Tuesday 8 November 2011

Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh,

 07, November 2011
I went to the SRISAILAM temple on 5th and 6th of November 2011 and had a good darshan. I reached the temple at about 18.00 hrs  and stayed night at the temple and returned back on 6th Sunday. Since the visited  time was a week end and also holiday on Monday, there was a heavy rush in the Temple, mostly from North India. Another reason for the crowd is there are special poojas   from 27th Oct to 15th Nov 2011. The rush was regulated like Tirupati to stand in long Q with usual ‘jarkandi’. I also visited second time to this temple and the details are posted in a separate post. (CLICK HERE ).

Since Cell phone and Cameras are not allowed I could not take pictures inside the temple  and some of the pictures taken out side the temple is uploaded in this post.

268 /1. SRI MALLIKARJUNA SWAMY TEMPLE, SRISAILAM - THIRUPARUPATHAM 
Now this place is called as Srisailam. This is the 268th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 1st sthalam of Vada nadu. Moovar has sung hymns in praise of Lord shiva of this Temple. Thirunavukkarasar  worshiped Lord Shiva while returning from Kailash. Thirugnanasambandar  and Sundarar has sung hymns from Kalahasti. 

( 5 tier Rajagopuram night  view )

Moolavar    : Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy.
Consort      : Sri Bramarambika Devi

Some of the Important features and details of this temple are....
The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram and other three directions also has similar Rajagopurams built in dravidian style. This is one of the  12 JyotirLinga temples. Ashta lingams are installed at the back  of the  Shiva shrine.  Ambal Temple is a level above Shiva’s Sannadhi with steps.

In the main temple there are two Copper plated  Dwajasthambams (one at the back apart from front side). The Moolavar Vimana is  Gold plate covered in steps and glitters from high mast light.

There is a Trisulam on the top of the moolavar Gopuram instead of kalasam.  The praharam pillars are tooooo big. The temple is very big  with beautiful sculptures / reliefs on the high stone walls. It is not like Tamil Nadu Temples, where no Nayanmars, Chandran, Suryan and Navagrahas sannadis.

It is not known the antiquity of the temple and it was  believed to be 3000 years old.  The front mandapams were built  during 1374 CE by Reddy Kings.

Nearby temples are, Sakshi Ganapathi and Sikaram Temple which are about 1 KM and 8 KM on the way to Ongole.
     
HOW TO REACH : 
Andhra Pradesh Transport buses available from major cities of Andhra Pradesh. 
On the Train Route from Chennai to Kolkata, get down at Ongole and reach Srisailam by bus. 
From Ongole to Srisailam by bus via Markapur also possible.  

CONTACT DETAILS :
Temple web site http://srisailamonline.com/

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE CLICK HERE

DETAILS OF MY SECOND VISIT TO SRISAILAM : CLICK HERE

( dwarapalaka stucco image on the street)
 ( Dwarapalaka stucco image on the street ) 
( Night view of Somaskandar stucco image ) 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---