Mallikarjuna: Jyotirlinga and Shakti Peeth Together
Srisailam, set amid the Nallamala hills on the banks of the Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh, is home to the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, one of the twelve jyotirlingas revered across India as Shiva's self-manifested forms of light. The temple is also unique among the jyotirlingas in that it stands alongside the shrine of Bhramaramba, one of the Shakti Peethas, making Srisailam sacred to both Shiva and Devi worship at once.
While geographically in Andhra Pradesh, Mallikarjuna holds a place close to the heart of Karnataka's own devotional life, especially within its Veerashaiva-Lingayat tradition.
The Legend of Mallikarjuna
Tradition tells that when Ganesha was married before Kartikeya, the elder son having outwitted his brother in a contest of wisdom, Kartikeya, feeling slighted, left for Krauncha hill in anger. Shiva and Parvati followed to console him, and it is said that their arrival together at this hill, appearing as light, is what gave rise to the jyotirlinga worshipped here as Mallikarjuna, understood as Shiva arriving here as Arjuna, adorned with mallika flowers, alongside Parvati.
Over centuries, Srisailam grew into one of the most significant Shiva-Shakti pilgrimage centres in South India, its dual sanctity drawing devotees of both traditions in equal number.
Mallikarjuna in Karnataka's Veerashaiva Devotion
Srisailam holds particular significance for Karnataka's Veerashaiva-Lingayat tradition, whose twelfth-century founding figure Basavanna and fellow vachana poet-saints held Mallikarjuna in deep reverence, with the site appearing repeatedly in the devotional vachana literature of that movement. Many Lingayat devotees consider a pilgrimage to Srisailam an essential part of their Shiva devotion, alongside Karnataka's own great Shiva shrines.
- Devotees undertake the climb or drive up the Nallamala hills as an act of devotion in itself
- Mahashivratri at Srisailam is marked by an especially large gathering, among the largest in South India
- The combined worship of Mallikarjuna and Bhramaramba is seen as completing a devotee's darshan of both Shiva and Shakti in one visit
Darshan Guide: Timings and the Twin Shrines
The temple complex follows a regular schedule of morning and evening darshan for both Mallikarjuna and Bhramaramba, with devotees typically visiting both sanctums during a single trip. Given the large crowds during Mahashivratri and other major festivals, pilgrims are advised to check timings and any special darshan arrangements in advance.
The temple's setting amid the Nallamala forest, part of a wildlife sanctuary, adds a further dimension of natural sanctity valued by many visitors.
How to Reach Srisailam
Srisailam is reached mainly by road, with Kurnool and Markapur among the nearer railway stations before the onward drive through the Nallamala hills. Hyderabad's airport is the most commonly used air gateway for pilgrims from within Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while devotees from Karnataka often travel by road via Kurnool.
A Simple Prayer and the Takeaway
Devotees at Srisailam often chant Om Namah Shivaya before Mallikarjuna and Om Bhramarambayai Namah before the Devi, honouring both forms present at this shared shrine.
Mallikarjuna reminds devotees that devotion does not need to choose between Shiva and Shakti, since both are honoured together at Srisailam as two faces of the one divine. A pilgrimage here, across state and tradition alike, remains an offering of faith, not a transaction.
Reader Questions Answered
Why is Srisailam significant for Karnataka's devotees?+
Mallikarjuna holds deep reverence within Karnataka's Veerashaiva-Lingayat tradition, whose founding saints including Basavanna held the site dear, and it appears often in the devotional vachana literature of that movement.
Why is Srisailam both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peeth?+
The temple complex holds both the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga and the shrine of Bhramaramba, one of the Shakti Peethas, making it one of the few sites in India sacred to both traditions together.
How do I reach Srisailam from Karnataka?+
Devotees from Karnataka typically travel by road via Kurnool, which along with Markapur is among the nearer railway stations before the onward drive through the Nallamala hills to Srisailam.
About the author
Pandit Ravindra Sharma · Vedic Rituals & Bhakti, 22+ years
Pandit Ravindra is the Vandnaa editorial team's resident specialist on aarti, chalisa, and daily devotion. He has performed home and temple pujas across Varanasi and Delhi for over two decades and contributes the bhakti-focused articles on this site.
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