Jyotir Lingam Temple

The Mallikarjuna Swami Temple is dedicated to Shiva and is located in Srisailam, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India. This is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams. According to the Shiva Mahapurana, once, Brahma and Vishnu 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 and challenged the two of them to find the end of the light source. Vishnu went downwards and Brahma went upwards. Brahma lied that he found out the end, while Vishnu conceded 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 appears. The jyothirlinga shrines thus are places where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. There were believed to be 64 jyothirlingas while 12 of them are considered to be very auspicious and holy. Each of the twelve jyothirlinga sites take the name of the presiding deity, considered to be different manifestation of Shiva. At all these sites, the primary image is lingam representing the no-beginning and no-end Stambha pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva. The twelve jyothirlinga are Somnath in Gujarat, Mallikarjuna at Srisailam in Andra Pradesh, Mahakaleswar at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, Kedarnath in Himalayas, Bhimashankar in Maharastra, Viswanath at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Triambakeshwar in Maharastra, Vaidyanath at Deogarh in Jharkand, Nageswar at Dwarka in Gujarat, Rameshwar at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu and Grishneshwar at Aurangabad in Maharastra. When Shiva and Parvathi decided to find suitable brides for their sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya argued as to who was to get wedded first. Lord Shiva bade that the one who goes round the world in Pradakshinam could get married first. By the time Lord Kartikeya could go round the world on his vahana, Lord Ganesha went round his parents 7 times. Shiva then got Siddhi and Buddhi, the daughters of Viswaroopan, married to Lord Ganesha. Muruga, on his return, was enraged and went away to stay alone on Mount Kravunja 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 Lord Siva and Parvathi stayed came to be known as Sri Sailam. Lord Siva visits Lord Kartikeya on Amavasya days and Parvati Devi on Poornima days. The temple is situated facing East. The centre mandapam has several pillars, with a huge idol of Nadikeswarar. The mythology of Daksha yaga and Sati's self immolation resulted in the emergence of Shree Parvati in the place of Sati Devi and making Shiva a house holder. This mythology is the story behind the origin of Shakti Peethas. They are holy abodes of Shakti formed due the falling of Sati Devi's corpse when Shiva carried it and wandered. It is believed that Sati Devi's Upper lip has fallen here. The temple's significance are for salvation, wealth, relief from diseases, purchase of vehicles and to gain knowledge.