Mallikarjuna Temple, Srisailam – Legends

Mallikarjuna Temple, Srisailam – Legends

Jyotirlinga:

As per Siva Mahapuranam, once Brahma (the Hindu God of creation) and Vishnu (the Hindu God of preservation) had an argument in terms of supremacy of creation. To test them, Shiva pierced the three worlds as a huge endless pillar of light, the jyotirlinga. Vishnu and Brahma split their ways to downwards and upwards respectively to find the end of the light in either directions. Brahma lied that he found out the end, while Vishnu conceded his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light and cursed Brahma that he would have no place in ceremonies while Vishnu would be worshipped till the end of eternity. The jyotirlinga is the supreme partless reality, out of which Shiva partly appears.

The jyotirlinga shrines, thus are places where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. Originally there were believed to be 64 jyotirlingas while 12 of them are considered to be very auspicious and holy. Each of the twelve jyotirlinga sites take the name of the presiding deity – each considered different manifestation of Shiva. At all these sites, the primary image is lingam representing the beginningless and endless Stambha pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva. This Temple is considered one among them.

Stay of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi:

When Shiva and Parvati decided to find suitable brides for their sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya argued as to who is to get wedded first. Shiva bade that the one who goes around the world in Pradakshina could get married first. By the time Kartikeya could go around the world on his vahana, Ganesha went around his parents 7 times (for according to Shastras, going in Pradakshina round one's parents is equivalent to going once round the world (Bhupradakshinam)).

Siva got Buddhi(intellect), Siddhi (spiritual power) and Riddhi (prosperity) married to Ganesha. Kartikeya on his return was enraged and went away to stay alone on Mount Kraunja in the name of Kumarabrahmachari. On seeing his father coming over to pacify him, he tried to move to another place, but on the request of the Devas, stayed close by. The place where Siva and Parvati stayed came to be known as Shri Shailam.

Mallikarjuna:

Long ago, Princess Chandravathi of the Chandra Gupta dynasty faced a domestic calamity and decided to forsake royal comforts. She went to the Srisailam forests and was living on fruits and cow's milk. One day, she noticed that one of the cows around was not yielding milk. Later she learned through her herdsman that the cow was going to a secluded spot and showering milk on a Linga amid Malliga (jasmine) creepers. The next day she herself went to that spot and witnessed the miracle. The same night Lord Shiva appeared in her dream and asked her to build a temple at this spot. Since the Linga was entangled in mallige creepers, the deity was named Mallikarjuna.

Chenchu Mallayya:

According to anther legend, Lord Shiva once came to the Srisailam forest for hunting. There he met a beautiful girl of the Chenchu tribe, fell in love with her and decided to stay with her in the forest. The girl was none other than Parvati herself. In the temple, there is a bass relief depicting this story. Based on this story they look upon Mallikarjuna Swamy as their relation and call him as Chenchu Mallayya.

It is significant to note that even today, people of the local Chenchu tribe are allowed into the sanctum. On the night of Maha Shivaratri, they are permitted to perform abhisheka and puja to the deity. Another interesting feature is that devotees irrespective of caste, creed or sex can go into the sanctum and perform abhisheka and puja.

Worshipping Lord Shiva with Jasmine:

As per Hindu legend, the presiding deity in the form of Linga (an iconic form of Shiva) was worshipped with jasmine (locally called Mallika), leading to the name of presiding deity as Mallikarjuna.

Rishabagiri:

Rishaba or Nandi Deva did penance on this hill and obtained the darshan of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati. Hence the name Rishabagiri.

Mother Durga in the form of Bee worshipped Lord Shiva here:

Legend has it that Durga is said to have assumed the shape of a bee and worshipped Shiva here, and chose this place as her abode.

Sriparvatha Swamy:

Parvatha, son of Silada Maharshi is said to have performed penance, pleased Siva and made him agree to live on his body. He also prayed Siva that all the Devathas and sacred waters of all Theerthams permanently remain on his top and all the Devotees irrespective of cast or creed visiting the scared place should be blessed with the Moksha. God Siva granted these desires of Parvatha. The Parvatha assumed the shape of big Hill Srisailam and Siva lived on its top as Sriparvatha Swamy.

Slaying of demon Arunasura:

According to Hindu Mythology, Goddess Adishakti acquired the shape of Bhramaram (bee) to kill the cruel demon Arunasura and after slaying, she settled at Srisailam as Bhramaramba Devi.

Sakthi Peetam:

It is said that here the neck portion of Sathi Devi was placed during Daksha Yagna and hence this place is considered as one of the Sakthi Peetams

Srisailam:

According to one story Vasumathi, the daughter of a Rishi did penance on Brahmadevar on this hill. Brahma Pleased and appeared to her. Then Vasumathi asked him to grant her the name ‘Sri’ and also associated it with the name of this hill Srisailam, Brahma granted her desire and after that his Kshetram named as ‘Sri-Sailam’.

Vriddha Mallikarjuna Swamy:

There is another story that a certain princess in staunch devotion wished to marry God Siva and always spent her time in worshipping him. One night in dream Siva tells her to follow a block bee and stay where it settles till his arrival. She wakes up from dream, found a bee, follows it and reaches the mountain of Srisailam. The bee finally settles on a jasmine shrub and princes waits there. She waited Siva for several days. Meanwhile the Chenchus nourish her with honey and forest fruits every day. 

At last Siva appears before her with and old and wrinkled face and said that in search of her, he become old. The princes married him. On the occasion of marriage, the Chenchus invited the couple for dinner and offered meat and drink. Siva did not accept that meal even though princess tried insisting him to have the meal. At last Siva left the spot and went away. The princes called him for several times and he did not listen to her. Then she cursed him to become a stone (Linga) and he became Vriddha Mallikarjuna Swamy.

On observing this, Parvathi cursed her to become Bhramaram (bee) as she followed bee. Even now in the temple complex of Srisailam, there is the Shrine of Vriddha Mallikarjuna and some Scholars opined that the Vriddha Mallikarjuna Linga is probably a fossil of Arjuna Vriksham. It seems that, this is the oldest structure in the entire complex of Srisailam and is of 70 to 80 thousand years old approximately.

Hiranyakasipu worshipped Lord Shiva here:

According to Agni Puranam, in the Kruthagya the Demon King Hiranyakasipu did penance at the Kshetram and worshipped God Mallikarjuna Swamy. This Kshetram was his Puja Mandhiram and Ahobila Kshetram which is about 220 Kms from Srisailam was his Sabha Mandapam.

Sri Rama consecrated Sahasra Lingas here:

The Skanda Purana proclaims that in the Tretha Lord Sri Rama with Seetha Devi during their Vanavasa had visited this Kshetram and consecrated Sahasra Lingas (One thousand Lingas) here.

Pandavas stayed here during their exile:

The Epic literatures clear that in the Dwapara Yuga, Arjuna while his pilgrimage and the Pandavas during their exile spent some time in this Kshetram and worship the Deities. Even now there is a pond at the foot way of Srisailam called as Bheemuni Kolanu.

Dattatreya Vriksham:

It is also said that Bhagavan Dattatreya did penance at this Kshetram and even now, there is a tree (Sthala Vriksham) in the temple complex named a Dattatreya Vriksham.

People worshipped Lord Shiva here:

In the Kaliyuga the Advaita Philosopher Adi Sankara, Siddha Nagarjuna, Veerasaiva Saint Allama Prabhu, Sivasarani Akka Mahadevi spent some time at this Kshetram and worshipped the deities.