Original Jyotirlinga in Srisailam and some interesting places to visit in Srisailam

Dear Ganapathi,

Most of the people visit srisailam but miss the original jyotirlinga which is

opposite to the garbha griha. It is called Vriddha Mallikarjuna.

This linga is the original transformation of the trunk of Arjuna Tree

(Terminalia Arjuna). It is supposed to be the fossil of this tree that got

transformed itself into the Siva Linga. The Queen Chandravati used to worship

this Arjuna Linga with Jasmine flowers everyday. It so happened that one day

that when Chandravati Devi was immersed in meditation before this Linga after

offering Jasmine (Mallika) flowers, Lord Siva out of love towards his devotee

appeared amidst this Arjuna Linga with the Jasmine Flowers amidst blazing fire.

And the name stuck ie., “Mallika-Arjuna” ie., Arjuna Linga with Mallika Flowers.

This is the original jyotirlinga at Srisailam.

The specialty of the entire temple complex is that the entire Mallikaruja

Temple is constructed on the Krishna River which is antarvahini ie., beneath the

Siva Linga, Krishna river flows. This you can clearly see by observing the

Rudhira Gunda in the temple complex. Just opposite to Mallikarjuna linga, there

is complex called Vira Siro Mandapam. This was the place where Vira Saivites

used to cut their throats, tongue and sever their heads with sword and offer to

Mallikarjuna. This was the Vira Achara of Vira Saivaites.

On every year during Chaitra Padyami (Ugagi), there is a cultural festival

organized by local tribals. During this day, animal sacrifice is allowed by the

Temple authorities. On Ugadi day, entire ornaments and sari is removed from the

Mother Brahmarambika. One cannot bear the ugra rupa of this devata and hence on

this day, Mallikarjuna linga is covered with Curd to mitigate the counter

effects.

Srisailam is a wonderful tantric place with abundant mercury wells. The

science of alchemy ie., converting base metal into gold was prevalent in this

place.

There is a Navadurga Yantra to which kumkumarchana is performed in front of

Brahmaraambika.

Just 1 km around the temple, there are 5 mutts called Pancha Mathas. Very

ancient and tantric worship was prevalent in these 5 mutts. Three of such mutts

are 1) Ghanta (Bell) Mutt 2) Vibhuti Mutt 3) Rudraksha Mutt.

The speciality of Ghanta Mutt is that there is a mode of tantric worship on a

particular amavaasya day. Three persons should be present in that mutt. One

should offer the abhisheka to the linga from the amruta kunda nearby, the other

person should ring the bell the whole night and the third person should do the

japa of the particular mantra. This process should continue the whole amavaasya

night. Worship thus performed confers siddhi to all the three. And the siddhi

is Akasa Gamana (flying in the air). This bell is seen till today in the

premises of Mallikarjuna temple. There is place inside this Mutt where Sri

Mouna Swamigal of Courtallam attained Samadhi for a while. At the entrance of

this Mutt, there is a small temple dedicated to Tantrika Gayatri. Unlike usual

Gayatri with 5 faces, this Gayatri is having 6 faces denoting the Anuttaraamnaya

Swarupa.

The speciality of vibhuti mutt is that there is a pasupata yantra with bija

mantra over it. If one chants the bija mantras and puts the finger at the

centre of the yantra ie., bindu sthana, vibhuti comes out of the yantra.

Rudraksha mutt is the Samadhi of a great siddha purusha who got merged and

disappeard inside siva linga there.

There is a tantric siddha kshetra which is 16 kms far away from the Temple.

It is Ishta Kameshwari. The speciality of this deity is that even till today,

when you apply the kumkum to the forehead of the Mother Kameshwari, you will

feel the soft touch of human skin at the forehead.

After getting down near the patala ganga, there is a kadali vana (forest of

plantains). There a wonderful temple and cave dedicated to Guru Dattatreya.

Sri Narasimha Saraswathi of Guru Charitra fame, disappeared into this cave.

Near to this forest, there is a cave dedicated to Akka Mahadevi. She was one

of the greatest Vira Saivas from Karnataka. She used to do penance and worship

the siva linga at this cave. It is still intact.

And the most wonderful and amusing part in Srisailam is the Nallamalla forest.

Apart from several medicinal plants and trees, there are several carnivorous

trees present around. Once you are beneath that tree, the branches stoop down

to catch you, lifts you up and smash against the trunk. To visit these trees,

one has to take the help of local tribals and visit from far off place. This was

the personal experience of the colleague of my gurunatha.

There is lot more to write but owing to the shortage of space, i pause here.

Strange is the Srisailam and strange are the ways lord siva - the Great Tantrika

Siddha Kshetra.

With regards,

Sriram

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JAI MATA

Sir,

Thanks for the excellent mail on Sree MallikaArjun Shiva.

Not only was it informative,but also interesting .

I do look forward to more such wonderful mails.

Regards,

Akhila Shivan