Mallikarjuna Temple is located on the banks of the Krishna River on the Srisailam mountain in Kurnool district of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, India. This temple is dedicated to the Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva and Shaktipeeth of Mata Parvati, which is also called the Kailash of South India.
Mythology of Mallikarjuna Temple
According to Hindu mythology, the story of Srisailam Mallikarjuna temple is quite interesting. Once Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s sons Ganesha and Kartikeya were very eager to get married. They started arguing about their marriage. When they could not find a solution to this problem, Ganesha and Kartikeya asked Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati to solve this problem. They both tried to convince their sons a lot but they did not listen. Lord Shiva asked them to take a test. The winner in the test would be the one who would complete 7 rounds of the entire earth. The one who would reach back first would be considered the winner and would get married first.
Kartikeya set out on his vehicle peacock to complete 7 rounds of the earth as soon as possible. But Ganesha was very intelligent and he completed 7 rounds of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati. Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva were happy to see his intelligence and started preparing for their marriage.
Kartikeya returned after circling the whole earth 7 times and saw that Ganesh ji was married, he became very sad and went to Krounch mountain in anger. After that Maa Parvati could not see her son’s sorrow and she asked Lord Shiva and Narad ji to convince Kartikeya but they were unsuccessful. After that Ganesh ji also went to convince his brother but Kartikeya did not agree and finally Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati went to convince Kartikeya but as soon as Kartikeya came to know that his parents were coming to convince him, he left Krounch mountain and went to some other place.
After Kartikeya left from there, Lord Shiva established himself as Jyotirlinga on Krounch mountain itself, since then this place came to be known as Mallikarjuna in which Maa Parvati established herself as “Mallika” and Lord Shiva as “Arjun”.
Historical Significance
The history of Mallikarjuna temple is very old and historical, which has been mentioned in all the ancient scriptures of Hindus. With time, the kings of India contributed to the construction of this temple and the Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj also built a big Dharmashala near the temple. The Mughal rulers had banned worship in the temple, which was later resumed after gaining independence.
Architectural Marvel
Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple is an example of the finest architecture and fine carvings of South India, the temple has four main gates called Gopuram.
The main mandap of the temple is made of gold which looks very attractive and the sanctum sanctorum has the Jyotirlinga of Lord Mallikarjuna.
The idols of the temple are carved in such a way that it reflects the history of India and the old stories of Hindus.
There is also the holy Krishna river near the temple, with the water of which the Shivlinga is anointed and to reach the river from the temple, one has to walk through about 852 stairs.
There are about a thousand lingas around the temple, some of which were built by Lord Rama and some by the Pandavas
How to Reach Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple
By Air
The first route to the temple is by air which is located at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, around 195 km from the temple.
By Train
The second route to the temple is by rail which is located at Markapur Road Railway Station, Prakasam District, around 85 km from the temple.
By Road
The temple is well connected to all major cities by road where regular buses and private taxis are easily available.
Best Time to Visit Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple
The best time to visit the temple is after monsoons i.e. from October to March when the weather is cool and pleasant, devotees should avoid visiting during summers as the heat is at its peak at that time.
Travel Tips
Temple opening time
Morning – 6 AM –3:30 PM
Evening – 6 PM –10 PM
All devotees should wear respectable clothes in the temple and pay special attention to cleanliness.
Devotees should book their stay and accommodation in advance to avoid the crowd.
Everything from food to accommodation is available here for the devotees.
Frequently Asked Questions About Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple
Can I visit Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy temple without registration?
No, it is necessary to Registration first. For Registration Visit Here.
Are phones allowed in Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy temple temple?
No.
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