Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh · 13.7500°, 79.6983°
The air-element shrine of the five-element temples — a lamp inside the windless sanctum flickers perpetually — and the great centre of Rahu-Ketu serpent-affliction remedies, drawing worshippers for kala sarpa dosha pujas. Effectively the 'Kailasa of the South' paired with nearby Tirumala.
Named for three devotees — the spider (Sri) who wove webs to shade the linga, the serpent (Kala) who crowned it with gems, and the elephant (Hasti) who bathed it daily; and hallowed by Kannappa, the hunter-saint who offered his own eyes to staunch the linga's bleeding and was stopped by Shiva's hand.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-26 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Chola