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{{short description|Hindu temple of Shiva in Andhra Pradesh}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Mallikarjuna Temple of Srisailam
| image =Srisailam.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Gold plated [[Vimana]] of Mallikarjuna shrine
| map_type = India Andhra Pradesh
| map_caption = Location in [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| coordinates = {{coord|16|04|27|N|78|52|05|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| district =
| locale = [[Srisailam]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Mallikarjuna ([[Shiva]])
| festivals= [[Maha Shivaratri]]
| architecture =
| temple_quantity = 1
| inscriptions =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Mallikarjuna Temple''' (also simply known as '''Srisailam Temple''') is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the deity [[Shiva]], located at [[Srisailam]] in [[Indian state]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]].

[[File:Srisailam-temple-entrance.jpg|thumb|Temple entrance]]

It is significant to the Hindu sects of both [[Saivism|Shaivam]] as this temple is referred to as one of the twelve [[Jyothirlinga]]s of Lord Shiva. Here Parvati is worshiped as "Mallika" and Shiva is worshipped as "Arjuna", represented by the ''[[lingam]]''.

== Legend ==
When [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]] decided to find suitable brides for their sons. Shiva got Buddhi (intellect), Siddhi (spiritual power), and Riddhi (prosperity) married to Ganesha. [[Kartikeya]] on his return was enraged and went away to stay alone on Mount Kraunja in the name of ''Kumarabrahmachari''. On seeing his father coming over to pacify him, he tried to move to another place, but on the request of the Devas, stayed close by. The place where Shiva and Parvati stayed came to be known as Shrishailam.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|url-access=registration|quote=mallikarjuna jyotirlinga.|page=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/n370 413]|last=Lochtefeld|first=James G.|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|year=2002|isbn=978-0-8239-3179-8}}</ref>

As per [[Hindu]] legend, the presiding deity in the form of [[Linga]] (an iconic form of Shiva) was worshipped with jasmine (locally called in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''Mallika''), leading to the name of presiding deity as Mallikarjuna.<ref name=Ram>{{cite book|title=Hindu Pilgrim. centres|last=Harshananda|first=Swami|isbn=978-81-7907-053-6|year=2012|publisher=Ramakrishna Math|location=Bangalore, India|edition=2nd|pages=131–3}}</ref>

Mahashivratri is the main festival celebrated at Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swamy temple.

== History ==
{{Expand section|date=April 2017}}
There are inscriptional evidence from the [[Satavahana dynasty]] which place the temple to be existent from the 2nd century. Most modern additions were done during the time of king [[Harihara I]] of [[Vijayanagara Empire]].<ref name=Ram /> The veerasheromandapam and paathalaganga steps was constructed during the time of [[Reddi Kingdom]].

==Architecture==
The temple complex covers 2 hectares and houses four gateway towers known as ''[[gopurams]]''. The temple has numerous shrines, with those of [[Shiva|Mallikarjuna]] and [[Bhramari|Bhramaramba]] being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls; the most notable is the Mukha Mandapa built during the [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagar period]].
The temple is situated facing East. The center mandapam has several pillars, with a huge idol of Nadikeshwara. The temple is enclosed by tall walls measuring {{convert|183|m|ft|abbr=on}} by {{convert|152|m|ft|abbr=on}} and {{convert|8.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall. There are a number of sculptures in the precinct each rising above another. The Mukamandapa, the hall leading to the sanctum, has intricately sculpted pillars. The shrine where Mallikarjuna is housed is considered the oldest in the temple, dating back to the 7th century. There is a Sahasra linga (1000 linga), believed to have been commissioned by [[Rama]] and five other [[lingam]]s believed to have been commissioned by [[Pandavas]]. A mirror hall in the first precinct has images of [[Nataraja]].<ref name=Ram />

==Administration==
The temple is maintained and administered by government of Andhra Pradesh.<ref name=Ram />

The nearest railway station are Markapur is 85 km, Nandyal and Kurnool are the places the distance is 180 km. The most convenient way is to take a bus or taxi from Hyderabad. Temple committee cottages and dharamshalas are available here.

==Religious significance==
Lord Shiva in this temple is referred to as one of the twelve [[Jyotirlinga]]s. This temple is classified as one of the [[Paadal Petra Sthalam]].

On the way to the main temple is located Shikreshwar temple. It is said that by having darshan in the temple one does not get rebirth.

Krishna River here is called Patal Ganga. One has to go down 852 stairs to reach the river. The Shiva Linga is bathed with the water of this river.

=== Jyotirlinga ===
As per [[Siva Puranam|Siva Mahapuranam]], once [[Brahma]] (the Hindu God of creation) and [[Vishnu]] (the Hindu God of preservation) had an argument in terms of supremacy of creation.<ref name="R.">R. 2003, pp. 92-95</ref> To test them, [[Shiva]] pierced the three worlds as a huge endless pillar of light, the ''jyotirlinga''. Vishnu and Brahma split their ways to downwards and upwards respectively to find the end of the light in either directions. Brahma lied that he found out the end, while Vishnu conceded his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light and cursed Brahma that he would have no place in ceremonies while Vishnu would be worshipped till the end of eternity. The ''jyotirlinga'' is the supreme partless reality, out of which Shiva partly appears. The ''[[jyotirlinga]]'' shrines, thus are places where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light.<ref>Eck 1999, p. 107</ref><ref name="Gwynne">See: Gwynne 2008, Section on Char Dham</ref> Originally there were believed to be 64 ''jyotirlingas'' while 12 of them are considered to be very auspicious and holy.<ref name="R." /> Each of the twelve ''jyotirlinga'' sites take the name of the presiding deity – each considered different manifestation of Shiva.<ref name="Lochtefeld">Lochtefeld 2002, pp. 324-325</ref> At all these sites, the primary image is ''[[lingam]]'' representing the beginningless and endless ''[[Stambha]]'' pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva.<ref name="Lochtefeld" /><ref name="E. U. Harding">Harding 1998, pp. 158-158</ref><ref name="paris_congress">Vivekananda Vol. 4</ref> The twelve ''jyotirlinga'' are [[Somnath Temple|Somnath]] in [[Gujarat]], Mallikarjuna at [[Srisailam]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga|Mahakaleswar]] at [[Ujjain]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Omkareshwar]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Kedarnath Temple|Kedarnath]] in [[Uttarakhand]], [[Bhimashankar Temple|Bhimashankar]] in [[Maharashtra]], [[Kasi Viswanath Temple|Viswanath]] at [[Varanasi]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple|Triambakeshwar]] in Maharashtra, [[Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga|Vaidyanath]] at [[Deoghar district]] in [[Jharkhand]], [[Nageshwar Temple, Dwarka|Nageswar]] at [[Dwarka]] in [[Gujarat]], [[Ramanathaswamy Temple|Rameshwar]] at [[Rameswaram]] in [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Grishneshwar]] at [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]] in Maharashtra.<ref name="R." /><ref name="Chaturvedi">Chaturvedi 2006, pp. 58-72</ref>

== Rebuild ==
During the days of Nizam, the temple was destroyed, reduced to a pitiable condition. The Maratha ambassador then wrote a letter to [[Ahilyabai Holkar]], requesting her intervention to rebuild the temple and assist with repair works.

==Festivals and rituals==
{{Expand section|date=April 2017}}[[Maha Shivaratri]] is the most important festival here, along with Dasara Sarannavartrulu.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

==Connectivity==
Srisailam Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple is located around 180 kilometers from the [[Kurnool]] district headquarters, and 213 kilometers from [[Hyderabad]]. Pilgrims coming by train would need to alight at the railway station in either [[Markapur]] or [[Tarlupadu]]. These stations are between 2 and 2.5 hours by road. The Kacheguda-Guntur passenger passes through the [[Giddalur]] railway station that is 139 kilometers from the temple.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nearest Railway Station to Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga |url=https://nearestrailwaystation.com/mallikarjuna-jyotirlinga/ |website=NearestRailwayStation.com}}</ref>

== Citations==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
{{refbegin}}
*{{Citation
| ref=Chaturvedi
| last=Chaturvedi
| first=B. K.
| year=2006
| title=Shiv Purana
| place=New Delhi
| publisher= Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd
| edition=First
| isbn=81-7182-721-7
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bchgql0em9YC&q=jyotirlinga&pg=PA58
}}
*{{Citation
| ref=Eck
| last=Eck
| first=Diana L.
| year=1999
| title=Banaras, city of light
| place=New York
| publisher= Columbia University Press
| edition=First
| isbn=0-231-11447-8
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J57C4d8Bv6UC&q=jyotirlinga&pg=PA107
}}
*{{Citation |ref=Gwynne|last=Gwynne|first=Paul |title=World Religions in Practice: A Comparative Introduction|year=2009|publisher=Blackwell Publication | location =Oxford |isbn=978-1-4051-6702-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tdsRKc_knZoC&q=jyotirlinga&pg=PT271}}.
*{{cite book
| ref = Harding
| last = Harding
| first = Elizabeth U.
| title = Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar
| chapter = God, the Father
| publisher = Motilal Banarsidass
| year = 1998
| pages = 156–157
| isbn = 978-81-208-1450-9
}}
*{{Citation | ref = Lochtefeld| last = Lochtefeld | first = James G. | title = The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M | year = 2002 | publisher=Rosen Publishing Group | isbn=0-8239-3179-X | page=122 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kl0DYIjUPgC}}
*{{Citation
| last=R.
| ref=R.
| first=Venugopalam
| year=2003
| title=Meditation: Any Time Any Where
| place=Delhi
| publisher= B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.
| edition=First
| isbn=81-8056-373-1
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZtnNw_hiA9oC&q=jyotirlinga&pg=PT113
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Vivekananda
| ref = Vivekananda
| first = Swami
| title = The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
| chapter = The Paris Congress of the History of Religions
| chapter-url = http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_4/translation_prose/the_paris_congress.htm
| volume = Vol.4
}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga}}
* [https://www.srisaila-dhyanamarg.in Srisaila Pancha Mutts website]
* [https://templeknowledge.com/sri-bhramaramba-mallikarjuna-temple/ All about Malikarjuna temple ]

{{HinduMythology}}
{{Shaivism|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Jyotirlingas]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Kurnool district]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Shakti Peethas]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Andhra Pradesh]]

Mallikarjuna Temple, Srisailam - Revision history

imported>Rasnaboy: /* Notes */ Renaming section