Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is one of the most sacred temples of Hindu devotees. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and is located in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh state. The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga has an ancient history, consisting of the love and devotion of the devotees to Lord Shiva, which made it possible to build this marvellous temple.
The temple is undoubtedly an example of excellent Indian architecture. The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple is one of Lord Shiva’s 12 sacred temples, which shows its importance to devotees worldwide. About 15,000 to 20,000 devotees visit the temple daily to receive Lord Shiva’s and Goddess Parwati’s blessings.
Story Behind the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple:
The story behind the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple is fascinating. Legend has it that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati assigned a quest to their two sons, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya.
The quest was about their marriage, and one who circumambulates the earth seven times will win and get married first.
As the quest declared, lord Kartikeya sat on their vahana (vehicle), the peacock, and started their journey to circumambulate the earth.
Lord Ganesha used his intelligence and told Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati to sit together and started circumambulating them.
When Goddess Parvati asked him what he was doing, Lord Ganesha replied you both are my world ( earth); circumambulating both of you is equal to circumambulating the earth.
The answer of Lord Ganesha pleased both Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, who declared him the winner and announced the marriage of Lord Ganesh.
When Lord Kartikeya returned from circumambulating the earth after a year, he found that Lord Ganesha had married. This made Lord Kartikeya furious, and he flew away to the Kronch Parvati and then to the Srisailam.
Where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati came to plead with him and stay, people say that Lord Shiva came there on the night of the no moon and Goddess Parvati came there on the night of the full moon to meet their son Kartikeya.
History of Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple:
The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is one of the most ancient temples in India. Many ancient rulers and emperors connected with the history of the temple by building, developing, and maintaining it, as faithful devotees of Lord Shiva.
The temple was first built by the king of the Satavahan Dynasty in 1 AD. The other devotees of Lord Shiva, Ikshvakus, Pallavas, and Redis also helped develop the temple. The Chalukyas contributed a mesmerizing and unique architectural design to the temple.
Later, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Kakatiyas, and the Vijayanagara Empire helped build more sacred places near the temple.
During the Mughal invasion period, the temple was under the control of the Mughals, who later gave it to the Nawabs of Kurnool. After the Mughal period, the temple came under the control of the Nizams of Hyderabad.
After that, the temple came under the control of the British Empire, who later handed it over to the Newly Formed Indian government during the independence of 1947.
Architecture of the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple:
The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple is one of the most attractive architecture among the most beautiful temples in India. The temple, surrounded by beautiful sceneries of hills, greenery, and nature, was constructed in the Dravidian architectural style.
The temple covers an area of 2 hectares with four gateway towers called Gopurams.
These Gopurams face in all four directions. The temple has many shrines, the Mallikarjuna and Brahmrambha being the most beautiful.
The Mukha Mandapa hall is the most prominent hall of the temple built in the Vijayanagar period. The centre hall has many pillars and a massive idol of Nadikeshwara.
The temple has Sahasra Lingams, 1000 Lingams of Lord Shiva built by Lord Rama, and five other Lingams built by the Pandavas.
What is the Location of the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple?
The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple, also known as the Kailash of South India, is located in Srisailam town in Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh.
The hills and greenery surrounding the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple provide devotees with a joyful experience.
What is Darshan Timing In the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple?
It is better to know the Darshan timings of the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple before visiting the temple.
As most people and priests suggest, morning is the best time to visit the temple and get the blessing of the Lord Shiva. The different timing schedule of the temple is as follows:
Morning Timings
- In the morning, the temple opens at 4 am.
- The morning worship fills the devotees with positivity, which gives them new energy.
- The morning worship with the sunrise in such a pleasant location gives the devotees an out-of-the-world feeling.
Afternoon Timings
- For darshans, the temple is generally closed during the afternoon hours.
- Devotees used to enjoy the hill scenery and participate in other cultural activities in the afternoon.
Evening Timings
- The temple opens at 4:00 PM after the morning.
- During the evening hours, Arti and rituals are performed.
Night Timings
- The last darshan time of the temple is at 9:00 PM.
- After the evening Pooja and Arti, the temple gates close, and people indulge in other activities.
How to Reach Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple?
The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple is located in the southern part of India, slightly distant from the northern devotees. Different types of people come to the temple using various modes of transportation.
Here are some modes of transportation to reach Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple:
Flight to Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple
There is no direct flight to the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple, but the nearest aeroplane terminal, Rajiv Gandhi Universal Airport, is about 250 kilometres away.
After reaching the Rajiv Gandhi Universal Airport, you can choose from different types of road transport, such as a bus, cab, or taxi.
You can find it at the Mahatma Gandhi Transport Station if you want to go by taxi. The fare of these taxis and cabs is generally higher as they give you comfortable and personal rides.
If you choose the bus to reach your destination, many buses at Mahatma Gandhi Transport Station charge a reasonable fare and take 5-6 hours to reach Srisailam.
Train to Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple.
The nearest railway station to the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple is Markapur Road railway station, which is about 85 kilometres away. This station has good connections to the central railway stations.
You can go with coordinated trains that connect cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, and Vijayawada to Markapur Street Railroad Station. Rayalaseema Express and Kacheguda Yesvantpur Express best suit pilgrims.
Buses to Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple
Many buses run from different routes to Srisailam, and the Hyderabad route takes about 5-6 hours to reach Srisailam.
The Bangalore to Srisailam bus is the best option for pilgrims from Karnataka state and charges a reasonable amount.
For the pilgrims of Vijayawada, the Vijayawada to Srisailam bus is best for reaching Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple.
How much time does it take for darshan in Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple?
Furthermore, it generally took 30 minutes for the darshan of Lord Shiva on a regular day and 1-2 hours on an irregular day. The temple has the concept of a VIP break darshan, which generally takes 45 minutes.
On a day full of rush at the temple, darshan can take 4-5 hours, but the temple authority offers a 300 rs irregular ticket that can take 1 hour on the same day.
Darshan tickets for Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple:
The temple generally charges an amount for the darshan of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The prices of the tickets are as follows:
- The cost for fast darshan is 300 rs per person.
- The cost for a customary darshan is 150 rs.
- The cost for the Sparsha darshan is 500 rs per person.
You can also book the ticket online using your government ID. You cannot cancel the ticket, but you can change the date and timing for the darshan. During the darshan, authorities check the ID on the ticket, so you cannot give your ticket to another person.
Free Darshan timing in Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple:
The authority of the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple offers two free darshan for the devotees from 6:30 am to 3:30 pm and again from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm. The Timings may change on some special occasions or festivals.
Things to Remember for Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple Darshan:
It is better to remember the stuff before the Darshan of Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple :
- You should wear traditional Indian clothes.
- You Should not wear fancy Western clothes.
- You should have your ID handy for darshan.
- Carrying food items inside the temple is restricted.
- Carrying electronics like phones and cameras inside the temple is prohibited.
Conclusion:
Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple is significant to Indian culture and the devotees of Lord Shiva. The devotees of Lord Shiva passionately built the temple, filling its history with exciting stories. The Architecture and surroundings of the temple are mesmerizing.
Therefore you Should visit the temple at least once with your family and friends to have a unique and joyful experience. Visiting the temple during the special occasion of Mahashivratri is best because the temple is filled with devotees during this time.
The temple is generally free for devotees from all over the world. You can take a VIP pass for fast darshan, which is decently priced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are the idols of the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple.
The king of the Satavahana Empire built the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple.
As per the historians, the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple was built in 1 AD.
Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple's free darshan hours are 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.