Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple Kurnool Andhra Pradesh

Srisailam Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple is one of the ancient Shiva temples located in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh, India. Srisaila Devasthanam is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva and one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams. The temple lies in a picturesque environment of Nallamalai Hills on the banks of the Krishna River. Sri Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple is around 212 km south of Hyderabad and 179 km from Kurnool.

Srisailam Shiva Temple enshrines Shiva as Mallikarjuna Swamy and Parvati Devi as Goddess Bhramaramba Devi (one of the eighteen Mahasakthis). Shiv-Parvati are believed to be self-manifested here. The huge temple complex consists of separate several sub shrines, pillared halls, mandapas and springs.

Sub Shrines

Sahasra Lingeswara
Vriddha Mallikarjuna
Arthanariswara (Ardhanarishvara)
Ratnagarbha Ganapathi
Uma Maheswara
Veerabhadra
Rajarajeswari and Rajarajeswara
Kumaraswamy
Pancha Sivalayas – Group of five Pandava Prathista Temples
9 Nava Brahma Temples – Each of them enshrined with Sivalingas named after the eight forms of Siva such as Bhava, Sarva, Esana, Pasupathi, Rudra, Ugra, Bheeema and Mahadeva. The ninth temple is having the Moksha linga.

The entire complex is fortified by the most impressive Prakaram wall of massive stones. Nallamalai Hills is also known by the names Siridhan, Srigiri, Sirigiri, Sriparvatha and Srinagam.

Temple Timings

Sunday and Monday

Morning: 3:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Evening: 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Tuesday to Saturday

Morning: 4:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Evening: 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Festivals

Maha Sivarathri is the most important festival celebrated here as Brahmothsavams in the month of Magham (February – March). The festival is celebrated for eleven days with Navahaknika Deeksha. Important events in Mahasivarathri include Ankurarpana, Dhwajarohana, Vahana Sevas to God and Goddess, Lingodhbhavakala Maharudrabhishekam to God, Pagalankarana, Kalyanothsavam, Radhothsavam and Dhwajavarohana.

Ugadi celebrations performed for a period of five days generally March/April.

Dasara Celebrations in September or October.

Kumbhothsavam is the most significant festival of the temple of Srisailam in which various offerings are made to Goddess Bhramaramba Devi. This festival celebrates on the first Tuesday or Friday after full moon day of Chaitram.

Sankranthi utsavams begins with the Dhwajarohana and ends with the Dhwajavarohana.

Arudrothsavam, Kartheeka masothsavams, Sravananamosothsvams are some of the other festivals.

How to reach

Air: The nearest Airport is Hyderabad (230 KM) from where buses are plying to Srisailam everyday frequently.

Rail: Markapur, which is 91 KM from Srisailam in Guntur-Hubli, line on South Central Railway from where buses are available to Srisailam.

Road: Srisailam is well connected by APSRTC.Buses not only from all corners of the State but also from Bangalore, Chennai etc. The Karnataka Road Transport Corporation is also running buses from various main cities of that state.