Ekaratri Mallikarjunaswamy Temple

Location: Machilipatnam, Krishna.
Deity: Lord Shiva

Machlipatnam, the name is derived from the construction of a gateway to the town decorated with eyes of a fish (also called machili). Founded in the 14th century by the trading Arabs who found their way from the red sea to southern India to this spot. Machilipatnam was a flourishing seaport.

The temple of Shiva is located 36 km from Machilipatnam. Here Lord Shiva is called Ekaratri Mallikarjunaswamy. Further up the coast there are five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva at Amravati, Samalkot, Bhimavaram, Draksharama and Chebrolu. The historic town is the cradle of Devadasi dance. This kshetra is deemed one of the hundred and eight Divya Tirupathis. On account of the unprecedented popularity of Vaishnava deity - Srikakulendraswamy, the Saivate god`s mahatmya is a little bit obscured; yet this temple made a mark as a great Siva yatrasthala.

Festivals: An Ekaratra Mallikarjunaswamy Brahmotsav annual festival is celebrated at this temple when the deities are taken out in procession. During then the Utsavamurti of Siva flanked by Ganga and Parvati on both sides is taken out in procession out-stepping the glory of the other deity. The temple is beautified with rare sculptural adornments.