Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple
Type
Hindu Temple
Deity
Lord Shiva
Pincode
518101
A Jyotirlinga shrine of Lord Shiva that is also one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas — a rare dual distinction — set on the Nallamala hills overlooking the Krishna River. Its fortified stone walls and sculpted gopuram reflect centuries of patronage from South Indian dynasties, including the Vijayanagara and Reddy kings.
History & Significance
Significance
Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple at Srisailam is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and simultaneously one of the 18 Shakti Peethas (as the Bhramaramba Shakti shrine). It is the only temple in India that is both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha, making it extraordinarily sacred to both Shaivites and Shaktas. The temple is set on the Nallamala Hills (part of the Eastern Ghats) above the Krishna River gorge, in a forest that is part of the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve.
History
The temple's origins are ancient; it is mentioned in the Mahabharata and various Puranas. The Chalukyas of Badami and the Vijayanagara emperors were major patrons. The current structure dates primarily to the 13th–15th centuries. The temple was fortified during the Vijayanagara period with high walls to protect it from Delhi Sultanate invasions.
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati came to Srisailam to be with their son Kartikeya (Subrahmanya) after he left for the Krouncha mountain due to an argument. Unable to leave their son, the divine couple chose to reside at Srisailam permanently — Shiva as Mallikarjuna (Shiva, lord of the Mallika flower) and Parvati as Bhramaramba (the Goddess who took the form of a bee/bhramara).
Architecture
The temple complex is enclosed within massive stone walls and features a 30-metre tall gopuram. The main sanctum houses the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga. The Bhramaramba Shrine (Shakti Peetha) is adjacent. The setting amid the Nallamala forest on the Krishna River gorge is dramatically beautiful. The Srisailam Dam (one of India's largest hydroelectric projects) is visible from the hilltop, creating a unique juxtaposition of ancient and modern.
Nearby Temples
Closest temples by distance — worth combining into the same trip.