Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple - The 2nd Jyotirling

shrishailashringe vibudhatisange tuladritunge api muda vasantam |
tamarjunam mallikapurvamekam namami samsarasamudrasetum ||

Srisailam is a Jyotirlinga located in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is about 268 kms from Vijayawada and 132 kms from Nandyal.

Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

How to Reach

By Bus and Train  

• Srisailam is about 268 km from Vijayawada, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, and there are buses connecting the town with Vijayawada, Guntur and Kurnool. For service from Vijayawada to Srisailam, tickets and reservations can be made at the Central Bus station Vijayawada. The approximate travel time from Vijayawada to Srisailam is 5 hours. 
• From Kurnool it will take around 5 hours via Atmakur and Dornala. You can get Express buses every one hour from 5.00 am to 11.30 pm from Kurnool. 
• For those who are planning from Chennai you can either go from Kurnool, Nellore or Tirupathi. From Kurnool there are many buses to Srisailam. You can reach Kurnool by Kacheguda express which starts from Chennai Egmore railway station. There is no railway station in Srisailam. There are frequent buses from Tirupati as well and they pass through Nellore. So you can always catch a bus to Srisailam from Nellore too.

By Private Taxi 

• If hiring a private taxi, ensure that the driver has experience driving in ghat sections and doesn't have the habit of drinking alcohol. Mannanur, which is around 120 km from Hyderabad, is the place where the Nallamala hills start. After 60-70 km of drive through the forest you'll reach Eegalapenta. From there, it becomes difficult to drive as there are numerous hairpin bends and a kilometer of the stretch has lot of potholes. You can have a good look at the Srisailam Dam from there.
• Podili which is around 200 kms from Vijayawada, is the place where Nallamala hills start. It famous Giddalur Ghat locates in here. From there, it becomes difficult to drive as there are numerous hairpin bends and a kilometer of the stretch has lot of potholes.
• Those coming from Nandyal the road is a National highway till Nandyal and comes State Highway till Srisailam.

Places To see 

• "Ista Kameswari Temple"  from Srisailam you need to travel 16 km into deep forest which is very adventurous. Don't try to go in your own vehicle because the way is sprinkled with huge rocks and water. Engage a jeep from Srisailam. If you have a team of 10 they will charge 1200 Rupees.Or else you can share with other in which case you will be charged 300 Rs. Bargain the amount with the drivers. After reaching the temple try to cross the temple and you will find very good place with water falls and valleys.

• ''Akkamahadevi Caves'' This is the most interesting part of the journey in Srisailam.To reach the caves you need to go to Patala Ganga.You can reach Patala Ganga by rope way and ride a boat from there to reach the caves. After travelling 16 kms (for more than an hour) on the Krishna river with high mountains on either sides and walking for some distance,you will reach the caves.There will be a guide with you in the boat who will lead into the caves.You need to take a candle with you as the caves are 80 feet deep and very dark. Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development boats need to be reserved in advance in the early hours on the date of journey. The ticket cost is 180 rupees. Minimum of 18 members are to be there for the boats to be started. You can also engage a private boat.

• Patala Ganga   People take a holy bath here. The water is supposed to be very pure and have healing properties for skin diseases.

• Lingala Gattu  This is a rocky Krishna river bank, where every rock is said to be an image of Lord Siva. Hence the name Lingala Gattu.

• Ista Srisailam  Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Reserve - This is the only tiger reserve in Andhra Pradesh. Three forest rest houses and 40 bed capacity dormitories for tourists.

• Chatrapati Shivaji Spurti Kendram  which has exhibits on Shivaji Maharaj.

• Srisailam Sikharam (Peak of the Mountain) from where you can have a bird's eye view of all of Srisailam.

• Chenchu Lakshmi Museum   A museum which has exhibits on tribal people living in Andhra Pradesh.

• Sakshi Ganapati   Before visiting Srisailam everyone will have darshan of Sakshi Ganapati near Srisailam.  It is said that Ganapati will note down the names of the visiting devotees.

• Akkamahadevi Caves   Take a boat ride on the river Krishna to reach the caves. The trip to Akkamahadevi caves is scheduled once a day at 10 in the morning. while traveling to Akkamadevi caves we find a way for kadalivanam. This is a place for practicing  yoga for muni's, rishi's and yaTI'S still today. But very difficult reach that place.

• The dam is 10 km before the Siva temple.

• Mallela Teertham  Mallela Theertham is a waterfall located in the Nallamala Forest in Andhra Pradesh, India. The River Krishna flows through this forest. It is located around 58 KM from Srisailam.

Shop 

• You can buy pure Girijan (Tribal) honey, AGMARK certified honey which is supplied by government of Andhra Pradesh. It is regarded as very pure and tasty. You can get it in Chenchu Lakshmi Tribal Museum. Don't buy it elsewhere.

Eat 

• As a temple town, only vegetarian food is available. Delicious food varieties are available in the temple run annadana satram (free kitchen) and restaurants along with the street food. It is advised, for people to keep hydrated by eating food with high carbohydrates and drink lots of water while on the treks in the hills and camping in the forests.

Accommodation 

• There are lots of budget hotels and lodges around the Mallikarjuna Swami Temple in Srisailam. Most of these do not require any prior reservation except during peak seasons and festivals, and most Mondays. The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department runs a few hotels by name Ganga Sadan, Gouri Sadan and Punnami Guest House. These are clean and well maintained, and are within the budget of most pilgrims. There are also some lodges and choultries that cater to particular communities.

Story of The Legend 

When Kumar Kartikeya returned to Kailash after completing his trip around the earth, he heard about Ganesha’s marriage from Narada. This angered him. In spite of being restrained by his parents, he touched their feet in obeisance and left for Krounch Mountain. Parvati was very distraught at having to be away from her son, implored Lord Shiva to look for their son. Together, they went to Kumara. But, Kumara went away a further three Yojanas, after learning about his parents coming after him to Krouncha Mountain. Before embarking on a further search for their son on each mountain, they decided to leave a light on every mountain they visited. From that day, that place came to be known as JyotirLinga Mallikarjuna. It is believed that Shiva and Parvati visit this palce on Amavasya (No moon day) and (full Moon day) Pournami, respectively. Visiting this JyotirLinag not only blesses one with innumerable wealth, but also name and fame and fulfils all the desires.

Once, a princess named Chandravati decided to go to the Jungles to do penance and meditation. She chose Kadali Vana for this purpose. One day, she witnessed a miracle. A Kapila cow was standing under a Bilwa tree and milk was flowing from all of its four udders, sinking into the ground. The cow kept doing this as a routine chore everyday. Chandravati dug up that area and was dumb founded at what she saw. There was a self-raising Swyambhu SivaLinga. It was bright and shining like the sun rays, and looked like it was burning, throwing flames in all directions. Chandravati prayed to Siva in this JyotirLinga. She built a huge Shiva Temple there. Lord Shankara was very pleased with her. Chandravati went to Kailash wind borne. She received salvation and Mukti. On one of the stone-inscriptions of the temple, Chandravati’s story can be seen carved out.

Key Words : List of Jyotirlingas in India, History of Jyotirlingam, Poem of Jyotirlingam, Meaning of Jyotirlingam Poem