Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh,

 07, November 2011

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

Since Cell phones and Cameras are not allowed I could not take pictures inside the temple and some of the pictures taken outside the temple are uploaded in this post.

268 /1. SRI MALLIKARJUNA SWAMY TEMPLE, SRISAILAM - THIRUPARUPATHAM 

Now this place is called 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 faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram and the other three directions also have 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 the front side). The Moolavar Vimana is a 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 in 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 are 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 is 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 ---