Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy temple - Srisailam

The temple of Lord Mallikarjuna is situated in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is situated in the town of Srisailam on the banks of River Patalganga Krishna. This celebrated mountain is also named as Siridhan, Srigiri, Sirigiri, Sriparvatha and Srinagam.The presiding Deities of this kshetram Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas and Goddess Bhramaramba Devi is 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 very rare and only one of its kind.

The Mallikarjuna Linga is accessible to each and every devotee and anybody can go into the sanctum sanctorum of Mallikarjuna, touch him and perform Abhishekam and Archana himself to recitation of Mantras by Archakas without caste or creed or religion.

History :

The Sathavahanas, the Ikshavakus, the Pallavas, the Vishnukundis, the Chalukyas, the Kakatiyas, the Reedy Kings, the Vijayanagara Emperors and Chatrapathi Shivaji are among the famous emperors who worshipped God Mallikarjuna Swamy.

Ganapathideva has spent 12000 Golden Nanyas for the maintenance of the temple.The period of Reddi Kings is the Golden Age of Srisailam that almost all rulers of the dynasty did celebrated service for this temple.

The Second Harihararaya of Vijayanagara Empire constructed the Mukhamantapam of Swamy shrine and also a Gopuram on Southern Side of the temple.

In the 15th Century Sri Krishnadevaraya Constructed the Rajagopuram on Eastern side and Salumantapas on both sides of the temple.The last Hindu King who strove hard for the improvement of the temple is Chatrapathi Shivaji who constructed a Gopuram on northern side in the year 1667 A.D.

Legends :

A number of legends have grown round Srisailam and its principal deities. Among them the most significant one 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.

According to one story Chandravathi,the ruler of Chandraguptha Patana situated near Srisailam on the opposite bank of the river Krishna ran away from her father who made amorous advances to her went up the hill and settled down there with few servants. One day she found that one of her cows standing above a natural rock formation resembling the Sivalinga and shedding its milk over it. The princess in dream was informed that the piece of the stone was a self-manifested Linga of God Mallikarjuna and took to worshipping it. This story is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. Two sculptures of the Prakara Wall of the temple also represent this story.

According to another story Sri,the daughter of a Rishi did penance, pleased Siva and got her name associated with the name of the Hill( Sailam ) which thereafter came to be known as Srisailam.

Architecture of Shri Mallikarjun Temple :

The 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.

The 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 Krishna's 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.

The 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 Shrikrishna's elder brother Balaramji took journey to his nijdham-patal.

Here 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.

Theetham :-

The Krishna river, which flows four km away from the shrine, is the holy Theertham known as PaathaalaGanga. Devotees take a dip here and carry holy water uphill to perform abhisheka for the Lord. A shrine dedicated to Lord Umamaheshwara is situated on way to the Theertham.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

From	To
4.30 AM	5.00 AM	Mangalavadyams.
5.00 AM	5.15 AM	Suprabhatam.
5.15 AM	6.30 AM	Pratahkalapuja, Gopuja and Maha Mangala Harathi.
6.30 AM	1.00 PM	Darshanam, Abhishekam and Archanas by the devotees.
1.00 PM	3.30 PM	Alankara Darshanam.
4.30 PM	4.50 PM	Mangalavadyams.
4.50 PM	5.20 PM	Pradoshakalapuja.
5.20 PM	6.00 PM	Susandhyam and Maha Mangala Harathi.
5.50 PM	6.20 PM	Rajopachara puja (Parakulu) to Bhramaramba Devi.
6.20 PM	9.00 PM	Darshanam, Abhishekam and Archanas.
9.00 PM	10.00 PM	Dharma Darshanam.
9.30 PM	10.00 PM	Ekantha Seva.
10.00 PM		Closure of the temple.

Darshanams :

Name of the Darshanams                       Time    

Suprabhatha Darshanam                       5.00 AM

Mahamangala Harathi                           5.50 AM

Athiseegra Darshanam                         6.30 AM to 1.00 PM & 6.30 PM to 9.00 PM

Special Queue Line  Darshanam           6.30 AM to 1.00 PM & 6.30 PM to 9.00 PM

Free Darshanam in

general Queue                                  6.00 AM to 3.30 PM & 6.00 PM to 10.00 PM

Mahamangala Harathi (Evening)            5.00 PM

Quick Darshanam                                6.30 AM to 1.00 PM & 6.30 PM to 9.00 PM

Note: The Suprabhatam ,Harathi,Darshnam and Abhishekams will be advanced during monday's i.e they will be start from suprabhatam 4.00Am,Harathi 5.00Am,Abhishekam 5.30Am and Darshnam 5.30Am.

Festivals :

The important annual festivals celebrated in the temple are :-

Mahasivaratri Brahmothsavams

Ugadi Celebrations

Dasara Celebrations

Kumbhothsavams

Sankranthi Uthsavams

Arudrothsavam

Kartheeka Masothsavams

Sravananamosothsvams

Monthly Festivals

Accommodation

The Devasthanam is having 25 individual cottages, Pathaleswara Sadan with 23 Deluxe Suites, Sivasadanam guest house with 100 rooms, T.T.D Guest House with 10 rooms,Chandeswara Sadanam with 22 rooms and a dormitory Choultry consisting of 7 Halls.

Devasthanam has also constructed a modern complex with 112 suites named as Gangasadan and Gowrisadan.

Besides this there are 40 private choultries consisting of about 1200 rooms and they are also providing accommodation to the pilgrim.

The Department of Tourism is maintaining Punnami Guest Houses consisting about 50 suites.

Free Accomodation :

The Devasthanam has constructed pilgrim sheds at Pathalaganga Road and at Filter Bed with number of toilets and with drinking water facilities. They are being given to the pilgrims who came through Tourist Buses.

HOW TO GET HERE :

Air:

The nearest Airport is Hyderabad (230 K.M.) from where buses are plying to Srisailam everyday frequently.

Rail :

Markapur, which is 91 K.M. from Srisailam in Guntur-Hubli, line on South Central Railway from where buses are available to Srisailam.

Road:

Srisailam is well connected by A.P.S.R.T.C.Buses not only from all corners of the State but also from Bangalore, Chennai etc. The Karnataka Road Transport Corporation is also running buses from various main cities of that state.