Mallikarjuna Temple

Mallikarjuna Temple is situated on Shri Shaila Mountain by the banks of Patal Ganga. It is also known as Kailash of the South. Mallikarjuna constitutes one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines and is one of the greatest Shaivaite shrines in India. The presiding deities of Mallikarjuna temple are Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Devi). Every year there is a fair organized on account of Mahashivratri.

According to Shiv Purana, when Lord Ganesha was married before his brother Kartikeya, he became angry. Despite being consoled by his parents and other gods, Kartikeya went away to the Kraunch Mountain. Then Lord Shiva and Parvati decided they would go and reside at the Kraunch Mountain. However, when Kartikeya came to know bout this, he went away. Eventually Lord Shiva assumed the form of Jyotirlinga and resided on that mountain by the name of Mallikarjuna. Mallika means Parvati, while Arjuna is the other name of Shiva.

The architecture here is very intricate. The temple has fort like walls, towers and rich sculptures. The temple is built in Dravidian style of architecture with lofty towers and sprawling courtyards and is a fine example of Vijayanagar architecture. Temple of Tripurantakam, Siddavatam, Alampura and Umamaheswaram are located in the vicinity of Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga and are considered to be the four gateways to Sri Sailam.

Bhramaramba Shrine is adjacent to Mallikarjun temple and is dedicated to Goddess Jagdamba who is known as Bhramaramba. Legend states that Durga is said to have assumed the shape of a bee and worshipped Shiva here, and chose this place as her abode.

Sculpture of Mallikarjuna Temple has been done on the Chalukyan idiom. In an inscription an alternative name for the temple has been suggested: Sri Trailokeswara Maha Saila Prasada. It was built around 740 AD with the aim of celebrating the victory of Vikramaditya II (733-45 A.D.) over the Pallavas.

Features of Mallikarjuna Temple Sculpture
The architecture of Mallikarjuna Temple, to a large extent, is similar to that of Virupaksha temple. This temple has been built in the southern vimana style. The architectural features of this temple include `garbhagriha,` an antechamber, pradakshina patha, a sub-shrine, a sabha-mandapa with entrance verandahs on east, north and south directions and a Nandi-mandapa in front of the Mallikarjuna Temple.

Eroticism is a part of the temple sculpture. The basement of the temple has been beautifully carved with sculpted elephants while the outer walls are designed with female figures that are to be found on their niches. The attractive arrangement of the walls of the shrines and the mandapa (hall) is with two eaves that run about the temple. The first deep eaves run under the superstructure and all around the temple with a shelf of about short a meter. The second eaves run around the temple about a meter below the first. Between the two eaves are the small attractive towers on pilasters. Below the second eaves are the wall panel of images of Hindu deities and their assistants in reinforcement.

The sub-shrines are dedicated to Lord Ganesha and Mahisasuramardhini. The gateway and the pillars of the temple still exist. The entire temple is built on a raised stone platform. The recesses on the outer walls of the temple have been designed with carved images. In addition to this the image of a Nataraja is to be found in the arch of the sukanasa of this temple.

Different Works of Mallikarjuna Temple Sculpture
Prominent works among the wall panel sculptures and portraying scenes from the epics and Puranas are the 16-handed Shiva dancing on the head of a demon called Andhakasura, dancing images of a 22-armed Durga and Saraswati, King Ravana lifting Mount Kailash, the Pandava prince Arjuna shooting the fish target and Draupadi rushing onwards with garland and the slaying of the evil spirit Gajasura. On the pillars of the sabha-mandapa the images of goddesses fighting with Mahisasura, Narasimha fighting Hiranyakasipu, slaying of Maricha, churning of the ocean or `samudra-manthana` and others have been depicted.