The Kalahasti Temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva is situated at
Kumbakonam in
Thanjavur District,
Tamil Nadu. The main idol is that of
Nataraja and his consort
Parvati, in the dance pose called Ananda tandavam (Dance of Bliss). There are also idols of great Saivaite saints like Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manickavasagar.
Durga,
Lakshmi and
Saraswati, the wives of the Hindu Holy Trinity (
Shiva,
Vishnu and
Brahma) are also worshipped.
The Kalahasti Temple is nearly 300 years old. It was built by King Sarabhoji for the Sankaracharya of Kanchi. The temple boasts of a tower that is richly carved with the various manifestations of Lord Shiva.
Proper prayers and offering to the Kalahasteeswara is believed to solve all kinds of problems. Thousands of devotees visit this temple every year. The town is well-connected by rail and road.
