Srisailam

Srisailam (madhavi peetam)

Temple Name : Shri Mallikarjuna swamy temple

Devi : Bhramaramba Devi (Mahalaxshmi)

Bhairava : Shambaranada

Organ: Brisht or neck and the region below her neck

Sanskrit letter: ‘ya’

This place, srisailam is situated on the banks of the River Krishna, in the thick and quite inaccessible forests of the Nallamalai Hills, in the northeastern part of the Nandikotkur Taluk of Kurnool District in Andhra Pradesh, 201 km from Hyderabad.

From chennai, we get down in Ongole Railway station on Chennai- vijaywada railway line, and we picked a share jeep in Ongole railway station and our journey starts from there about 180 km. From tornala, the jeep starts to climb through the steepy hills with number of U turns. They said there are four hills to be travelled to reach the temple, the hills is one of the wild sanctoury and different rare species livng here. There is a spot, named Shikareshwar, before 12 km to srisailam, there is a peak on that spot where we can see the entire hills and river krishna flows like a snake sleeps around, we can see gigantic white tower of srisailam in betwwen greenish hills from there. The Krishna river is known as “Pathala Ganga”, and is about two miles from the Mallikarjuna Temple is the bathing ghatt with the 500 steps leading to the river Krishna. We went to bathe in this river before going for temple.

In the 32nd chapter of the Srikhanda Purana, Veda Vyasa asks Sanat Kumara to explain about Sri Sailam. Sri Sailam is mentioned in several other texts and Puranas and is also called “Sri Giri”, “Sri Parvata”, “Sri Nagara”, “Rudra Parvata” and “Seshachalam”.

The temple is constructed in the traditional Dravidian style and it was famous even in the 1st century.

The origin of Sri Sailam is not known and the present Mallikarjuna Temple, originally from second century AD, dates back to 14th century. It has often been attacked and damaged because of its richness and political importance.

The temple abounds in sculptural beauty and there are about 116 inscriptions in and around it. This sthalam, along with Thiruppudaimarudur near Ambasamudram and Thiruvidaimarudur is considered an Arjuna Ksetram. Temple is highly related with Mahabharat arjuna penance and shiva plays with Arjuna.

There are many stories in stala purana –

It was to this mount Kartikeya/Muruga had exiled himself when estranged from his parents on account of theis declaring Ganesh as the winner in the contest of circunambulating the world to decide who should marry first, Kartikeya/Muruga or Ganesh. To placate the frayed temper of their son, Shiva and Parvati appered here as Arjuna and Mallika, hence the named as Malliarjuna swamy.

another story is “When Siva and Parvathi decided to find suitable brides for their sons, Ganesha and Muruga argued as to who is to get wedded first. Lord Shiva bade that the one who goes round the world in Pradakshinam could get married first. By the time Lord Muruga could go round the world on his vahana, Lord Ganesha went round his parents 7 times (for according to Sastras, going inpradakshinam round one’s parents is equivalent to going once round the world (Boopradakshinam). Lord Shiva got Siddhi and Buddhi, the daughters of Viswaroopan married to Lord Ganesha.
Muruga on his return was enraged and went away to stay alone on Mount Kravunja in the name of Kumarabrahmachari. On seeing his father coming over to pacfy him, he tried to move to another place, but on the request of the Devas, stayed closeby. The place where Lord Siva and Parvathi stayed came to be known as Sri Sailam. Lord Shiva visits Lord Muruga on Amavasai day and Parvathi Devi on Pournami. ”

Several famous saints, sadhus, poets and seekers have visited this place. Traditions says that the sacred Lingam has been worshipped by Hiranya Kasipa in Kritha Yuga, Lord Sri Hari in Tretha Yuga after the assasination of Ravana. The Pandavas came to Sri Sailam in Dwapara Yuga and constructed many temples. Lord Dattatreya Siddha Nagarjuna performed penance under the “Triple beneficial tree” besides the Mallikarjuna shrine.
The three Saivaite saints Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar and Sundarar have sung in praise of the Lord at this place.
Whereas it is confimed that Thirunavukkarasar reached this palce before his kailash journey, whereas other two worshipped from kalahasthi mountain.

In some stories, as this place is enlightment place of sage silatha, this is known as srisailam.

Akkamakdevi, a lady shiva devottee who lived naked throu her life is also a devotee of this mallikarjuna and praised him in her poems. and hemalata, another lady devotee being visited this temple and said to be mingled with malligarjuna in this sanctom.

Even Buddhist monk and chinese traveller fahien, yuvang tuang mentioned in his notes abt srisailam as this is also a buddhist center at period of nagarjuna, a buddhist scholar. Acharya Nagarjuna resided on the Sri Sailam mountain and history tells that the mountain was called, “Nagarjuna Konda”.

In tamil, we call this place as “Paruppadam”, hence the Theertham(sacred tank) is known as “Paruppada Theertham”.

Two Lingams are actually called “Mallikarjuna Lingam”.

The “new” Mallikarjuna Lingam is placed in a silverplated Mantapam in the main Mallikarjuna shrine. It is samll in size than any other Jyothir lingam and it is placed in a square formed Yoni apr. 10 cm high. The main worship takes place here.

There is no regulations for devotee here, they can do pujas, abshike and offerings to the linga by them self.

The “old” Mallikarjuna Lingam is placed in a smaller shrine in the temple south of the main Mallikarjuna shrine. This is the only Lingam in the temple which has no Nandi bull in front.It is said the Nandi deva, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva performed penance here. Lord Shiva appeared before him, with his consort Parvati in the forms of Mallikarjuna and Bharamaramba. The Lingam is big, about 20-25 cm high and 30 cm in diameter. It is marked by time and looks like the stub of a tree. It is said that this Linga is older than the main Mallikarjuna Linga.Several other Lingams are placed in seperate shrines southwest of the main temple.

Behind or to the North of the shrine is a seperate temple of Parvati, known as the Temple of Mallika Devi

Next we went to Shakti Peetha of the Goddess Bhramaramba, the consort of Lord Mallikarjunaswami, in the form of Goddess Kali. which is to the west of malligarjuna shrine. That place is also named as “Madhavi peetam”, she is also named as chandravathi, kali, parvathi but the idol is structured as mahisasura mardhini. She is one of the energy form named as ‘brahmari’- energy resides in creation of existance. Adi Shankara is said to have worshipped the deity at the temple and to have composed the “Sivananda Lahari” at this Sthalam. “Dwadasa Jyotirlinga sthrotra” of Adi Shankaracharya also mention Sri Sailam.
He installed srichakra in before Bhramaramba shrine to make this place much more powerful. This place get a importancefor practicers of Tantric.