Mallikarjuna Temple

Mallikarjuna Temple at Srisailam in the Nallamala hills of Andhra Pradesh is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and simultaneously one of the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas, making it one of the very few sites in India that holds both distinctions. The Jyotirlinga is Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and the Shakti Peetha is Bhramaramba (the bee goddess), a form of Parvati. The temple is located deep within the Nallamala forest, surrounded by the Krishna River, and the forest setting gives Srisailam a remote, powerful atmosphere distinct from most major pilgrimage sites. The current temple structure dates to the Vijayanagara period, though the site is mentioned in ancient texts including the Mahabharata and Skanda Purana. The surrounding Nagarjuna Sagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve means that the approach through the forest passes through protected wildlife habitat. Access to certain inner sanctums is restricted at different times, and the temple manages a complex daily ritual schedule. The combination of Shaiva and Shakta traditions makes Srisailam one of the most spiritually layered pilgrimage destinations in South India.