Srisailam – one of the Dvadasha Jyotirlingas

Srisailam is one of the Dvadasha (twelve) Jyotirlingas of Bharata Varsha. The presiding Deity of this temple is Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy. It also houses one of the Shakti Peethas of Mother Parvati named Sri Bhramarambha Devi. Srisailam is situated in Andhra Pradesh, which is about 200 kms from Hyderabad. The temple is surrounded by the lush green dense forests in the Nallamalla forest creating a picturesque view of it and the devotional environment makes a conducive atmosphere to surcharge a devotee’s devotion to Lord Shiva.

The word ‘Nalla’ means beautiful and ‘mala’ means hill. The popular river ‘Krishna’ flows in the narrow gorge of 100m wide and at a depth of nearly 1000m from the top of the hill.

This Deity and the temple have several pastimes associated with it. Few of the unique and sweet pastimes are narrated herewith.

The origin of Srisailam

Parvatha, the son of Silada Maharshi performed tapasya to please Lord Shiva. With this, Lord Shiva became pleased and Parvatha requested Lord Shiva to reside on his body. He also prayed Shiva that all the demigods and the sacred waters of all tirthas permanently remain on his top. He also requested, all the devotees regardless of caste or creed visiting the sacred place should be blessed with Moksha. Lord Shiva granted these boons. Hence, Parvatha assumed the shape of a big hill ‘Srisailam’ and Shiva lived atop as Sriparvatha Swamy.

Another pastime relates to Arunasura. According to the scriptures, Adishakti acquired the shape of Bhramaram (bee) to kill the cruel demon Arunasura. Later she settled at Srisailam as Bhramarambha Devi. It is said that here the neck portion of Sathi Devi was placed during Daksha Yagna and hence this place became as Shakti Peetham.

Why Lord Shiva is known as Mallikarjuna Swamy

According to literary sources, Chandravathi the daughter of the ruler of Chandraguptha Pattana situated near Srisailam near the river Krishna ran away from her father’s kingdom who made amorous advances to her, she went up the hill and settled there with a few servants.

One day, she found that one of her cows standing above a natural rock formation resembling the Shiva Linga and was showering its milk over it. The princess was informed in the dream that the piece of the stone was a self-manifested Linga of Lord Sriparvatha Swamy and started to worship it. In her worship Chandravathi offers garlands of jasmine (Mallika Pushpa) regularly. One day Lord Shiva appeared to her and Chandravathi prayed to Lord Shiva to wear the jasmine garland on his head permanently. There after Sriparvatha Swamy came to be known as Mallikarjuna Swamy (Mallika – Architha – Swamy).

The pastime of Vasumathi

According to one pastime, Vasumathi the daughter of a rishi performed penance to please Brahmadeva on this hill. Brahma was pleased and appeared in front of her. Upon which Vasumathi asked him to grant her the name ‘Sri’ and associate it with the name of this hill Srisailam, Brahma granted her desire and after that this Kshetram named as ‘Sri-sailam’.

The pastime of Vriddha Mallikarjuna

Another pastime that took place is that a princess with staunch devotion wished to marry Lord Shiva and always spent her time in worshipping him. One night in her dream, Lord Shiva tells her to follow a block bee and stay where it settles till his arrival. She wakes up from her dream and finds a bee, she follows it and reaches the mountain of Srisailam. The bee finally settles on a jasmine shrub and the princess waits there. She prays to Lord Shiva for several days. Meanwhile the Chenchus – the local tribes nourished her with honey and forest fruits every day.

At last Siva appears before her with an old and wrinkled face and said that in search of her, he become old. The princess married him. On marriage, the Chenchus tribe invited the couple for dinner and offered meat and drink. Shiva did not accept that meal though the princess tried to insist him. At last Shiva left the spot and went away. The princess called him several times and he did not listen to her. Then she cursed him to become a stone (Linga) and he became Vriddha Mallikarjuna Swamy. On observing this, Parvathi cursed her to become Bhramaram (bee) as she followed a bee.

Even now in the temple complex of Srisailam, there is a shrine of Vriddha Mallikarjuna and devotees worship Vriddha Mallikarjuna with abhisheka. It seems that, this is the oldest structure in the entire temple complex of Srisailam and is of approximately seventy or eighty thousand years old.

The local tribal Chenchus, state that on one occasion Lord Shiva came to Srisailam forest as a hunter and fell in love with a Chenchu girl, married her and settled down on the hill. Basis on this story they consider Mallikarjuna Swamy as their relative and address him as Chenchu Mallayya. This pastime is also depicted on the prakaram wall of the temple.

Festivals celebrated in Srisailam

Mahashivaratri Brahmotsavam

This festival is celebrated in grandeur to celebrate the divine appearance day of Lord Shiva. It is celebrated in the Magham month (the 11th month of Vedic Lunar Calendar) which falls usually in the month of February/March. During the festival, the temple complex is bedecked with Pagalankarana. It is a unique decoration feature found only in Srisailam. In this decoration, Paga – turban is tied by a Devanga (weaver) starting from the top of the Vimana Gopuram passing around the Nandis seated on the Mukhamandapam of the temple. The cloth used in this alankara is hand woven by the weavers throughout the year. A single weaver decorates the pagas woven and offered by thirty weavers as a vow.

 

A grand Kalyanotsava and Rathotsavam are also celebrated to commomerate the Mahashivaratri Brahmotsavam.

Ugadi Festival

Ugadi festival is celebrated with great pomp for a span of 5 days. The festival commences three days before the Ugadi day i.e., Telugu New Year day (Chaitra Suddha Padyami) which generally falls in March / April. The festival is celebrated by getting the utsava Deities of Their Lordships Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bhramarambha Devi. Various alankaras and Ratha Yatra add up to the festival.

Dasara Festival

This festival is celebrated over a period of nine days, during which Chandiyagam, Rudrayagam, Navadurga alankaras are offered to Bhramarambha Devi.

Kumbhotsavam

This is the most significant festival of the temple in which various offerings are made to Bhramarambha Devi. This festival celebrates on the first Tuesday or Friday (which ever first comes) after full moon day of Chaitram, the beginning month of Vedic Calendar. It is said that on this day, Devi is ferocious and various poojas like Navavarana, Trisathi, Khadgamala etc., are performed in Ekantham i.e., the doors of Bhramarambha temple remain closed and the priests themselves perform the pujas and there will not be usual darshana at that time.

In the afternoon of Kumbhotsavam day, Annabhishekam is performed to God Mallikarjuna Swamy and after this, the deity is covered with curd rice and temple doors remain closed till the early hours of next day.

In the evening a man drapes a saree comes to the temple to offer Mangala-arati to Devi named as Kumbharati and at time the doors of the temples will open. After the arati, is covered with large quantity of Turmeric and Kumkuma and then Satvikabali is offered. This contains a large quantity of cooked rice, breaking of pumpkins, coconuts on a large number and more than fifty thousand lemons etc., are offered to Devi.

On this festival, the tribal community called as Chenchus engage in tribal dance for the pleasure of Bhramarambha Devi.

Sankranti Festival

This festival is observed on Makara Sankramanam in the month of Pushyam (the 10th month of Vedic Calendar) which falls in the month of January.

Festivities are celebrated for a span of seven days special rituals like Rudrahomam, Chandihhomam,Pushpotsavam, Brahmothsava Kalyanam,Sayanotsavam etc., are performed as per custom along with various Vahana sevas.

Karthika Mahotsavam

Karthikam, the 8th month of Vedic Calendar is said to be the most auspicious month. On the important days of this month like Mondays, full moon day etc., Deepotsavam in which many lamps are lit in the temple premises. On the full moon day of the month Jwalatoranam (bonfire) is lit in the temple. It is said that by merely seeing the Jvalatoranam, one can get clear of from sins.

Arudrotsavam

Arudra is the birth star of Lord Shiva. In Dhanurmasam on the day of Arudra Nakshatram special pujas like Lingodhbhavakala Rudrabhishekam, Annabhishekam and Vahana Seve are offered to God Mallikarjuna Swamy.

How to reach Srisailam

The best way to visit Srisailam is to join packaged tours from Bengaluru or Hyderabad or Chennai.

By Air

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (Hyderabad) is the nearest airport to reach Srisailam which is at a distance of 200 kms. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is well connected to all major airports of India. You may hire a private taxi from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to reach Srisailam.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is Markapur which is at a distance of 81 kms from Srisailam in Guntur-Hubli, line on South Central Railway. From railway station, one can hire a private taxi and reach Srisailam.

By Road

Srisailam is well connected by the state-run buses not only from all corners of the state but also from nearby cities like Bangalore, Chennai, etc.

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