Sri Mallikharjuna Swamy Temple (Dwadasa Jyotirlingam) Srisailam is one of the Dwadasalingam, situated in the thick and inaccessible forests of the Nallamalai hills, in the northeastern portion of the Nandikotkur Taluk of Kurnool District.21 It lies on a straight line west of Vijayawada, right as it were in the centre of South India. It is 110 kms north of Nandyal Railway Station. On leaving Nandyal, one has to proceed to Atmakur, which is at a distance of 65 kms by road and from Atmakur to Nagaluti, which is 20 kms off. There are two routes to reach Srisailam from Nagaluti.22 In the early medieval period, Srisailam raised to prominence ass a pilgrim center with Alampur, Umamahesvaram, Siddhesvaram and Tripurantakam serving as gateways, 80 thus contributing to the colorful, religious and cultural life of the Andhras Srisailam was referred as Sriparvata, Srisaila, Mallikarjunam, Parvatam, Srigiri, Srisaila Mallikarjunam and Srikailasa in many inscriptions, literary texts and the Puranas.23 This important and religious shrine is situated, on what is called the Rishabhagiri hill, on the southern bank of the sacred river Krishna, and is famous as Srisailam or Sriparvata, which is one of the several abodes of the Lord Shiva In almost all the Hindu puranas, mention is made of this ancient place. Srisailam is a sacred place of pilgrimage, which has been known from ancient times in India.24 Sri Adi Sankara, the renowned Advaita philosopher visited Srisailam and stayed at this spot for some time.25 There is legend concerning the origin of this temple, among the tribal population, called Chenchus,26 who live in this part of the hills. According to this legend prevalent among the Chenchu tribes, Lord Mallikarjuna (Plate 22) is known among these tribes as "Chenchu Malliah". It is Interesting to note, that the Chenchus have free permission, even today, to go into any part of the temple, Including the Garbha Griha, enshrining the sacred Linga. It is in fact this tribal people, which help to drag the car in the annual ratha (cart) festival of the temple and also at other minor services within the temple. During the great Sivarathri festival, when thousands of people congregate to bathe in the sacred waters of the Pathalaganga and worship Lord Mallikarjuna, the Chenchus also go and worship inside the Garbha Griha independent of the designated Priests. The temple stands in the little hollow on the top of Srisailam hill overlooking the sacred river Krishna and surrounded on all sides by beautiful forest. On the eastern side of the temple, the causeway from Nagaluti is carried straight on, down the hill, to the bed of river Krishna, which is here known as Pathalaganga, and is regarded as a very sacred river for pilgrims. The river Pathalaganga is about two miles from the temple, with a flight of stone steps leading to it. An inscription in the temple records shows that these steps were built by of the Reddi Dynasty of the Kondaveedu kingdom. The enclosure to the temple forms roughly a square measuring five hundred feet from east to west and six hundred feet from north to south. On the northern, southern and eastern sides are lofty 81 gateways. In the centre, there is a stone enclosure containing the main temple. The main temple of Lord Mallikarjuna stands in the centre of this inner courtyard and is surrounded by a number of minor shrines. The temple of Bhramaramba, connort deity of the lord or the Amman temple as it is popularly known is in a separate enclosure west of the inner courtyard. The main temple is a small structure, consist of the sanctum santorum the Lord in the form of a Linga presides with a small pillared porch attached to the front. The main temple of Mallikarjuna is a stone-built structure, and in front of the shrine, does the Vijayanagar king Harihara built the exquisitely carved Mukha mantapa or the pillared hall the second in 1404-1405 A.D. It contains several beautifully sculptured stone pillars and ornamental stone eaves. The most valuable and sacred object within the temple is an exquisitely carved bronze image of Lord Siva, in the form of Nataraja. The idol is a masterpiece of craftsmanship held in reverence and devotion by the visitors. Between the Mallikarjuna temple and the eastern gateway of the courtyard are two handsome pillared halls one of which contains the Nandi. On the northern side of the temple under the shade of a 'Vata Vriksha' is another shrine dedicated to Mallikarjuna, and local legends say that this shrine contains the original ‘Linga’ over which the black cow the divine carrying the lord of the princess Chandravati gave its milk. On the northern side of the pillared Mukhamantapa, is a little Siva temple, containing a carved stone ‘Linga’ called the Sahasra Linga. This famous representation of the Lord is made by the stone being divided into twenty-five facets each of the latter having a representation of forty lingas thus making a total of one thousand Lingas. The three headed Naga
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