Shree Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga

Location : Srisailam

Description : Mallikārjuna also called Śrīśaila is located on a mountain on the river Krishna. Srisailam in Kurnool District in Andhra Pradesh enshrines Mallikarjuna in an ancient temple that is architecturally and sculpturally rich.It is one place where Shakti peeta and Jyotirlingam are together. Adi Shankara composed his Sivananda Lahiri here.\r\nMallikarjun Temple is situated on Shri Shaila Mountain by the banks of the Patal Ganga Krishna River in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Also known as Kailash of the South Mallikarjuna constitutes one of the 12 Jyotirlingam shrines of Shiva and is one of the greatest Shaivaite shrines in India. The presiding deities of Mallikarjuna Temple are Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Devi). Every year there is a fair organized on account of Mahashivratri.\r\nSrisailam mountain is looked upon reverentially as the Kailash of South. The temple situated here is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is among the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. The temple sculptures narrate in stone epics from thre great Hindu epics-Ramayana nand Mahabharata.This temple is considered very holy and is dedicated to Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bhramaramba. One unique feature of the temple is that all the devotees who visit the temple are allowed to touch the idol which is not prevalent in any other temple. The temple is located at a distance of 245 km from Hyderabad. According to Shiva Purana when Lord Ganesh was married of before his Kartikeya and because of this brother Kartikeya became angry. Despite being stopped and consoled by his parents Shiv-Parvati Kartikeya went away to the Kraunch Mountain. Even the Gods went and tried consoling Kartikeya but all their efforts were in vain. Because of this incident Shiv-Parvati were very sad and both decided that they would themselves go to Kraunch Mountain. However when Kartikeya came to know that his parents have arrived he went away. Eventually Lord Shiva assumed the form of Jyotirlinga and resided on that mountain by the name of Mallikarjuna. Mallika means Parvati while Arjuna is another name of Shiva. In this way both Shiva and Parvati came to reside in this linga. It is said that by merely seeing the tip of mountain one is emancipated from all his sins and worries. The person becomes free from the vicious cycle of life and death. \r\nThe architecture of the ancient Mallikarjun Temple is very beautiful and intricate. The temple has fort like walls towers and a rich endowment of sculptural work.\r\n\r\nThe huge temple is built in the Dravidian style with lofty towers and sprawling courtyards and is considered to be one of the finest specimens of Vijayanagar architecture. Temple of Tripurantakam Siddavatam Alampura and Umamaheswaram located in the vicinity of Mallikarjuna Jyotirlina are considered to be the four gateways to Sri Sailam. Hari Har Tirthdham is here in Somnath. This is the holy place of Bhagvan Shri Krishnas Neejdham Prasthan Leela. The place where Bhagvan Shri Krishna was hit by an arrow of a poacher is known as Bhalka Tirtha. After being hit by the arrow Bhagvan Shri Krishna arrived at the holy confluence of Hiran Kapila and Saraswati and their Sangam with the ocean. He performed his divine Neejdham Prasthan Leela at the sacred and peaceful banks of river Hiran.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Geetamandir is built here where the divine message of Shrimad Bhagavat Geeta is carved on eighteen marble pillars. Shri Lakshminarayan Mandir is close by. The Balramjiki Gufa is the place from where Bhagvan Shrikrishnas elder brother Balaramji took journey to his nijdham-patal.\r\n\r\nHere is the Parshuram Tapobhumi where Bhagvan Parshuramji carried out penance and he was relieved from the sin of Kshatriya killings. The Pandavas have said to have visited this place and taken holy bath in the Jalprabhas and built five Shiv temples.
Nearest Stations :
   East : Guntur:221 Km
   West : Gadwal:219 Km
   North : Hyderabad:212 Km
   South : Rudravaram:190 Km