Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, Srisailam: Jyotirlinga and Shakti PeethaSrisailam, Andhra Pradesh

About this guide

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, at Srisailam in the Nallamala hills of Andhra Pradesh above the Krishna river, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. It is also home to Goddess Bhramaramba, one of the Shakti Peethas, making Srisailam one of the rare places where Shiva and Shakti are worshipped as a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha in the same temple.

This is YatriSutra's devotee guide to Mallikarjuna: the legend of Kartikeya, the history and architecture of the temple, how darshan works, the rituals, the sacred calendar and practical advice for your visit. It is written from the temple devasthanam, government and scriptural sources listed at the end of the page.

The divine story of Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga

According to the Shiva Purana, Shiva and Parvati decided that whichever of their sons first went around the world would marry first. Kartikeya set off on his peacock, while Ganesha simply walked around his parents, saying they were his whole world. When Kartikeya returned to find Ganesha already married, he left Kailash in sorrow and settled on the Krauncha mountain.

Shiva and Parvati followed him there to bring him home. Kartikeya moved away each time they came near, so they stayed close by, Shiva as Arjuna and Parvati as Mallika. That is how the Jyotirlinga came to be called Mallikarjuna. Devotees believe Shiva and Parvati still visit on Amavasya and Purnima to see their son.

Goddess Bhramaramba is the Shakti of Srisailam. Tradition says she took the form of a bee (bhramara) to destroy the demon Arunasura, and devotees say a soft humming can still be heard at her shrine.

YatriSutra devotee tip: have darshan of both Mallikarjuna and Bhramaramba on the same visit, as devotees believe one is incomplete without the other.

Why devotees visit Mallikarjuna

Srisailam is special because a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha are worshipped together here. Devotees believe that seeing the peak of Srisailam alone frees one from rebirth, and the hills are full of shrines, caves and places linked with sages.

Mallikarjuna also allows sparsha darshan at set times, letting devotees touch the Jyotirlinga, which is rare among major temples and deeply meaningful to many families.

History and architecture of Mallikarjuna Temple

Srisailam is mentioned in the Mahabharata and the Puranas, and the temple grew under several dynasties, including the Satavahanas, the Kakatiyas and the Reddy kings. The Vijayanagara rulers added much of what stands today, and Krishnadevaraya built a pillared mandapa. In 1677 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj visited and built the northern gopuram.

The temple is built in the Dravidian style, enclosed by high stone walls carved with scenes from the epics. Its features include:

• Four gopurams (gateway towers), one on each side of the fort-like enclosure.
• Carved enclosure walls showing gods, epic scenes and everyday life.
• Many-pillared mandapas with sculpted pillars, including the Mukha Mandapa.

Inside the temple

Inside the enclosure, the main shrine of Mallikarjuna stands at the centre, with the shrine of Bhramaramba on a higher level behind it. Around them are many smaller shrines, including the Sahasra Linga and shrines to the Pandavas, together with an ancient mirror-like tree trunk revered by devotees.

Mallikarjuna darshan guide: timings and queues

The temple usually opens before dawn and stays open until night, with breaks for rituals. Darshan types include:

• Free darshan (sarva darshanam) in the general queue.
• Paid quick darshan tickets for a shorter queue.
• Sparsha darshan tickets at set hours, allowing you to touch the Jyotirlinga, with a traditional dress code.
• Alankara darshan, viewing the adorned deity, often during peak crowds.

Darshan schedules and ticket types change often, especially on weekends and festivals, so check the Srisailam Devasthanam website before you go.

Your darshan, step by step

• Book your darshan or sparsha darshan slot on the official devasthanam website if possible.
• Bathe and wear traditional clothes, especially for sparsha darshan.
• Join the queue for Mallikarjuna, offer your prayer and, if your ticket allows, touch the Jyotirlinga.
• Climb to the shrine of Goddess Bhramaramba for her darshan.
• Collect laddu prasad from the official counter.

Aarti, puja and rituals at Srisailam

The day at Srisailam begins with the Suprabhatam and early abhishek, and continues with archanas and aartis until the night Ekantha Seva. Devotees often book abhishekam, kumkumarchana for Bhramaramba and the Kalyanotsavam, the divine wedding ceremony of Shiva and Parvati. Book sevas through the devasthanam only.

Sacred calendar: Brahmotsavam, Ugadi and Kartika

• Mahashivratri Brahmotsavam: a festival of several days with processions and the divine wedding.
• Ugadi: lakhs of pilgrims, many walking from Karnataka and Maharashtra, come for the new year festival.
• Kartika masam: the holiest month here, with lamps lit across the temple, especially on Mondays.
• Kumbhotsavam: a special festival for Goddess Bhramaramba.

Devotee etiquette

• Wear traditional clothes: men in dhoti or pyjama with an upper cloth and women in saree or salwar for sparsha darshan.
• Leave phones in the cloakroom; they are not allowed in the main temple.
• Keep the queue moving at the sanctum.
• Respect the forest: Srisailam lies in a tiger reserve, so do not litter or feed animals.

Darshan for elderly and differently-abled devotees

The temple involves some steps, especially to Bhramaramba's shrine, and queues can be long. Ask the devasthanam help desk about wheelchairs and any special darshan for senior citizens, and plan a weekday visit outside festivals. The ghat road through the forest also takes time, so travel in daylight.

Tips for pilgrims visiting Mallikarjuna Temple

• Book online for sparsha darshan and sevas, as slots fill quickly.
• Travel the forest road in daylight; it closes to traffic at night in the tiger reserve.
• Avoid weekends and festivals if you want a calm darshan.
• Keep time for Pathala Ganga on the Krishna river below the temple.

YatriSutra devotee tip: go up to Sakshi Ganapati on your way out. Devotees believe Ganesha there records every pilgrim's visit to Srisailam.

Connected sacred places

• Bhramaramba Devi: the Shakti Peetha within the same temple.
• Sakshi Ganapati, about 3 km away, the witness of every pilgrim's visit.
• Pathala Ganga: the sacred ghat on the Krishna river, reached by steps or ropeway.
• Shikareswaram: a hilltop shrine from where devotees view the temple's peak.
• Hatakeswaram and Akka Mahadevi caves, places linked with saints and sages.