Srisailam Temple also known as Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple is situated in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is on the top of the Nallamala hills, on the banks of River Krishna. The Lingam of the presiding deity Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Srisailam Temple – Facts
| Deity | Lord Malliakarjuna (Lord Shiva) |
| Location | Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh |
| Significance | Jyotirlinga |
| Tours | Srisailam Tour |
| Darshan Timings | 4:30 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Poojas | Rudra Homam |
| Best Time to Visit | October to March |
| Festivals | Shravan, Shivratri |
| Jyotirlingas in South India | Srisailam Temple, Rameswaram Temple |
The famous hill is also popular as Siridhan, Srigiri, Sirigiri, Sriparvatha as well as Srinagam. It is also one of the most important Shaivite pilgrimage sites in India. There are two separate temple complexes present inside – one is in dedication to Lord Mallikarjuna while the other one is for Goddess Bhramarambha.
What are the timings of Srisailam Temple?
The temple opens at 4:30 AM and closes at 10:00 PM. The temple also performs various rituals during this time. The devotees can be a part of these rituals, such as the morning, afternoon, and evening poojas.
The timings are as follows:
| Ritual | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Darshan | 4:30 AM | 10:00 PM |
| Morning Darshan | 6:00 AM | 3:30 PM |
| Evening Darshan | 6:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
The aarti timings are:
| Ritual | Timings |
|---|---|
| Suprabhatha Darshan | 5:00 AM |
| Mahamangala Aarti (Morning) | 5:30 AM |
| Mahamangala Aarti (Evening) | 5:00 PM |
What are the poojas and sevas at Srisailam Temple?
The poojas and sevas performed at the Srisailam Temple are:
| Ritual | Timings |
|---|---|
| Ganapathi Abhishekam | 7:00 AM |
| Ganapathi Homam | 7:00 AM |
| Rudra Homam | 7:30 AM |
| Laksha Bilwarchana | 11:00 AM |
| Sahasralingam Abhishekam | 6:30 AM |
| Kumkuma Pooja | 7:00 AM |
| Gouri Vratham | 8:00 AM |
What is the significance of Srisailam Temple?
The significance of Srisailam Temple is that Mallikarjuna Linga is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. It is supposed to have appeared in a fiery column of light. Moreover, the Linga is swayambhu. Devotees also believe that the neck of Sati fell here when her corpse was cut.
Anyone, irrespective of caste, creed or religion can perform Abhishekam and Archana to the Mallikarjuna Linga. The unique feature is that you can touch the Linga and perform the Puja yourself.
Beliefs also say that Lord Rama himself installed the Sahasralinga in the Srisailam Temple. The Linga is divided into 25 facets which in turn represent 40 Lingas each. This leads to a total of 1000 small Lingas carved on a single Linga.
The Pandavas placed the Panchapandava Lingas in the temple courtyard. The five Lingas have their names after the different forms of Siva – Sadyojatha, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurush, and Eesana. Moreover, stories from the Mahabharata are there on the walls of the temple. The Srisailam temple also has mentioned as a holy hill in the Mahabharata.
What is the history of Srisailam Temple?
As per the history of Srisailam Temple, mention of Srisailam hills can be traced to the Nasik inscription of the Satavahana King Vasisthiputra Pulumavi in the 1st century AD. The Ikshavakus Kingdom ruled Srisailam from AD200 – 300. The inscriptions dating around AD 375-612 state that the Vishnukundis were the devotees of Sri Parvathsawamy.
According to the Shiva Purana, when Lord Ganesha got married before Lord Karthikeyan, Lord Karthikeyan got angry and left for the Kraunch Mountain. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati tried to console him but were unable to stop him from leaving. Dejected, Lord Shiva took the form of Jyotirlinga and settled on the mountain-top.
There is another legend associated with the Srisailam Temple. Chandravathi, daughter of Chandragupta Patana ran away from her father who made amorous advances towards her. She crossed the River Krishna and went up to the hilltop where she lived with her servants. She observed that one of her cows would stand over a rock formation and shed milk over it daily. The Princess dreamt that the rock was a self-manifested Linga of Lord Shiva.
Hence, she dug the ground and a glowing Linga emerged out of it. She worshipped the Linga daily by adorning it with Jasmine (Mallika) flowers. Lord Shiva was very pleased, so he granted her Mukti and salvation by sending her to Kailash.
What are the festivals celebrated at Srisailam Temple?
Some of the festivals celebrated at Srisailam Temple are:
- Mahasivaratri Brahmothsavams: The Mahasivaratri Utsav occurs in the month of February or March. The Mahasivaratri day (29th day of Magham) marks the beginning of a seven day festival period. The important events are Ankurarpana, Dhwajarohana, Vahana Seva to God and Goddess as well as Lingodhbhavakala Maharudrabhishekam to God.
- Ugadi: The celebrations happen for five days in which lakhs of people visit the temple for God’s blessings. The festival begins 3 days before Ugadi (Telugu New Year) which occurs in late March or early April. The important events of the celebrations are Vahana Seva to God and Goddess, Alankaras to Goddess, Veerachara Vinyasalu and Rath Yatra.
- Kartheekai Mahothsavam: It is one of the most auspicious months in the Indian calendar. Devotees light numbers of deepams are in the Srisailam temple premises. They also perform Jvalathoranam (bonfire) in the temple on the full moon day of the month.
- Sravanamahothsavam: This festival occurs in the Shravan month (August / September). Also, the Akhanda Sivanama Sankeerthana (Bhajans) takes place around the clock throughout the month.
How to reach Srisailam Temple?
Here’s how to reach Srisailam Temple:
- Air: The nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International airport at Hyderabad. It is 202 km away from Srisailam.
- Train: The nearest Railway Station is Markapur which is 80 km away followed by Nandyal and Kurnool.
- Road: The Srisailam Temple is situated just 1 km away from the Srisailam Bus Stand.
Where to stay nearby?
Devasthanam or the Temple management launched the Kuteera Nirmana Pathakam, a donation scheme under which they have built several suites, cottages, rooms as well as dormitories for the pilgrims. Please bring your Identity card to confirm the booking. Also, one cannot cancel the booking.
There are up to 70 private hotels/choultries in the area where one can avail accommodation and food.
What are some places to visit nearby?
Some of the places one can visit near Srisailam Temple are:
- Sakshi Ganapathi: It is located about 3 km away from Srisailam. Devotees believe that Ganapathi keeps attendance / Sakshi of the pilgrims visiting the Srisailam holy town. Also, in the sculpture, the god holds a book in the left hand and a pen in the right hand to note down the names.
- Hatakeswaram: It is 5 km away from Srisailam. The legend says that God Siva appeared to a potter in Atika (Piece of Pot). Hence, this place was famous as Atikeswaram which later became Hatakeswaram.
- Sikhareswaram: It is located at a distance of 8 km away from Srisailam. The temple is located at 2830 feet above sea level making it the highest peak in Srisailam. Also, the temple is an ancient stone structure. According to the Skanda Puranam, a glance at the peak will relieve the curses of re-birth.
- Phaladhara Panchadhara: It is located 4 km away from Srisailam. Sri Adi Sankara performed penance at this place and composed the famous Sivanandalahari.
- Akkamahadevi Caves: It is located 10 km away from Srisailam. Beliefs say that Akkamahadevi, a lyricist and philosopher spent some years in these caves in 12th Century AD doing penance and worshiping the Sivalinga. Also, the Linga naturally existed in the deep parts of the cave. These caves are also home to Siddhas who practiced Alchemy.
Frequently Asked Questions about Srisailam Temple
Yes, the Srisailam Temple is open all 365 days of the year.
The entry to the Srisailam Temple is free of cost.
No. There is no facility for online darshan available.
No. There is no facility for specially-abled and senior citizens.
The summers in Kurnool starts from April and continue until June. The summers here can be very hot and dry. Temperatures during the daytime often go up to 45 º C.
In Kurnool, winters start in October and continue until March. The temperatures during this time range from around 17 º C to 28 º C. The weather during this time is not too cold and pleasant.