What is Kalahasti?
[[File:Sri_Kala_Hasti.jpg|thumb|Kalahasti]] '''Kalahasti''' is a place in the [[India]]n state of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. It is a place of pilgrimage for [[Hindu]]s. In Kalhasti, there is a famous and ancient temple of [[Shiva]], a god of Hindus. The temple is one of the five such temples of Shiva in [[south India]] collectively known as Pancha Bootha Sthalams. The other four such temples are at [[Kanchipuram]], [[Thiruvanaikaval]], [[Tiruvannamalai]], and [[Chidambaram]]. In this temple, people worship Shiva in the form of a [[linga]]. There are many [[Mythology|mythological]] stories about this linga. One of the stories tell that an [[elephant]], a [[snake]], and a [[spider]] used to [[worship]] this linga. The god Shiva blessed them with moksha (liberation). Another story tells about a saint named Kannappa. He took out his [[eye]]s and offered the same to the linga. At this supreme sacrifice, Shiva became very happy. He appeared in the form of a human being, and restored the eyesight of Kannappa. Kannappa is worshipped as one of the 63 saiva saints in [[Tamil Nadu]]. Sri Kalahasti temple, 36&nbsp;km away is famous for its Vayudeva temple, which is the only shrine of the god of wind in India. Constructed in the 12th century by the Chola king, Rajarajendra, Vayu is incarnated as Lord Shiva and worshipped as Kalahasteeswara. This is an important temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple has one of the elemental lingas, the vayu (air) linga. There is a lamp inside the inner sanctum that is constantly flickering despite the lack of air movement inside. The air-linga can be observed to move even when the pujaris close off the entrance to the main Deity room, which does not have any windows. You can see the flames on several ghee lamps flicker as if blown by moving air. The linga is white and is considered Swayambhu, or self-manifested. Kalahasti is surrounded by two sacred hills. The Durgamba temple is on the northern hill. On the south hill there is the shrine of Kannabeswara, in memory of the Sage Kannappa, who