DHINAM ORU KOVIL - 120

SRI. MALLIKARJUNA SWAMY TEMPLE, SRISAILAM, Kurnool Dt, ANDHRAPRADESH.

This temple of Lord Shiva is situated in Srisailam on a flat top of Nallamalai hills by
the side of the river Krishna in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh. It is about 260
kms from Hyderabad or about 500 kms from Chennai.. The presiding deities are
Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy, one of the twelve Jyothirlingas and Goddess
Bhramaramba Devi one of the eighteen Mahasakthis and both are self-manifested.
The unique feature of this kshetram is the combination of Jyothirlingam and
Mahasakthi in one campus, which is only one of its kind. Sthala Vriksham is
Arjunam ( Marudha Maram ). Theertham is Paadhala Gangai ( Krishna River ).There
is a common belief that this Holy Kshetram exists from times immemorial. The
antiquity and origin of God Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Bhramaramba Devi is
not known.
Srisailam plays a dominant role in our religious, cultural and social history from
ancient times. The epigraphic evidence reveals that the history of Srisailam
begins with the Sathavahanas who were the first empire builders in South India.
The earliest known historical mention of the Hill Srisailam, can be traced in
Pulumavis Nasik inscription of 1st Century A.D.
The Dwadasa Jyotirlinga shrines or the 12 shrines enshrining Shiva in the form of a
Jyotirlingam, have been held in reverence since time immemorial in the Indian
system of beliefs. These temples are closely linked with legends from the puranas
and are rich in history and tradition. They are more ancient than Chidambaram,
Thiruvannamalai etc. Vedas say that the dharshan of SriSailam will wash away all
the sins of the previous births and brings salvation. Shiva told that whoever visits
Srisailam will reach Kailash after the end of this birth. Ganesha told Him You are an
innocent and hence people will tell you that they have visited Srisailam without
visiting and hence I will reside there as Sakshi Ganapathi. Whoever visits Srisailam,
after the dharshan, should visit me also, so that I will note down. Hence the
Srisailam visit is complete only after having a dharshan of Sakshi Ganapathi. It is
said that Shiva told Paravathi that He considers SriSailam as his most favourite
place, more than Kailasam, and the place reflects His full power
3 of the Jyothirlingas Rameswaram, Sri Sailam and Kedarnath have been sung in
Thevaram hymns. They are part of the 275 Thevaram glorified temples.
Sambhandar and Sundarar have sung about Srisailam from Kalahasthi itself;
Thirunavukkarasar, on return from Kailasam, worshipped here. Arunagirinathar and
Vallalar also have sung on this temple.Maha Bharatham, Ramayanam, Siva
Puranam, Mathsya Puranam, Agni Puranam and Vayu Puranama have mentioned
this temple. Marutha tree (Arjuna tree) has been Sthla Vruksham only in 3 temples
and they are: a) Thiruppudai maruthur near Ambasamudhram in Trinelveli
Kadaimaruthur or Pudarjunam .b) Thiruvidai maruthur near Kumbakonam where Sri

Mahalinga Swamy is present Idaimarudhur or Madhyarjunam. c) SriSailam Thalai

marudhur or Uthraarjunam. Unlike other Shiva temples, here devotees are allowed
inside Garbagraha (Sanctum) and also to touch the Linga and even to do Abhishek
themselves. A special fee is charged for this by the temple authorities. The
Vimanam of the Shiva shrine is Goldplated. There are plenty of shrines inside with
many lingams and beautiful sculptures.1. Vrudhamallikarjuna Swamy is said to be
older than the present Mallikarjuna swamy lingam. There is no Nandhi in front of it.
The lingam is uneven on its outer face indicating its ancientness and it was
worshipped by Chandravathi with mallika flowers. Hence it is called Vrudha
Mallikarjuna swamy.2. Ardhanareeswar is in the northern side of the temple and its
period is unknown.3. Lingas installed by Pandavas are enshrined in five temples
situated beside the Ardhanareseswara temple.4. Mallika Kundam (water
well):According to mythology, this Kundam was part of the Saraswathi river, which
flows underneath the Krishna river. This Saraswathi river is called Antaarvahine .
Many devotees used this Mallika Kundam water to heal their diseases. Another
important aspect is that the image of the Mallikarjuna shrine/ Gopuram is reflected
in this Kundam.5. Veerabhadra Swamy Temple:This north facing idol is guarding
the Lord Mallikarjuna swamy.6. Sanagalabasavanna:It is situated in front of the
Nandi mandapam. This Nandi is called Nandeeswara (Baswanna).7. Addala
(Mirror) Mandapam:Place for Swamy where he takes rest in the nights.8. Tri fruit tree
(Triphala Vruksham): Juvvi, Ravi and Medi plants have grown together as one tree. It
is said that Acharya Nagarjuna and others were given deeksha under this tree.
There is a belief that childless couples will be blessed with child by doing
pradakshina here.9. Nithyakalyana mandapam (marriage hall):Daily Marriage
function of the Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bramarambika ammawaru is done here in
the evening times.10. Sri Rama and Sita Devis Sahasralingams: 1000 lingas are
carved in one linga. Sri Ramas linga is situated in Mallikarjuna Swamy temple
whereas Sita Devis is in Amman temple. Other deities are Saptha mathas, Brahma
Kundam (well), Vishnu Kundam, Manohara Kundam, Yudhdha Mallikarjunar, Uma
Maheswarar, Kumaraswamy (Murugan) temple, Chandramba, Pancha
Nandeeswarar, Sidhdhi Vinayahar, Pancha lingeswarar, Raja Rajeswari .
Brahmarambigai Amman temple itself is a completely independent and big temple.
A rare sculpture of Lopa Mudhra, wife of Agasthya Maharshi can be seen here. The
outer walls of the temple have many beautiful sculptures. Festivals like Karthigai
deepam of Thiruvannamalai, Brahmosthavam of Thirupathi and Maha Sivarathri are
the most important here and the Kalayana Utsavam on that day is the most famous
festival here.
Legend is that Parvatha, son of Silada Maharshi is said to have performed penance,
pleased Siva and made him agree to live on his body. This Parvatha assumed the
shape of big Hill - Sriparvatha and Siva lived on its top as Mallikarjuna Swamy.
There is a legend involving Murugar similar to Palani. Murugar came and sat in an
adjacent hill here in anger over Shiva and Parvathi since they favoured Vinayagar.
Shiva and Parvathi came to Srisailam only to cool down Murugar. Arjunan got the

weapon of Pasupatha Asthram only here after a long penance .Hirnaya Kasibu
worshipped during Krutha yuga. Ramar installed a lingam here, after killing Ravana
during the Thretha yuga. Panadavas installed a lingam here after finishing their 12
years of stay at forests during the Dhwabara yuga. Aadhi Sankarar,
Nagarjunacharyar, Chathrapathi Shivaji, Krishna deva raya visited during this kali
yuga; Shivaji stayed here for some time, worshipped Brahmarambigai and
constructed one of the towers, Uthara Gopura, also called, the Shivaji Gopuram. The
importance of the temple was revealed to Vedha vyasar by Sanath Kumarar, the son
of Lord Brahma. Sage Bringi once came in pradhikshnam around Shiva neglecting
Paravathi Devi in the form of a bee. She got angry and cursed him first but later
blessed him at the behest of Shiva. Devi is called Brahmarambigai since She
blessed Bringi (Brahmaram means bee). It is said that one can hear the buzzing
sound of bee in a hole behind the Sanctum of Ambal .Shiva gave dharshan as Ardha
Nareewarar to Sage Bringi.
I HAVE VISITED ONCE.