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Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga widely recognized all over the country. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga situated on the sacred Sri Shail Mountain near the banks of the Krishna River in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. This mountain also called Kailash of the South. Here the combined form of both Shiva and Parvati present.

 

This temple located in Andhra Pradesh. Most of the Jyotirlingas located in India is located in the central and upper parts of India. On the contrary, this temple is located in the southern region of India.

The area of ​​Srisail Mallikarjuna in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh is a holy place. At the foot of which the Krishna River has taken the form of Patal Ganga. In ancient times, Lord Shivshankar used to come to this state as a bilva.

The names of 12 holy Jyotirlingas located in the holy land of India are given according to their location. This is name-wise-

1.       Somnath (Gujarat)

2.       Mallikarjuna (Andhra Pradesh)

3.       Mahakaleshwar (Madhya Pradesh)

4.       Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh)

5.       Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)

6.       Bhimashankar (Maharashtra)

7.       Kashi Vishwanath (Uttar Pradesh)

8.       Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra)

9.       Vaidyanath (Jharkhand)

10.   Nageshwar (Gujarat)

11.   Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu)

12.   Ghrishneshwar (Maharashtra)

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga

India  also known as a cultural country. Where people of many religions reside in India and here all people have been given the freedom to choose their religion. Hindus have the largest population in India. Different gods and goddesses worshiped among Hindus.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why thousands of temples, big and small, have been built in India. All these temples have their own importance. In the same way, the 12 Jyotirlingas located in the holy land of India have a different identity of their own.

It  believed that Lord Shiva himself had appeared in these Jyotirlingas located at 12 different places in India. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why these Jyotirlingas especially worshiped by Shiva devotees.

This Jyotirlinga situated on the banks of the Krishna River on the Shail Mountain. It also called Dakshin Kailash. The glory of this place mentioned in many religious texts. Krishna river also an ancient river. According to Mahabharata, worshiping Lord Shiva on Shree Shail Mountain believed to yield results from performing Ashwamedha Yagya.

Story of Mallikarjuna Jyotirling

At this place, he took permanent residence in the form of Divya Jyotirlinga. This place also called Kailash Niwas. When Kumar Kartikeya returned to Kailash to his parents after circumambulating the earth, he was furious after hearing the story of Ganesha’s marriage to Narad ji and went to Kroch Mountain by bowing to him even after the parents refused. When Parvati ji hurt and did not have patience even after explaining, Shankar ji sent the dev sages to Kumar to explain to her, but they returned disappointed.

On this, at the request of Parvati Ji, distraught with her son’s separation, Shiva himself went there with Parvati Ji, but after hearing the arrival of his parents, he left the Kroch Mountain and went away to three yojanas. Shiv-Parvati Ji, distraught with love for not finding a son here, established his light here before going to other mountains in search of them. Since then, this Jyotirlinga  called Mallikarjuna due to the name of the Mallikarjuna area. Shivaji on the new moon day and Parvati on the full moon day continues to come here even today.

This Shivling was established by Lord Vishnu in Satyuga.

Lord Rama used to come to this area in Tretayuga. Came in and worshiped Shrisail Shivling.

In the Dwapar Yuga, the Pandavas came here during their exile and worshiped Lord Shiva.

In the 2nd century CE, the Satavahana dynasty Chakravarti Gautami’s son Shatkarni renovated this temple.

The Ikshvaku kings of the 3rd century came to Srisailam and offered prayers and made several offerings to the temple.

Vishnu Kundi was an exclusive devotee of King Sri Sailam in the 4th century. They used to worship Maa Bhramarawan Devi regularly.

The Chinese traveler Swen Tsang visited this place in 499 and described it in his travelogue.

In the 5th century, the fame of Sri Sailam spread all over the world. Devotees from all over India worship here through out the year.

In the 6th century, Raja Indra Bhandaraka Varma, and Vikramendra Varma were the exclusive devotees of Lord Mallikarjuna. Those kings were always involved in the service of the temple.

Shankaracharya, the founder of Advaita philosophy living in the 7th century, has included Srisaila in the Jyotirlinga eulogy among the twelve Jyotirlingas. Vasubandhu, in his work Vasavadatta, has considered Sri Parvat as the abode of Lord Shankar. Srisailam said to be a holy place in the Mahabharata. There is a separate section in Skanda Purana, named Srisaila Khanda. In Malati Madhava, Bhavabhuti mentions a Srisailam named Aghorghanta.

The Chinese traveler Fahien visited this temple in 629 and described it in his daily diary.

In 680-696, King Vinayadatta got many construction works done in the temple whose inscription was obtained from the temple.

In 1057, King Trailokyamalla offered prayers at this temple and donated many jagirs to the temple.

Kakatiya king Kazipet Darga had received initiation in this temple in 1090. He granted many jagirs to the temple.

The spire of the temple was built by King Velinat Nayak II in 1132-1162.

From 1119-1162, King Ganapati Deva worshiped Sri Sailam and granted several jagirs to the temple.

1260- King Jannigadeva visited Mallikarjuna Swami with his family and gifted a village.

In the year 1313, Kakatiya king Prataparudra got many constructions done for the arrangement of the temple.

1346-King Prolamvema made stairs for Patal Ganga and worshiped here.

Between 1364-1386, during the reign of Anvema Reddy, steps were built from Uma Maheswaram to Jatrarenu, the northern lion gate of Sri Parvat.

Between 1448-1465, Mallikarjuna Raya, the son of King Devaraya II, did many works in Sri Sailam and gave full protection to the temple.

1516-King Krishnadeva Raya worshiped Sri Sailam and got the pavilions built.

The temple was damaged during the reign of Aurangzeb between 1531-1556. And the temple land  snatched away.

1565- the governor of the region, Munawwar Khan, imposed a tax on the pilgrims and took away much of the temple property.

1674- Chhatrapati Shivaji offered prayers at this temple and added to its splendor. North Gate constructed.

1769-Ahilya Devi Holkar, a Shiva devotee, built a strong ghat on the Patal Ganga here after 852. And worshiped the Jyotirlinga and gave many gifts to the temple.

With the growth of wealth and food, the worship of this Jyotirlinga leads to the attainment of prestige, health, and other desires. The kings of Vijayanagara also built temples, gopuras, and ponds here. Hiranyakashyap, Narad etc.Purana’s famous personalities came here and had darshan of Jyotirlinga.

Another story of the appearance of Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga

According to another legend, near this mountain  the capital of a king named Chandragupta. Once his daughter ran away from her parents’ palace and went to this mountain to avoid any particular calamity. After going there, she started living her life with the local cowherds from a tuber, root, milk, etc. The princess had a Shyama cow, whose milk was used by someone every day.

One day she saw the thief milking when she ran to kill him in anger when she reached near the cow, she found nothing except the Shivling. Later a Shiva devotee princess got a grand temple constructed at that place and since then Lord Mallikarjuna became revered there.

The glory of this Jyotirlinga has been described in many religious texts. According to the Mahabharata, worshiping Lord Shiva and Parvati on Shree Shail Mountain gives the same result as performing the Ashwamedha Yagya. All kinds of troubles of the devotees run away just by the sight of Shri Shail Mountain peak. He gets infinite pleasures and becomes free from the cycle of movement.

The person who sees this linga becomes free from all sins and attains his ultimate desire forever and ever. This linga form of Lord Shankar is very beneficial for the devotees.

Archetect of Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple

This Jyotirlinga surrounded by 25feet-high walls. These walls of stone and sculptures of deities of Shiva Purana etc. carved on the walls. There are three gopuras in the temple. The Gopura which in the north direction is high and a fine example of craftsmanship. The summit of Mallikarjuna higher than the Gopuras. On the northern side of the temple is the temple of the aged Mallikarjuna. On the back side of the main temple is the temple of Madhavi Bhramaramba Devi. Due to this Bhramaramba Devi also considered as Shaktipeeth along with Shrisail Shivpeeth.

The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is divine and stunning. Because of the Sahastraling being carved on this Shivling, it can be tolerated. Also called sterling. Trimukhi Nagraj is sitting on this Shivling. Mallikarjuna’s temple has Mallikarjuna, Parvati, Ravana, Nandi, and others. There are silver sculptures of Mount Kailash.

Srisailam was initially under the Satavahanas. After this, the Pallava war remained under the control of the great powers. It has been a major center of Lingayat society. Allam Prabhu, Ravanasiddha and Akka sir these three great saints took samadhi here. Gorakshanath ji established the Nath sect here. Mantrayana and Bajrayana these two tantric sects that emerged in this region. The area of ​​the temple is 5 acres.

Mallikarjuna also called Sahastra Linga because of the thousands of lingas carved on the Shivling.

Shiva Ji on the new moon day and Parvati Ji keep coming here on the full moon day. This Shiva temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.

How to reach Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga

By Air – Direct flights to Sri Shail are available but flights are not regular. The city does not have its own Srisailam airport. The nearest airport to Srisailam is Begumpet Airport. Direct flight travel to Srisailam should be noted and booked well in advance of traveling. From Begumpet airport, you will get easy means to reach Jyotirlinga.

Train Route-The nearest railway station is Markapur Railway Station. This station well connected to all major cities. Passengers who have doubts about reaching Srisailam by train can check the Srisailam train timetable from the site. One will easily get the means from the railway station to the Jyotirlinga. You can hire autos at low rates by bargaining well.

By Road – The entire region is well connected to the major cities of the country. You will not face any problems reaching here.

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