Srisailam is a forested hill-top town in the Nallamala range of Andhra Pradesh, in Nandyal district, with the Krishna river held back below it by the Srisailam dam. The temple of Mallikarjuna sits at its centre and is the second name in the traditional list of the twelve jyotirlingas. It is one of the few places in India where a jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha stand in the same complex.
Where it is
The temple faces east, within a fortified courtyard with tall stone walls. Two shrines matter most: Mallikarjuna, the form of Shiva worshipped here, and Bhramaramba, the goddess, whose temple is counted among the Shakti Peethas in the traditional lists, though the lists themselves vary in number and in names. The hill is reached by a road that runs through a tiger reserve, and the surroundings are quiet in a way that many pilgrims remark on.
The legend
The most told story is a family one. After Shiva and Parvati had arranged the marriage of their son Ganesha, the elder brother, their younger son Kartikeya was upset that he had been passed over, and he left home for Krauncha mountain in the south. His parents followed to console him, and when he would not come back they chose to stay on the hill, in the form of a light, so that they could see him. That hill is Srisailam, and the shining linga is Mallikarjuna. Tradition adds that Shiva visits his son on the new Moon day and Parvati on the full Moon day.
The name has a simple reading. The tradition says the linga was worshipped with jasmine, called mallika in Telugu, and arjuna is the second half of the name, which teachers explain in different ways, as the arjuna tree or as a poetic title. Take it as a traditional explanation.
The temple’s history
The shrine is old. Inscriptions of the Satavahana period, around the second century, are cited as the earliest evidence that a temple stood here, and the hill is mentioned in several Puranas. The Vijayanagara kings were its great patrons: Harihara and later rulers added gateways and mandapas, and Krishnadevaraya is recorded as having made gifts. The stone gateways, the large courtyard walls and the carved panels date mostly from that long period of patronage, with an earlier layer from the Kakatiya and Reddi kingdoms. Shivaji is traditionally said to have built a gopuram and a hall for pilgrims here in the seventeenth century.
Adi Shankara is said by tradition to have visited and composed the Shivananda Lahari at Srisailam. As with many such accounts, the visit is part of devotional memory and is not something historians can fix with certainty.
The temple is managed today by the devasthanam of the state, which publishes its own notices.
Nearby places
The pilgrimage usually includes a visit to the Pathala Ganga, where steps lead down to the Krishna for a bath, and to the Sakshi Ganapati shrine on the way up. The Akka Mahadevi caves, reached by a boat ride on the reservoir, are associated with the twelfth century Veerashaiva poet-saint. The Srisailam dam is a short drive away. All of these are optional, and the temple itself needs only a few hours, so many families see the hill in a single long day. Staying overnight lets you see the early rituals without the day crowds.
How to get there
- Airport: most visitors fly into Hyderabad, which is the usual gateway, and make the road journey of several hours into the hills. Kurnool also has a small airport with limited services.
- Railway: the nearest main station is Markapur Road, on the Guntur to Kurnool line, from where there is a long road journey. Many pilgrims prefer Hyderabad for easier connections.
- Road: state buses and shared taxis run from Hyderabad and from the coastal towns. The forest stretch can be closed at night, so plan to arrive in daylight.
The season
Summers are hot, the monsoon turns the hills green, and the cooler months are the most comfortable. Maha Shivaratri is the great festival here, and the Ugadi days in spring also draw large crowds, including many who walk to the hill. Month names and fast days follow the Hindu calendar, and the Maha Shivaratri page gives the date for your city.
Etiquette
The usual rules apply: modest clothing, shoes outside, quiet inside the sanctum. Some temples in this region ask for traditional dress for certain services, so read the devasthanam’s website before you go. Details such as darshan categories, abhishek bookings and fees are fixed by the temple and are not quoted here. Please check the official website for them.
A pilgrim’s offering is usually water, bel leaves, jasmine and a lamp, in the spirit of the name. If you wish to keep the day with a fast, our Maha Shivaratri puja guide sets out the usual steps.
Related pages
- The twelve jyotirlingas
- Rameswaram jyotirlinga, another southern jyotirlinga
- Rudrashtakam
- Shiva Panchakshara Stotram
- Amavasya, the new Moon day tied to the legend
- Pilgrimage guides
Frequently asked questions
↳ Why is Srisailam both a jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha?
The same complex has the Mallikarjuna linga and the shrine of Bhramaramba. The Shakti Peetha tradition holds that a part of the goddess fell here, though the lists of Peethas differ between texts.
↳ What is the story behind the name Mallikarjuna?
The tradition says the linga was worshipped with mallika, or jasmine. The second half of the name has more than one explanation, so teachers differ on how to read it.
↳ How old is the Srisailam temple?
Inscriptions from the Satavahana period, around the second century, are cited as the earliest evidence. Most of the surviving stonework comes from the Vijayanagara period and later.
↳ Which airport is nearest for Srisailam?
Hyderabad is the usual gateway, followed by a long road journey. Kurnool has a smaller airport. Check current services, as small-airport routes change often.
↳ Where do I find darshan timings and dress rules?
On the devasthanam's official website. They are set by the temple and change, so they are not given here.