Kalahasteeswara Swamy Temple, Sri Kalahasthi –
Literary Mention
Adi
Shankara, Sambandar, Appar, Manikkavacakar, Sundaramurti, Pattinathar and
Ramalinga Swami of Vadalur worshiped Shiva at this temple, which has also
inspired great poetic and musical works. This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal
Petra Shiva Sthalams and 19th Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. The
foremost Telugu poet of Sri Kalahasti was Dhoorjati, one of the eight official
court poets of Sri Krishnadeva Raya. Dhoorjati expressed his devotion to
Kalahasteeswara in “Sri Kalahasteeswara Mahatmiyam” and “Sri Kalahasteeswara Satakam”.
The Telugu poem 'Sri Kalahasti Satakam' explains the traditions associated with
this temple.
Kalahasti
is interlinked with South Indian music and dance. Telugu temple dancers of Sri
Kalahasti and other areas have traditionally performed to compositions
dedicated to Kalahasteeswara, a tradition which continues today in Vilasini
Natyam. Their repertoire featured “Adhyatma Ramayana Keertanalu” composed in
Sri Kalahasti by Munipalle Subrahmanya Kavi, an eminent Telugu scholar and
court poet of the Telugu king Damera Kumara Venkatappa, whose family ruled here
until the British times.
Ghana
ragamalika varnam (“Intha kopamela”) and Sriranjani varnam (“Kaliki ninne”) by
Kalahasti Veena Venkataswami Raju which are dedicated to Kalahasteeswara are
important compositions in the Telugu temple dance repertoire. Muthuswami Dikshitar
sang of this temple in his “Sree Kaalahasteesa” (raga Huseni, tala Jhampa). Ramaswamy
Dikshitar also composed a song on Kalahasteeswara. Kakarla Thyagaraja maternal
grandfather Veena Kalahasti Ayya belonged to this place and later joined the
Tanjore court.
Thyagaraja
disciple Veena Kuppayya composed five songs in praise of Kalahasteeswara,
including the popular “Koniyaadina” in Kambhoji raagam. Sivarama Sastri, an
accomplished musician from Kalahasti, enjoyed the patronage of Maharaja Swati Thirunal
of Travancore. Other works on this temple include the Sree-Kalattipuranam of
the three brothers Karunapprakasar, Sivapprakasar & Velappa Deekshitar, Tirukkalattipuranam
by Aanandakoottar of Veerainagar and Tirukkalatti Ula by Seraikkavirayar.
