Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple - History, Timings & Entry Fee
Pilgrimage
#1 of 19 Places to Visit in Srisailam
Distance (From Srisailam Bus Station): 1 Kms
Trip Duration (Including Travel): 2 Hours
Transportation Options: Walk/Trek
Travel Tips: 1. Mobile, Cameras are not allowed inside the temple. There are counters near the queue entrance to deposit these items.
2. Special darshan tickets are available for Rs. 50 & Rs. 100.
3. Accommodation can be booked at http://srisailamonline.com/
4. Several private accommodation options available in Sunnipenta (10 Kms) and surroundings.
5. Bramaramha Temple is located inside the main temple complex and can be visited together.
At a distance of 1 km from Srisailam Bus Station, Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva has a great historical and religious significance and it is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and also one of the 18 Sakti Peethas (Bhramaramba Temple situated in same complex). The holy temple is situated on a mountain named Shri Shaila on the banks of Krishna River. This Jyotirlinga is also referred as Kailash of the South. Mallikarjun Temple is among the prime places to visit in Srisailam.
The earliest known historical mention of Srisailam hill can be traced in Pulumavis Nasik inscription of 1st Century AD. The Sathavahanas, Ikshavakus, Pallavas, Vishnukundis, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Reedy Kings, Vijayanagara Emperors and Chatrapathi Shivaji are among the famous emperors who worshipped God Mallikarjuna Swamy and made several contributions to the development of the temple.
Prataparudra of Kakatiya Dynasty strived a lot for the improvement of this temple and granted Paraganas for its maintenance. The period of Reddy Kings is the Golden Age of Srisailam that all rulers of the dynasty celebrated service for this temple. In 14th Century, Prolaya Vema Reddy of Reddy Dynasty constructed stepped path-way between Srisailam and Pathala Ganga and Anavema Reddy constructed Veera Siromandapam.
The Second Harihararaya of Vijayanagara Empire constructed the Mukhamantapam of Swamy shrine and also a Gopuram on Southern Side of the temple. In the 15th Century Sri Krishna devaraya constructed the Rajagopuram on Eastern side and Salumantapas on both sides of the temple. Chatrapathi Sivaji has funded the construction of Gopuram on northern side in the year 1667 AD.
Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple was built in Dravidian style with high operas on all sides of the temple. The sanctum is a shell like structure that enshrines Lord Mallikarjuna. The small black linga has a hooded golden cover. The garbha griha is small and only priests are allowed inside. It has a large idol of Nandi, facing the sanctum which presides over a pillared hall. The door to the sanctum is silver-plated. To its left is the idol of Ratnagarbha Ganapati and to the right are Veerabhadra Swamy and Bhadrakali. To the north of the sanctum are the five lingas installed by the Pandavas.
The temple is usually crowded on weekends. The festivals of Shivaratri, Dussehra and Karthika Poornima attract lakhs of devotees from all over southern and western India.
Timings: 5 AM to 3:30 PM & 6 PM to 10 PM
