Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple
Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, India
- Deities
- Mallikarjuna (Shiva), Bhramaramba (Parvati)
- Traditions
- shaiva, shakta
- Worship status
- active
- Coordinates
- 16.0739, 78.868
- Darshan hours
- Varies by temple and season; consult the temple's own trust/devasthanam for the current daily schedule before visiting.
- Best time to visit
- October to March; Maha Shivaratri brings the largest crowds.
- How to reach
- Reachable by road from Hyderabad (~215 km) or Kurnool (~185 km); no direct rail link, nearest railway station is Markapur Road.
- Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri (February/March)
Location
Open in Google MapsUniquely counted among both the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva and the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas of the Goddess (as Bhramaramba), Srisailam sits on the Nallamala hills above the Krishna river. Inscriptional evidence of worship here dates to the 2nd-century Satavahana era, with the oldest surviving shrine structure dated to around the 7th century. The site saw further construction under the Reddy-era Vhanni Reddi kingdom in the 12th-13th centuries (including the veerasheromandapam and paathalaganga steps) and major additions during the Vijayanagara period under Harihara I in the 14th-15th centuries; Chola- and Kakatiya-era patronage is also frequently cited, spanning nearly two millennia of royal patronage in total.
Sources
- historical record: Continuous patronage documented via Satavahana-era through Vijayanagara-era inscriptions and copper-plate grants found at the site.
- historical record: Cross-checked against Wikipedia's account of the Mallikarjuna Temple, Srisailam, accessed during verification pass: confirms Satavahana-era (2nd century CE) inscriptional evidence, a shrine structure dated to the 7th century, 12th-13th-century construction (veerasheromandapam, paathalaganga steps) under the Reddy-era Vhanni Reddi kingdom, and major Vijayanagara-period additions under Harihara I (14th-15th century).
For review
- Satavahana, Reddy, and Vijayanagara-era involvement are independently confirmed (Wikipedia cross-check, plus site inscriptions/copper-plate grants). Chola- and Kakatiya-era patronage, mentioned in the text as 'also frequently cited' rather than asserted as confirmed, could not be corroborated in this pass (a Britannica fetch attempt was blocked; Wikipedia's own account does not mention either dynasty) - the phrasing deliberately avoids stating it as settled fact.