Located on Rishabhagiri Hill on the bank of the sacred river Krishna is the exotic temple of Srisailam. The temple complex, whose existing buildings date from the 2nd century AD, is one of the twelve Jyotir Linga Shiva shrines as well as one of the eighteen most sacred goddess shrines, or Shakti Pithas. This unique combination of major god and goddess shrines at the same site makes Srisailam one of India's most holy sites. Shiva is worshipped here in his form of Lord Mallikarjuna, and Shakti, his consort, as Sri Bharamaramba Devi. The images of these deities, both extremely old, are enshrined in the more recent temple built by the Vijayanager king Harihara Raya around 1404 AD. The temple, whose popular name is Sriparvata, is decorated with fine relief carvings depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. The sages Chaitanya and Sankaracharya both visited Srisailam.

PHOTO:Stone carvings of the goddess Shakti and the serpent form of Shiva.

The Srisailam Temple on Sacred Sites.

Written by  Martin Gray.

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