drove to Kalahasti and visited the Siva Temple there. Sri Kalahasti temple, situated 36 km away from Tirupati is famous for its Vayu linga, one of the Panchabhoota Sthalams, representing wind. The temple is also associated with Rahu and Ketu (of the nine grahams or celestial bodies in the Indian astrological scheme). The river Suvarnamukhi takes the northerly course at Sri Kalahasti almost washing the west wall of the famous temple . Inside this very large temple, situated between two steep hills Sripuram and Mummidi-cholapuram, is the Sivalinga set to represent the element of Vayu.

This temple is considered as the Kailash of the South or Dakshin Kailash. Saivaite saints of the first century sang about this temple. The entire temple is carved out of the side of a huge stone hill.

Wandering Sadhus: We interviewed two sadhus in this temple. One of them had a profound message: He told us, “You have the money but no time. Therefore you can buy a ticket, see Shiva at once and move on. I have no money but I have all the time. I can see Shiva leisurely.” We then asked him “What is the most important possession a human being must have”?  His answer, “Happiness! You must have it. Once you have it, don’t give it away. Once it leaves you, you won’t get it back”. We then asked him who the other Sadhu was. He said, “He is my pupil”. And what do you teach him, we asked. “How to be happy!” said he and walked away into his own world, leaving us disseminating the truth that he had just imparted to us!