The main temple is dedicated to Lord Siva, the destroyer among the Trimurthies (Triumverates).

The linga here is identified as one of the Panchabhutalingas (the five lingas made up of the five elements of the universe) - wind, water, fire, earth and ether. The linga at Srikalahasti is Vayulinga or one made up of wind.

Jalalinga, the Linga made up of water, at Jambukeswara, Jyothirlinga, the linga made up of fire, at Arunachalam, Akshalinga, the Linga made up of ether, at Chidambaram, and Prithvilinga, the Linga made up of earth, at Sivakanchi - are the other four Lingas made up of the other four elements of the universe.

The skillful Yadava architecture of the temple is such that a flame flickers continuously in the sanctum sanctorum, indicating the presence of a shaft of wind near the deity !

Since the shaft of air that is present in the sanctum sanctorum is considered as the Linga or the main deity (Vayulinga), there is another idol, Srikalahastiswara Linga - on to which are embedded images of a spider, snake and elephant - to which the priest performs pooja and rituals.

The Tondaman emperor and later the Pallava rulers contributed to the growth of the temple environs. After Pallavas, the Cholas remodelled the temple premises and built huge walls around it.

The vast temple campus is a maze of intricate structures, and one is likely to loose one's way without a guide. The temple of Srikalahasti has four major entrances each with a huge tower.

There is an "Alms Tower" or Bichchala Gopuram, as it is commonly called. It is a smaller tower constructed by the Yadava kings by collecting alms and hence it got the name.

The breathtakingly huge compound has a large flower garden, rooms for making garlands, eating places and a place for Vasanthotsavam (festival of colors) during Holi in the names of Chookkeswara and Meenakshi - coupling devotion with pleasure.

In the temple compound, there is an underground temple for Ganesh and an entrance leading to the Kannappa Hill.

Since the entrance is dark and it takes a while to go to Kannappa Hill and get back, it is better to plan the trek for the Kannappa hill for the morning.