What is Mallikarjuna JyotirLinga (Srisailam) history (information) (facts)
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Just before moving to know about “What is Mallikarjuna JyotirLinga (Srisailam) history (information) (facts)“, let us very briefly know about the beautiful family of Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva is the head of this family. His consort name is Goddess Sri Parvati Devi.
They have two sons namely Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya.
Lord Ganesha has divine elephant face, while Lord Kartikeya has 6 heads and thus Lord Kartikeya is known as as ‘Shanmukha‘.
(Here Shanumukha = Shan + Mukha. Here Shan = 6 and Mukha = face. Shanmukha is someone who has 6 head or faces).
Lord Shiva, Goddess Sri Parvati Devi, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya all stay in a divine place called Kailasha (Kailash).
Along with these four of them, there are multiple other divine people living in Kailasha (Kailash).
Few of the names are Nandi, Bhringi, many Ganas, etc.
Lord Shiva’s mount is Nandi, Goddess Sri Parvati Devi mount is Simha (Divine Lion),
Lord Ganesha mount is Mushaka (Mushak) (Divine Mouse) and Lord Kartikeya mount is Mayura (Mayur) (Divine Peacock).
Mallikarjuna JyotirLinga (Srisailam) history (information) (facts) is as given below:
1. Lord Shiva and Parvati two sons : Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi have two sons, namely Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya.
2. Both Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya wanted to marry : Both sons wanted to get married.
And thus, Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi found it difficult to decide who should be married first.
The other one was bound to feel hurt. Both the sons Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya were equally dear to them.
3. Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi plan for a test : They decided to have a test.
They called both Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya to them and said, We have devised a competition.
Both of you (Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya) have to travel around the world and return here.
4. Whoever returns first will be married first : Whoever returns first will be married first.
That should be fair and square to both of you (Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya).
5. Race started : As soon as these words were out, Lord Kartikeya dashed out on his journey.
But Lord Ganesha tarried and pondered. He realized that this was a task that was impossible for him to accomplish.
Lord Ganesha found it difficult enough to travel a couple of miles.
6. Lord Ganesha found an easy solution for race : Lord Ganesha found an easy solution for race.
First, Lord Ganesha bathed. Then, he made Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi sit on two seats.
And later, Lord Ganesha worshipped them and circled them seven times.
After this, Lord Ganesha finished circling them (Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi).
Lord Ganesha said, Now please make arrangements for my wedding.
7. Lord Ganesha stayed back : What do you mean, exclaimed Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi.
Didn’t you hear what we said? We asked the two of you to travel around the world and come back.
You’d better hurry. Kartikeya has already left. If you don’t take care, he will beat you to it.
8. Lord Ganesha already completed the race : But I have already been round the world seven times, replied Lord Ganesha.
Haven’t I (Lord Ganesha) circled (pradakshina) the two of you (Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi) seven times?
9. Vedas about circling parents : The Vedas say that circling one’s parents is the same thing as circling the whole world.
If you do not wish to argue that the Vedas are wrong, then you have to agree that I (Lord Ganesha) have circled the whole world seven times.
10. Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi was unable to argue about Vedas : Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi could not very well argue that the Vedas were wrong.
Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi, therefore had to accept Lord Ganesha’s logic is correct and per the Dharma of Vedas.
Thus finally both Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi made arrangements were for Lord Ganesha wedding.
Vishvarua, the son of Maharishi Kashyapa, had two daughters named Siddhi and Buddhi.
11. Siddhi and Buddhi married to Lord Ganesha : These two were married to Lord Ganesha with a lot of fanfare.
Lord Ganesha and Siddhi had a son named Laksha and Ganesha and Buddhi had a son named Labha.
12. Lord Kartikeya returned to Kailasha (Kailash) : Lord Kartikeya returned to Kailasha (Kailash) after traveling around the whole world.
And Lord Kartikeya discovered that Lord Ganesha was already married and was already the proud father of two children.
13. Lord Kartikeya heard the story : Lord Kartikeya heard the entire story from Narada and felt that he had been cheated.
Lord Kartikeya decided that he would no longer live with his parents and he also decided that he would never marry.
14. Kumara (Kumar) (Kumarabrahmachari) meaning : That is the reason why Lord Kartikeya is called Kumara (Kumar).
Kumara (Kumar) means, someone who is unmarried. But after some time, even Lord Kartikeya got married.
Here Kumarabrahmachari means, he is someone who is unmarried and follows the Dharma of a Brahmachari.
15. Lord Kartikeya lived in Mount Krauncha (Kraunja) : Lord Kartikeya began to live on Mount Krauncha.
Lord Shiva goes to visit Lord Kartikeya there on the day of the new moon day (Amavasya).
And Goddess Sri Parvati Devi goes to visit Lord Kartikeya on the day of the full moon day (Purnima).
After reading the above legend, You already know that Lord Kartikeya felt cheated when Lord Ganesha got married.
Thus, Lord Kartikeya decided that he would not live with Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi any longer, and began to live on the mountain Krauncha (Krauncha Giri).
(This Krauncha Giri is present in today’s Karnataka state, Ballari district, near a place called Sandur.)
(In this place there as temple of Lord Kartikeya in the name of ‘Kumaraswamy’ even today.)
(Few people pronounce this name Krauncha as Kraunja, but it is incorrect to pronounce like this. Correct name is Krauncha.)
Goddess Sri Parvati Devi was miserable that her son Lord Kartikeya had left her.
Goddess Sri Parvati Devi sent Devatas (Deities), Rishis / Sages, Gandharvas and Apsaras to bring her son Lord Kartikeya back.
But Lord Kartikeya would not return at all.
Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi then went to visit Lord Kartikeya themselves.
But Lord Kartikeya would not let them get too close.
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati Devi Devi started to live at a place that was about six miles away from where their son Lord Kartikeya was living.
Both Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati are always there, so as to be near their son Lord Kartikeya.
This place is known as Mallikarjuna (Srisailam).
There was a great and divine Sanyasi (Saint) called Guru Sri Vadiraja Tirtha about 500 years ago.
Guru Sri Vadiraja Tirtha has written a grantha (Hindu text) called “Tirtha Prabandha“, in which he has provided information about the divine place of Mallikarjuna or Srisailam.
श्रीशैल शिखरवासो भातीशो मल्लिकार्जुनः | बद्धस्वीय जटाजूटमध्यस्थ इव चन्द्रमाः || 3 ||
ಶ್ರೀಶೈಲ ಶಿಖರವಾಸೋ ಭಾತಿಶೋ ಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನಃ | ಬದ್ಧಸ್ವೀಯ ಜಟಾಜುಟಮಧ್ಯಸ್ಯ ಇವ ಚಂದ್ರಮಾಃ || 3 ||
śrīśaila śikharavāsō bhātiśō mallikārjunaḥ | bad’dhasvīya jaṭājuṭamadhyasya iva candramāḥ || 3 ||
Meaning of the above shloka : Here Lord Isha (Shiva), the one who resides on the Srisailam (In Sanskrit Srishaila) hill, is white like a Mallika flower.
Lord Shiva (Isha) is resplendent just like Lord Chanra (Moon) which is in the middle of his matted hair locks.
Here Lord Ishwara (Ishwar) (Shiva) is known as Mallikarjuna at Srisailam (In Sanskrit Srishaila).
Hence Guru Sri Vadiraja Tirtha describes Lord Shiva (Mallikarjuna) as having the colour of the flower Mallika.
(Note : In Sanskrit Mallika means Jasmine flower.)
Goddess Sri Parvati at Srisailam (Srishaila) is known a Mallika and Lord Shiva is known as Arjuna.
Thus for this reason, the deity at Srisailam (Srishila) is known as Mallikarjuna.
(Mallikarjuna = Mallika + Arjuna = Goddess Sri Parvati Devi + Lord Shiva.)
As said above, Lord Shiva is known as Lord Mallikarjuna and whereas Goddess Sri Parvati Devi is also known as Goddess Sri Bhramaramba (Brahmarambika) Devi.
Why Goddess Sri Parvati Devi is called as Bhramarambika (Bhramaramba) (भ्रमराम्बिका) in Srisailam :
Mother Goddess Sri Parvati Devi traveled with Lord Shiva in the form of Bhramara (Honey Bee) with Lord Mallikarjuna and thus she is called as Bhramarambika (Bhramaramba).
In the city of the asuras (demons), there lived a very strong daitya (demon) named Aruna.
Aruna the demon, went to the banks of the Ganges in the Himalayas, and did ‘ghana ghora tapasya‘ (very difficult penance) to Lord Sri Brahma Deva.
Lord Sri Brahma Deva came down to earth to bless Aruna (Arunasura) with the boon as given below:
Lord Sri Brahma Deva blessed Arunasura of not meeting his end at any war,
nor by any astras and shastras (arms or weapons), nor by any human (including both man or any woman),
nor by any two-legged creature or four-legged creature, or any combination of the two.
This blessing gave Arunasura the the unwanted confidence to call on all the other asuras (demons) living in the lower planets and attacked the Svarga Loka.
After taking control of the Svarga Loka, Aruna’s (Arunasura) next intention was to attack Kailasha (Kailash) directly.
Lord Shiva and his sons Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya confronted him at the foot of the mountain.
All the above three (Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya) tried to defeat him, but were unsuccessful.
Even Lord Shiva was unable to defeat this powerful Aruna (Arunasura).
Goddess Sri Parvati Devi then appeared along with Lord Shiva, and grew to a massive size.
Goddess Sri Parvati Devi started to emanate bees from her four hands.
Goddess Sri Parvati Devi’s three eyes shone like the sun, the moon, and the eternal fire Agni.
Goddess Sri Parvati Devi closed her eyes in concentration, summoning forth countless bees, mosquitoes and different types of flies.
All these flies (bees, mosquitoes, flies, etc.) crawled onto Goddess Sri Parvati Devi’s body and clung onto her, merging with her to create the divine form of ‘Bhramari‘.
In the battle that ensued, the asuras’ (demons) swords were blocked by Goddess Sri Bhramari’s massive size.
While Goddess Sri Bhramari’s other arms inflicted damage on the massive army of the asura (demon) Aruna (Arunasura).
The bees and other flies which clung to Goddess Sri Bhramari emanated forth in a wave over the ranks.
When Aruna (Arunasura) was the last asura (demon) remaining on battlefield, Goddess Sri Bhramari retreated and sent out all of the bees, flies and other insects to attack Aruna (Arunasura).
The bees, flies and other insects crawled all over Aruna (Arunasura) and ripped open each part of his body and his whole body was torn apart.
Soon after seeing Aruna’s (Arunasura) defeat, the bees, flies and other insects returned to Goddess Sri Bhramari and clung on her again.
The Devatas (Demigods), who were wondering of this new form of Goddess Sri Parvati Devi gave her great praise.
On the successful defeat annihilation of the asura (demons) forces, all of the Devatas (Demigods) were able to return to their celestial abodes.
Since Goddess Sri Parvati Devi completely destroys the asura (demon) Aruna (Arunasura) using the bees and other flies, she is known as Bhramaramba (Bhramarambika).
(Lord Mallikarjuna is one of the JyotirLingas of Lord Shiva in India.)
Lord Mallikarjuna and Goddess Sri Bhramarambika Devi’s temple is located in Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh.
Srisailam (Srishaila) is located about 200 kms from the city of Hyderabad.
The Lord Shiva Linga at this place of Srisailam (Srishaila) is one of the 12 Dwadasha jyotirlingas in India.
The the great epic Mahabharata records that the worship of Lord Shiva (Mallikarjuna) in Srisailam (Srishaila) and taking bath in the Devahrada fetches punya (good deeds) equal to performing an Ashwamedha Yagna.
The shrine of Lord Mallikarjuna (Lord Shiva) picturesquely situated on a flat top of Nallamala Hills.
Temple of Lord Mallikarjuna is on the right side of the River Krishna in Kurnool District of today’s Andhra Pradesh.
This celebrated Nallamala Hills is also named as Siridhan, Srigiri, Sirigiri, Sriparvata and Srinagam.
Transport : The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation has bus services from Srisailam and Atmakur bus station with Atmakur bus depot.
By foot : There is a path to travel on foot from Atmakur to Srisailam (Lord Mallikarjuna temple).
The Devotees to fulfil their present and earlier vow(s) to Lord Shiva will take this path to reach Srisailam on foot from Atmakur.
The walkable path completely passes through dense forest of Nallamala Hills.
The foot walkers has to carry their own food and water with them as there are no adequate facilities to provide food and water.
This path for devotees is allowed only twice in a year, that is, during Maha Shivaratri and during Ugadi.
By road : There are two roads to reach Srisailam as it can be accessed by road from Dornala and Atchampet.
The Andhra Pradesh state government-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) operates frequent buses from Atmakur and Dornala and also from nearby places.
By rail : The nearest railway station is at Markapur Road Railway Station, about 90 km from Srisailam.
Markapur Road railway station in the South Central Railway zone of the Indian Railways. This is under the jurisdiction of Guntur Railway Division.
Nearest airport : The nearest airport is Kurnool Airport about 180 km from Srisailam. It is a domestic airport.
The nearest major airport is the Hyderabad International Airport located about 217 km (135 mi) from Srisailam.
More information will be added to this on regular, please visit after some time to know more information.
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