Mallikarjuna
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Mallikarjuna (मल्लिकार्जुन) Jyotirlinga or Srisailam Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deities Shiva and Parvati, located at Srisailam in Kurnool district in Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
Location
Srisailam is located at north-east corner of the Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh.
Variants
- Mallikarjuna मल्लिकार्जुन, जिला कृष्णा, आ.प्र., (AS, p.718)
- Shrishaila श्रीशैल दे. Nagarjunakonda नागार्जुनीकोंडा (p.925)
Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga
It is significant to the Hindu sects of both Shaivam and Shaktam as this temple is referred to as one of the twelve Jyothirlingas of Lord Shiva and as one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas of goddess Parvati. Shiva is worshiped as Mallikarjuna, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Bhramaramba. It is the one of the only three temples in India in which both Jyotirlinga and Shaktipeeth is revered.
Legend: The legend is that Kumar Kartikeya, the younger son of Lord Shiva once got angry and came to the Kroncha Hills from Kailasha. Lord Shiva and Parvati came here and stayed on with the name Arjun and Mallika. Thus the place and the temple were called Mallikarjun.
History
मल्लिकार्जुन
Mallikarjuna मल्लिकार्जुन (AS, p.718) जिला कृष्णा, आ.प्र. में शीत है. इस स्थान (=श्रीशैल) पर शिव के द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिंगों में से एक स्थित है. पौराणिक किंवदंती में इस स्थान को दक्षिण में काशी के समान ही पवित्र माना जाता है. 'श्रीशैलं... दृष्ट्वा पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते' (देखें श्रीशैल). [1]