Rahu Kethu Parihara Puja at Sri Kalahasti

Sri Kalahasti – One of the popular pilgrimage destinations in South India is also popularly known for Lord Siva in the state of ‘Air’, one of five forms, Space, Fire, Land, Air and Water. It is one of the ancient temples built during Pallavar period and the current existing structure was built by the Tamil Chola King Kulothunga Cholan I, II and III in 11th century. The temple is believed to be the powerful parihara sthalam where anyone who has Rahu-Kethu dosha can do their pariharam to get relieved from any.
Sri Kalahasti is located near Tirupati, in Andra Pradesh. To say the exact location, it is located on the banks of Swrnamukhi river, 36 kilometers from Tirupathi and in the Chitoor district.
Sri Kalahasti is about 118 kilometers from Chennai which takes up to 3 hours of travel by bus. There are many bus frequencies from Chennai CMBT, both Tamil Nadu Transport and Andra Pradesh Transportation.
Everyday hundreds of people visit Sri Kalahasti for parihara puja. But most of them are new to this place visiting for the first time. In order to help those who are visiting for the first time for their parihara puja, here is a guide:
Right Transport:  If you are leaving from Chennai, take bus form CMBT. The ticket costs about Rs.80 approximately. You can reach the temple in max 3 hours time. Starting early in the morning is recommendable to do the parihara though you can do anytime during the day. It is your comfort.
Best Time: The best time to visit Sri Kalahasti for the parihara puja is Rahu Kaalam. Performing the parihara during rahu kaalam is considered to be very powerful and effective when compared to performing during any time of the day.
The parihara puja begins in the temple at 6.30 am and it continues till 6pm in the evening.
The batch begins for puja in the morning and each batch takes about 45 minutes to complete the puja.  But it is your talent to plan your time and stand in the queue to do the parihara puja exactly during the rahu kaalam.
Soon you reach the temple:
Soon after you reach the temple, there will be some guys around ready to take your money maximum in the name of helping you and guiding you. Beware!
They talk very caring to help you. They would insist you to buy ‘nei vilakku’ which costs over Rs.60 if you buy from them and they will say you must tie the ‘manjal kair’ on the tree in Vinayakar Sannidi for which they take Rs. 100 from you.
So it is good that you take three ‘agal vilakku’ with ghee and ‘thiri’ and 5 ‘manjal kair’ with ‘manjal’ tied in it which hardly costs you Rs. 30 if you take it with you from home rather than buying there else you will be forced to pay Rs. 200 even if you buy from them. You need to buy milk for ‘naga’ which costs Rs.20.
Procedure to follow for ‘Parihara’:
Soon you reach the temple, go to Vinayakar sannidhi which is straight inside the entrance where the bus drops you. A 50 ft inside from the entrance on the right side is the vinayakar sannidhi where you need to tie the 5 ‘manjal kairu’ on the tree and pray to god before you begin the parihara.
Next you need to come to the main entrance for which you need to walk around the temple and it is about 300 – 400 meters from this entrance.
Here you must lit the ‘agal vilaku’, pour the milk for naga, pray to god, surya namaskaram and then climb over the steps to go the sannidhi for parihara.
Once you enter inside climbing the steps, on left side you can find the place for Rs.750/- parihara and a few feet further you can buy the tickets and parihara puja bag. Then stand in the queue for your turn.
Before you enter in, you will be asked to break a coconut.
After the pairhara is over, you must break the remaining coconut and then go to Siva Ambal sannidhi, you must show your Rs.750/ ticket otherwise you will made to follow the general free dharsan queue else you need to buy special ticket if you miss this parihara ticket.
After the dharsan is over, you will be offered kumkum which you take home and use it everyday.
Do the parihara with trust and pray to god soulfully, you will definitely realize good differences in your life soon.
Ticket: There are three tickets available for parihara puja. Rs. 300/- Rs.750/-, Rs.1500/-
Ticket: Rs.750/-: Only one person will be allowed inside the parihara room along with the person who is doing the pariharam.
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Note: Do not get carried over or confused by persons who is doing business there in the shops or those who pretend to guide you, saying that two or three people will be allowed inside for pariharam.  It is only one person can accompany the one doing pariharam.
Rs. 300/- pariharam will be done in a huge hall out side the temple premises.
Rs.750/- parihram will be done near the main temple premises in an A/C hall which has Siva Sannidhi inside.
Rs.1500/- pariharam will be done inside the temple premises which are also considered as VIP ticket.
Parihara puja items:
Before you stand in the queue for Rs.750/- ticket, you must buy the parihara puja items which are sold in a bag as a package along with the ticket. This parihara puja item bag is inclusive of Rs.750/- ticket therefore you need not spend anything extra to buy the puja items.
The parihara bag contains Rahu-Kethu sarpam in silver, two cloths, black and red, kumkum and manjal, two lemons, three coconuts, black ellu, white orud dall.
Note: you need to buy flowers extra sufficiently to do the puja.
The priest will say the mantra which those who is doing the parihara will have to repeat and do the puja as guided by him.
After the puja is over you will go for the Ambal, Siva darshan and after which the parihara puja is over.
Note:  Soon after the pariharam is over, you must straight away go to your home and must not visit any relatives or friends home or should not go to any other places to while away your time. You must strictly go to your home.
Note: you must carry the ticket with you throughout the parihara and for the darhan of Siva and Ambal, until you come out of the temple.

To Guide you:
The best time for the puja is rahu kalam (all 7 days in a week). You can however perform the puja anytime during the day, though performing exactly during the rahu kalam is considered to be powerful and effective.
It is not necessary to stay in the temple or cottage one day prior or after the puja. If you are residing at a nearby location from where you can travel within a day and go back to your home, then you can plan your puja accordingly.
For example, if you are staying in Chennai which is about 2.30 to 3 hours of travel, then you can plan to visit the temple in the morning taking the bus from Chennai and (planning the time exactly with your presence during rahu kalam in the temple for puja is recommendable). After you perform the puja, and have the dharshan of Siva and ambaal, you can leave to your home in Chennai immediately.
It is not a must to take bath in the river after the pariharam is over. If at all you prefer, then at this time you need to leave all your dress and any accessories you are wearing in the river it self and wear new or fresh clothes after bath. Though this is not compulsory and it depends on individual interest.
Some one said that after having pooja, one have to perform bath, have darshan and then only should return to their homes. Please provide suggestions on this saying. Is it mandatory to have bath after having Rahu-Kethu pooja?

Not exactly. It is not a compulsion to take bath after the puja is over. it is your comfort. if so the priests or aacharias who support in performing the Puja would have insisted it.
Therefore it is not a completion and it is absolutely on an individual interest.

For the V.I.P ticket, two persons are allowed inside the ‘Parihara’ premises non a/c. Of course, kids are allowed. V.I.P ticket holders are entitled for Sheshavastrams and Prasadams. Pooja timings are from 6.00 am to 7.00 pm daily except on Maha Shivarathri.
For more information kindly contact the temple office. Telephone Numbers: 08578-222240,221336, 9885974050 & email id is eo_srikalahasthi@yahoo.co.in

After this puja, can we visit lord Venkateswara in Tirumala. Please share your opinion.

 

The purpose of returning home directly is to take the maximum effect of Raghu Kethu Pooja to your home after performing the pooja. So better go home straight. Why not visit Thirumala prior to Kalahasthi visit?