The Dakshin Kailash Srisailam – A Must Visit Temple On This Day Of Maha Shivrathri !!
Maha Shivrathri – one of the biggest festivals of Hindus who worship Lord Shiva. Maha Shivrathri is celebrated annually on the 13th Night /14th day (Chathurdasi Thithi) after the Full Moon day in the month of the Magha (Maasi Month). Literally, Maha Shivrathri means “The Great Night of Lord Shiva” and it indicates “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life and the world through the prayers to Lord Shiva.
There are different mythologies associated with the celebration of Maha Shivrathri. According to one of the legend, Maha Shivrathri was the day when Shiva drank poisonous negativity to protect the world. According to another legend, this is the night when Lord Shiva performs the heavenly dance of creation, preservation, and destruction. Another different legend says this is the night when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got married. Whatever may be the legend and mythology, they all mean that this is one of the Most Auspicious Days for worshipping the Supreme Power Lord Shiva !!
It is considered auspicious and special to visit one of the 12 Jyothirlinga temples on this day of Maha Shivratri! So, here is the special Blog for all our Gosthala Viewers that takes you through one of the important Jyothirlinga Sthalas !! Yes !! Let’s Explore the Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple of Srisailam – The Dakshin Kailash !!
Sri Bhramaramba Sametha Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple is located on the top of Nallamalai Hills, Srisailam on the right side of the River Krishna in Kurnool District of Andra Pradesh. The main significance of this temple is that this temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga Sthalas of Lord Shiva as well as one of the 18 Ashta Dasa Shakthi Peeth Sthalas of Goddess Parvathi. Lord Shiva is worshipped by the name Sri Mallikarjuna and is represented by the Shiva lingam. His consort Goddess Parvathi is depicted as Brahmaramba. It is the only temple in India which is valued as both Jyotirlinga and Shakti Peeth Sthala.
As per Sthala Purana, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi decided to find suitable brides for their sons. When they argued as to who is to get wedded first, Lord Shiva gave them a test. Lord Ganesha won the test and He got married to Siddhi and Buddhi. Because of this, His brother Kartikeya became angry. Despite being stopped and consoled by his parents, Kartikeya went away to the Kraunch Mountain (One of the 7 prominent Parvathas/mountain ranges). 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.
According to another Sthala Purana, Parvatha, the son of Silada Maharshi is said to have performed penance. Being pleased by His prayers, Lord Shiva agreed to live on his body. The Parvatha assumed the shape big Hill named ‘Srisailam’ and Lord Shiva lived on its top as Sriparvatha Swamy. Moreover, Parvatha also prayed Lord Shiva that all the Devathas and sacred waters of all Theerthas would permanently remain on his top and all the Devotees irrespective of caste or creed visiting the sacred place should be blessed with the Moksha. God Shiva granted these wishes of Parvatha as well.
There are yet another interesting legends behind the Goddess Bhramaramba. As we told earlier, this sthala is one of the Shakthi Peeta Sthalas (Shakti Peeta sthala are the places where the remnants of Sati’s corpse have fallen on Earth). According to Hindu Mythology, it is said that Goddess Adisakthi acquired the shape of Bhramaram (bee) to kill the cruel demon Arunasura and after that, She settled at Srisailam as Bhramaramba Devi. An interesting thing here in this temple is that the buzzing sound of bees can be heard from within the granite wall at the back of the temple. Bees are supposed to have made their home here but they have never harmed any of the devotees.
Another legend says that there lived a princess named Chandravati. One day, she noticed a cow standing above a natural rock resembling the Shiva Linga and it was shedding its milk over it. Seeing that, she too began worshipping it as the Lord and garlanded him every day with Jasmine flower (Jasmine – Malli Flower). Hence the Lord is named Mallikarjuna Swamy.
The age of the temple seems to be unpredictable. Based on the habitational and historical studies, the stones that are found in the Srisailam is estimated to be 30,000 to 40,000 years old. The epigraphical evidence tells that the temple belongs to the period of rulers Satavahanas, who were the first empire builders in Andrapradesh in 2nd century AD. Followed by Satavahanas, the Ikshvakus, the Pallavas, the Vishnukundis, the Chalukyas, the Kakatiyas, the Reddy kings and, the Vijayanagara Kings have also contributed to the renovation of the temple.
Most of the present day additions to the temple are done during the reign of the King Harihara of Vijayanagara Dynasty. The temple is a huge complex consisting of 4 main towers (Gopuram) with separate shrines for Lord Mallikarjuna and the Goddess Bhramaramba. Apart from these, the other minor shrines that are seen in the Prakaram are Vriddha Mallikarjuna, Sahasra Lingeshwara, Arthanarishwara, Veerabhadra, Uma Maheshwara and a group of five temples named as Pandava Prathista temples and a row of nine temples called as Navabrahma temples etc.
Overall, this temple is one of its unique kind and it has the looks of a Fort with sculptors all over its wall. Maha Shivratri is one of the main functions that is celebrated in this temple in a grand manner. Every year there is a fair organized on account of Mahashivratri. It is believed that a mere visit to this holy shrine will remove our sins and worries and relieve us from the vicious cycle of life and death !!
HarHar Maha Deva !! Shambo Maha Deva !!
