Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, Srisailam – Temple of Divine Union and Reconciliation
In the misty dawn of the Nallamala hills, the bells of Mallikarjuna Temple ring softly, calling to mind an
ancient story of love and reconciliation. It was on this sacred hill in Srisailam that Lord Shiva and Goddess
Parvati are said to have descended to pacify their anguished son Kartikeya, who had retreated in anger to
a distant mountain . The divine parents’ journey to bring their family together imbues the very air here
with a sense of healing and compassion. According to legend, Shiva stayed on this hill as Mallikarjuna, “the
Lord of Jasmine,” for his linga was once anointed with fragrant jasmine flowers . In this way, myth and
fragrance merge: the lingam of Mallikarjuna carries the sweet scent of devotion, symbolizing the gentle
love of a father for his child and the serene presence of the Mother Goddess by his side
This temple is unique in India for its dual sacred status – a confluence of Shaivism and Shaktism. It is
revered as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, where Shiva appeared as a pillar of divine light, and also as one of
the eighteen Shakti Peethas, where the essence of Goddess Shakti resides . Here, the cosmic
masculine and feminine principles unite in one place. Srisailam’s sanctity is rooted in the land itself: legend
says a piece of Sati (an incarnation of Parvati) fell here – her upper lip dropped upon this hill when Shiva
wandered the earth with her charred body . Thus, the very soil of Srisailam is blessed by the Goddess’s
sacrifice. The temple’s presiding goddess Bhramaramba (a form of Parvati) manifests Shakti’s power, while
Mallikarjuna’s Jyotirlinga embodies Shiva’s infinite light. Together, they transform this mountaintop into a
sacred geography – a place where earth and heaven intersect. Every stone and tree in the surrounding forest is consecrated by their presence, reminding devotees that the divine can literally inhabit the land.
Srisailam is, in a profound sense, a living myth: both a pilgrimage site and a symbol of the union of Shiva
and Shakti in eternal balance
Yet this sanctuary is not only a realm of mythology and spirit; it is also built of enduring stone and history.
The Mallikarjuna Temple has stood here for centuries, bearing witness to the rise and fall of kingdoms.
Inscriptional evidence traces it back to at least the 2nd century CE during the Satavahana dynasty . Over
time, many dynasties enriched the temple – the Vijayanagara Empire under King Harihara I expanded it in
the 14th century, and earlier, in the 12th–13th centuries, the kings of the Reddi Kingdom added structures
like the Veerashero Mandapam and the long stone steps leading down to the Krishna River . Walking
through the temple’s courtyards, one can admire the four towering gopurams (gateway towers) that guard
the cardinal directions . The architecture is a magnificent example of Dravidian style, adorned with
specimens of intricate Vijayanagara carvings . Inside, the halls (mandapas) are cool and dim, their
intricately sculpted pillars telling stories of gods and kings . The Mukha Mandapa, added during the
Vijayanagara period, still stands with its elaborate columns, a masterpiece of devotional art . At the heart
of the complex lies the oldest shrine of Mallikarjuna, dating back to the 7th century – a humble inner
sanctum that has quietly survived through the ages. Legend blends with history even in these stones: a
mysterious Sahasra Lingam (a carving of a thousand miniature lingas) is believed to have been installed
here by Lord Rama, and five special lingams are said to have been placed by the Pandavas of Mahabharata
fame . In one chamber, a hall of mirrors reflects the image of Nataraja, Shiva as the cosmic dancer, in
infinite repetitions . As devotees step into that mirrored hall, they see themselves alongside Shiva’s
dancing form – a poignant reminder that the divine is reflected in every soul, and that each visitor is part of
the temple’s living history
Even today, Srisailam remains a thriving center of faith and a destination for spiritual seekers across India.
Devotees travel long distances – by road, by climbing the old stone steps, even on foot through the dense
Nallamala forest – to reach this holy abode . On auspicious nights like Maha Shivaratri, the temple
comes alive with oil lamps and chants, the golden spire of the sanctum glowing against the night sky as
thousands gather to celebrate the marriage of Shiva and Parvati in ritual and song . Pilgrims often make
the steep descent of 852 steps to the Krishna River (aptly called Pātāla Ganga , the underground Ganges) to
collect its water, believed to be purifying . With brass pots of river water balanced on their shoulders,
they ascend again, chanting in rhythm, to bathe the lingam of Mallikarjuna – each step a meditation, each
drop an offering tying the river to the shrine, the earth to the heavens. Such practices keep alive the
intimate connection between the natural landscape and the spiritual life of the temple, underscoring the
sacredness of this geography in every ritual
In this one place, myriad facets of Indian spirituality converge. Mallikarjuna Temple stands as a testament
to divine union – the coming together of Shiva and Shakti in one space, the Lord and His Shakti
worshipped side by side as a married couple. It also stands for family reconciliation and hope –
commemorating the moment divine parents sought out their son to mend a broken family bond, a story
that devotees retell to find solace and guidance in their own family lives. And it embodies the holiness of
the land itself: a sacred hill made sacred not by human hands alone but by the footsteps of gods and the
fall of a goddess’s tear. Srisailam’s Mallikarjuna is more than an ancient temple; it is a lyrical living
narrative – a place where stone and story, history and mystery are woven into one fabric. As the sunlight
gleams off the gold-plated tower and the scent of jasmine mingles with incense, one cannot help but feel
that here, the divine masculine and feminine embrace, family wounds heal in the warmth of love, and the earth itself sings of the divine. Such is the eternal charm of Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga of Srisailam – a
timeless beacon of unity, devotion, and sacred geography
Sources: Mallikarjuna Temple, Srisailam (Wikipedia)