Mallikārjuna, Śrīśailam

Śiva and Bhramarāmbā · Śrīśailam, Nallamala hills, Andhra Pradesh

Śrīśailam sits on a forested hill above the Kṛṣṇā river. It is unusual in being both a Jyotirliṅga and a Śakti Pīṭha: the goddess here is Bhramarāmbā, and devotees worship the two together.

Pilgrims bathe at Pātāla Gaṅgā on the river below, have darśana of Mallikārjuna, and visit the Sākṣī Gaṇapati shrine on the way, who by tradition “witnesses” each pilgrim’s visit. Mahāśivarātri brings very large crowds. The cooler months, roughly October to February, are best; the road passes through a tiger reserve and has timed gates at night.

Tradition says Śiva and Pārvatī set their sons a contest. Gaṇeśa won by circling his parents, saying they were his whole world, while Kārttikeya was still travelling around the earth. Hurt, Kārttikeya went away to the Krauñca mountain in the south. His parents followed to be near him and stayed on Śrīśailam — Pārvatī as Mallikā and Śiva as Arjuna, giving the shrine its name.

Andhra Pradesh · Also a Śakti Pīṭha · Kṛṣṇā river · Mahāśivarātri

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