Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple. This temple is in Andrapradesh, after visiting Ahobilam we reached by night at Srisailam and stayed at Haritham resorts .
As it was on a Ugadhi day it was over crowded and we opted for special dharshan along with abhishegam. For a couple they charged Rs.1500 and we were made seated in a mantapa near the entrance . All couples were given a kalasam (a small brass pot filled with water) plate flowers coconut and we were guided by a priest from a podium .First pooja was for Lord Vinayagar then to Goddess Lakshmi then they chanted Rudram and finally Lord karthikeya and we were asked to tell each of us name kothra nakshatra and then allowed to the main sanctum sanctorum . The main diety is Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy in Lingam form . The Lingam was small hooded with serpent . We were allowed to pour the kalasam water which we carried after the pooja on the Lingam , handed over the kalasam there and by showing the receipt they gave us the prasadham such as a coconut kangan vibuthi laddu in a bag . Then to Goddess Bhramaramba shrine .
Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple or Srisailam Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deities Shiva and Parvati, located at Srisailam in Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
It is significant to the Hindu sects of both Shaivam and Shaktam as this temple is referred to as one of the twelve Jyothirlingas of Lord Shiva and as one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas of goddess Parvati. Shiva is worshiped as Mallikarjuna, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Brahmaramba. It is the one of the only three temples in India in which both Jyotirlinga and Shaktipeeth is revered.
The temple, which shines like a jewel on the Nallamalai range of the Eastern Ghats, is known by different names like Srigiri, Srimala, Srinagara and Rishabagiri. Rishaba or Nandi Deva did penance on this hill and obtained the darshan of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati. Hence the name Rishabagiri.
Long ago, Princess Chandravathi of the Chandra Gupta dynasty faced a domestic calamity and decided to forsake royal comforts. She went to the Srisailam forests and was living on fruits and cow’s milk. One day, she noticed that one of the cows around was not yielding milk. Later she learned through her herdsman that the cow was going to a secluded spot and showering milk on a Linga amid mallige (jasmine) creepers. The next day she herself went to that spot and witnessed the miracle. The same night Lord Shiva appeared in her dream and asked her to build a temple at this spot. Since the Linga was entangled in mallige creepers, the deity was named Mallikarjuna.
According to anther legend, Lord Shiva once came to the Srisailam forest for hunting. There He met a beautiful girl of the Chenchu tribe, fell in love with her and decided to stay with her in the forest. The girl was none other than Parvati Herself. In the temple, there is a bass relief depicting this story. It is significant to note that even today, people of the local Chenchu tribe are allowed into the sanctum. On the night of Maha Shivaratri, they are permitted to perform abhisheka and puja to the deity. Another interesting feature is that devotees irrespective of caste, creed or sex can go into the sanctum and perform
Brahmarambika Sakthi peedam
Alampure Jogulamba, Sri Shaile Bhramarambika
Kolhapure Maha Lakshmi, Mahurye Ekaveerika Adisankaracharyas slogan on Shakthi Peedams
The idol of the Goddess has eight arms and is wearing a silk sari. Inside the garbha griha of the temple, there is an idol of Lopamudra, wife of saint Agastya. There is a sri yantra in front of garbha griha.
There is one more legend associated with Bhramaramba devi temple as it is one of the shakti peethas. According to the story of Shakti peeth, King Daksha, father of Goddess Sati, organized a yagna but did not invite Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati. In spite of this, Goddess Sati decided to attend her father’s yagna. However, grieved by the insults she and her husband Lord shiva had to face at the yagna, she jumped in the holy pyre. Angered by this, Lord Shiva killed King Daksha and destroyed the entire yagna. Later he carried the corpse of the devi and started his dance of destruction- Tandava. In order to stop tandava, Lord Vishnu intervened. He cut the corpse of devi through his divine Sudarshana Chakra; because of this different parts of the body fell on various locations. Each of the place where a part of the devi fell is considered as Shakti peetha. It is said that neck of devi fell here in Srisailam.
Sakshi Ganpati Temple, Srisailam Andhra Pradesh
Sakshi Ganapati Temple is located on the way to Srisailam. An important part of any Srisailam tour, this temple is visited by every devotee who comes to seek blessings of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy. Amidst the panoramic background of nature, this temple is located just a few km away from the Shikaram.
It is believed that a visit to Srisailam goes unrecorded if a devotee doesn’t visit Sakshi Ganapati Temple. The main deity of this temple is Lord Ganesha. The word Shakshi means the one who witnesses, which is representative of the belief that Lord Ganesha keeps a record of everyone who visits Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, which is then shown to Lord Shiva .
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