Google

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Places Of Interest In And Around Srisailam

Srisailam is the spiritual station which contains 8 gateways in side & corners of Srisailam. Every inch of Srisailam surroundings is having its unique and sacredness. It clearly revealed in Puranas, inscriptions and other sources available in this area. It is very vast circumference, which contains thousands of temples, streams(Teerthas), portraits of Gods/ goddesses were stationed here. of all these some are dilapidated condition, some are demised and some are existed in these centuries course of time. Srisailam is in thick and dence forest of Nallamalla. Even today , most of the places are not able to reach due to not knowing of their where abouts and no formations of roads. Because of that devotees of lord Shiva are not able to visit these places.

In this vast Kshetra , besides the main temple of Sri Mallikarjuna swamy temple and Sri Bramaramba temple, every step land on here gives sanctity feeling to the devotees. Even though thousands of places are here to see, a few places are being brought before you. It is our intention to explain about Srisailam accessories as one of devotee of lord Shiva.

Mallikarjuna Swamy temple:

1.Vrudhamallikarjuna Swamy: this lingam is said to be oldest than the present Mallikarjuna swamy Lingam. There is no Nandi(Bull , vechicle of Lord) infront of it. Ihe Lingam is uneven on its outer face which indicates the old age of Lord Shiva which was prayed by Chandravathi. Hence it is called Vrudhamallikarjuna swamy

2. Ardhanareeswar: this idol is in northern side of the main temple.this is the oldest idol. Detail and period of the idol is unknown.

3.Lingas incarnated by Pandavas: five temple are situated besides Arthanareseswara temple. These were incarnated by Pandavas according to sources.

4. Mallika Gundam: (Mallika water point): According to mythology , yhis Gundam was part and parces of Saraswathi river, which flows in inner of the Krishna river. This Saraswathi river is called ‘Antaarvahine’ which means it is flowing along with other river i.e. Krishna. Many devotees used this Mallika Gundam water to heal their diseases. Another important thing in shrine of Mallikarjunas temple shade is being reflected in this ‘Gundam’.

5.Veerabhadra Swamy Temple: this idol is intemple and having North face. He is guarding the Lord Mallikarjuna swamy always.

6. Sanagalabasavanna: it is situated infront of the Verasiro mandapam. it is known as “nandi mandapam”. This Nandi is called Nandeeswara(Baswanna).Kannadigulu calls this as ‘Chennu kallu Baswanna”.

7.Addala(Mirror) Mandapam: place for Swamy where he takes rest in the nights called as pavalinpu seva.

8.Tri fruit tree(Triphala uruksham): Juvvi( ),Ravi( ),and Medi( ) plants together become grown as one tree. It was said that Acharya Nagarjuna and others were done deeksha under this tree. One superstition was there, that couples who haveno children, simply they do pradakshins(walking round the tree) will get children(santanam) in coming years.

9. Nityakalyana mandapam(marriage hall): this in the south west side of temple where daily Kalyanam(Marriage) of the Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bramaramkika ammawaru is done here in the evening times.

10.Sri Rama and Sita Devi’s sahasralingams:Shahasra meang thousand.Sahasra linga means 1000 lingas carved in one linga.Srirama’ linga is situated in swamy temple where Sitadevis is in Ammavari temple.These are incarnated by Srirama and Sitadevi.

Bramaramba devi temple:

The main temple of Bramarambha devi , first of Asthadasa maha sakthi peethas is with well sculptures. You can hear butterfly’s sound(Bhrama means butterfly) in the back side of the main temple. Devotes are not allowed inside the temple where as in the Mallikarjuna swamy temple.

1.Lopa mudra: Lopa mura shapes of Agasya Maharshi wife are only seen in Srisailam. We can see them in sala mandapam of devi temple.

Places of interest in Srisailam and surroundings

1.SakshiGanapathi: it is just 1.5 miles away from Srisailam. Details of the devotees who visited Srisailam will be recorded by him and withness them to Lord Shiva. Thatway he is called Sakshi(withness)Ganapathi.

2.Vitalesvara temple: in 14 cenyury AD ,Vitalamba wife of Harihararaya II lied steps to Patalaganga. In that way this temple was built. This temple is rich in sculpture. The deity residing here is called Vitalesvara Swamy.

3.Shivaji spurthi kendram: once Chatrapathi Shivaji has visited the Srisailam and reside here for some time. He had built uttaram side gopuram . infront of it he builted a small mandapa and used to live there. Now it has been collapsed . besides that well degined modern building has constructd with the name of Shivajispurthi kendram.there is life size idiol of shivaji in the building which inspires us.

4.Hatakeswaram: it is about 5 km from Srisailam.Hataka means gold. Lord Shiva killed Tripurasura by making Meruparvatham as bow and arrow. Here Shiva has been worshipped in golden Lingam shape. Hence it is being called as Hatakkeswaram. Infront of the temple 150 ft area water pond exits there. It is called Hatekeswara teertham. It is believed that devotees who dip here (bath) and drink water in paladhara-Panchadhara, fulfill their desires.

5.Paladhara-Panchadhara: It is about 200 meters from Hatakeswaram. Paladhara-Water steams floes continuosly. It originates and flows 6 metres and demise there itself. It exits througt out the year irrespective of seasons. It is called Paladhara because this was believed that this was originated from the forehead of Lord Shiva. Panchadhara- it is originated from 5 faces of Lord Shiva viz Satyojatha, vamadeva,Aghora,Tatpursha and Esana. Water is medical . devotees take water for curing their diseases. Sanctity of there dharas: by doing bath in Hatakeswaram and drinking water in Paladhara and Panchadhara, devotees of desire will be fulfull. The book Shivanandalahari is written here only.

6.Sikhareswaram:it is the hightest peak of Srisailam moutain range above to 2830 feet to MSL. It is about 8 km from main temple. Lord Veerasankara being called as Sikhareswara. In the cenyuries back, devotees were going to Srisailam on foot in the dense forest. They were tired. They were not able to move further even a step also. In such conditions, devotees felt that alleast, going to up to that hightest peak to see. From there they might have come back. According to Puranas “Srisaila Sikharam drustya punarjanma navidyate….” By seeing this Sikharam It is said that by merely seeing the tip of mountain one emancipated from all sins. The persons becomes free from the vicious cycle of life and death.

7.Ishakameswari Devi: It is about 21 km from main temple, situated in dence forest of Srisailam hill. This temple belongs to 8th –10th centuries. Ishtakameswari is another name of Parvathi devi. There is no word like Ishtakameswari in the puranas and earlies literature except Kameswari. In the present day also it is difficult to reach there . pravite vechicle or not allowed and can reach by hire vechiles. There is a speciality in the idiol that if you touch the forehead u can feel like a human skin. If you visit the place once ,you will think of visiting the same place again.

8. Pathaganga: it is 1 km from main temple has to take a 500 steps to down to river Krishna which flows and called as Pathalganga. Now rope way to this was contructed to reach there before where people used to go by steps.

9.Akkamahadevi caves: It is about 10 km from Pathalaanga.Akkamahadevi was strong believer of Lord Mallikarjunaswamy. She was belongs to 12th centuary. She was born in ‘Udutadi’ village in Shimoga dt of Karnataka. Her parentsSumathi and Nirmala Setty, who were veerashiva devotees. due to not intrest in marriage with the king Koushikudu she came to Srisailam to immerse in Lord Mallikarjuna and reached caves, now being called Akkamahadevi caves. She performed siddi(Tapasu) for some time in these caves later gone to Kandhalivanalu. She has been worshipped as prime Sivasaran in ‘Veerashiva’ tradition. Thase caves are Naturally formed, very attractive and station of nature beauty.

Places and distance from Srisailam:

1. Shikareswaram 8 km
2. Hatakeswaram 4 km
3. Paladhra-Panchdhra 4 km
4. Sakshi Ganapathi 3 km
5. Istakameswari devi temple 21 km
6. Bhimuni kolanu 8 km
7. Bhiravasela 11 km
8. Akkamahadevi caves 11 km
9. Kadhali vannalu 16 km
10. Nagaluti 20 km
11. GupthaMallikarjunaswamy 36 km
12. Sarveswaram 59 km
13. Bramarambacherue 64 km


8 comments:

Vinay said...

Hello,

Appreciate the depth of details given in this blog. It would be good to understand what is the main mode of transportation to visit these places. Is there any standard tour arranged or do we hire autos and go around?

Thanks
Vinay

Unknown said...

Om nanah shivaya!
thanks for givng good details regarding srisaila kshethra.You may include the details of rtc bus timings to various places from srisailam. May lord mallikarjun and matha brahmarabha bless you....continue the divine service with good spirit.

regards
sai
11/7/2009 15:52

Dheeraj said...

Hey ! Really Great Job... u have made my work completely easier.

thank u...

amma-vadi47 said...

really very informative. thank u.

amma-vadi47 said...

hi...this is swarnamukhi.

u really posted very interested information. thank u.

Shobha said...

Hi,
This is a very good document. Kindly let me know if there are any other tourit places near Srisailam apart from temples.

Thanks,
SPP

Sri said...

Thank you for sharing very useful information

Unknown said...

Good information helpful and plz include dam distance