\|/ The Temples Of India\|/ - Page 4

Originally posted by: mnx12

@ Vanadhi, the Chdambaram's Nataraaj temple is good, thanks.

@ Maithly, the info about The Bahucharaji's temple is nice, thanks.

To day i would like to talk about most sacred shaiva kshetram of Andhra Pradesh

Srisailam

SRISAILAM - ITS GEOGRAPHY & RELEVANCE

Srisailam, is one of the holy Shiva kshetrams (shrine) in the world. It is situated on the top of a hill named Srisailam, Sriparvata or Srigiri, in the dense forest of Nallamalla ranges in Kurnool district of Andrapradesh, India. It is on right side of river Krishna at an attitude of 1500 feet to M.S.L. at latitude 16 12? North and longitude 785" East with four gateways and 4 four secondary gateways occupied in 384 km in length and384 km width with an extension of 1,47,456 sq km.

The deity presiding in the holy shrine is the God Shiva called MALLIKARJUNA Mahalinga believed to be a Svayambhulinga or self-emanated Linga and regarded to be one of the 12 Jyotrilingas, known as Dwadasa Jyotrirlingas. Mallikarjuna of Srisailam is second of this kind. Bhrambikadevi (Bhrama means honeybee) is the consort of Lord is known, as one of the 18 Sakthi-peethas formerly known as Ashtadasa Mahasakthi Pithas, Goddesee Bhramramba is first of the Sakthi-peethas according to Bharathakanda.

The river Krishna flow nearly 1000 metes from top of the hill. The river enters this hill range at Somasila in Kurnool DT. It is very pleasant near Srisailam, where it is called Patalaganga. A part of the Srisailam pilgrimage is a visit to the Patalaganga in order to bathe there. Many pilgrims carry the water uphill in order to bathe the icon of Lord Mallikarjuna. The construction of hydroelectric project has brought many changes including roads and colonies.

Srisailam is well connected by roads from all major cities like Hyderabad (220 km), Vijayawada (230 km), Kurnool, (175 km). The nearest railway station is Markapur, well connected with trains. From Markapur we have to take a road journey via Dornala.

According to puranas, the shrine equivalent to Srisailam is Srisailam it self. Srisailam is an ancient shrine. There are many specialties in this shrine. No other shrine has as many as Tirdhas, temples, Kundalas, gardens, rivers, God and Goddesses, Shaktis.

The temple has great historical importance in addition to the spiritual. The great sage Vyasa, who wrote Maha Bharata, classified the Veda into four, compiled 18 puranas. Skandhapurana is one of these puranas. In Srisailakhanda of Sanatkumara Samhita of Skandhapurana, Vyasa described about the greatness of this holy temple. It is mentioned in Skandhapurana that lord Shiva narrated the greatness of Srisailam in detail to goddess Parvati. Lord Rama, after killing Ravana, circumbulated (made Pradakshina) Srisailam to get liberated from the Brahmahatya dosha, attributed to him owing to the killing of Ravana.Daksha performed Yagna here at Sangameshwara Teertha. Srisailakhanda says, this mountain was earlier known as Mantharaparvata. Later, a woman called Vasumathi performed a penance on this mountain for Lord Brahma. The lord, who was happy with her penance, gave her boon and after that she came to be known as Sri Devata. Only after this, the mountain is known as Srisaila.

This is the ideal place for sages, saints and rishis. There are 8 mountains such as Vaiduryam, Brahmesvaram, Manikyam, Pravalla, Roupya, Hema, Marakatha, and Vajrala called Asthabhairavas. 9 Kadalivanalu, 9 Nandis (Nava nandulu), 9 Bhilas, 9 Puranas, 9 kupas, 9 Peethadhipathis for this shrine.

According to sankalpa of Nityakarmanusta we have to notice the holiness of Srisailam.

"Jambhu dweepe, Bharatha varshe Bharatha khande, merore dakshina digbage,
Srisailasya nairuthi pradeshe, Krishna godawaro irmadwa dese, swagruhe'''''''",

The main theme of chanting this mantra is on which side and corner they are performing pooja to Srisailam stress the importance of Srisailam. . Thus it is said Srisailam is the centre place (Nabhisthanam) on the earth.

"Srisaila Sikharam drustya punarjanma navidyate'"

It is said that by merely seeing the tip of mountain one emancipated from all sins. The persons become free from the vicious cycle of life and death.

Both the Gods worshipped were naturally originated; hence known as "Swayambhoowas". Because of these reasons, Srisailam got fame and earned sacredness cam pare with other kshetras. No other kshetra retained both Jyotrirlinga &Shakti peetha at the same place in the world.

Srisailam is one of the causes of calling Andhrapradesh as Trilingadesa. Other places are Draksharamam of East Godawari and Kalesvaram of Karimnagar DT.

Irrespective of caste, creed, sex, place every devotee can be touched with hands and heads and say to God about their difficulties which gives the devotes self satisfaction.

In Skanda purana, greatness of Srisailam was said that lakhs of rupees donating in Kurukshetra, bathing two thousand times in river Ganges, performing longtime diksha in the bank of Narmada river, living lakhs of years in Kasi gives hoe much of moksha (punyam) more than that much of moksha we get by visiting Srisailam one time in a life.

In Skandapurana, it was also said that lord Shiva to Parvathi devi that who visited Srisailam get more fruits (results) than of doing 'Godana' (offering cow), Kanyadana etc, performing yagnas. How much of goodness (punyam) will get by doing Annadana to one lakh people in Prayaga, 2 lakh people in Kasi and 7 lakh people in the bank of Ganges river, will give doing Annadana to one person in Srisailam.

From the ages of yugas Srisailam got its popularity. It was said that in Krita yuga Srisailam treated as puja mandir by Hiranyakasipa, in Treta yuga, Srirama and Sita devi visited Srisailam and he incarnated Sahasralinga while he was in aranyavasa, during vanavasa Pandavas stayed sometime and incarnated 5 lingas known as Satyajata lingas. Even today also the devotees have worshiped these lingas.

Srisaila Mahima (Miracle of Srisailam)

"Kedara Sthodakam peetwa waranasyaam, Mrutastha thaa!
Srisaila sikharam drushtya punarjanma na vidyate"

Meaning: Drinking of water in Kedarnath, Attaining natural death in Varanasi (Kasi) No rebirth to life by seeing (visiting) peak of Srisailam. It says that it is very difficult to drink water in Kedarnath, which is located in ice mountains i.e. Himalayas. It is also painful process of waiting in Kasi (Varanasi) till to get natural death. But it is very easy to relinquish of rebirth (No punarjanma) by visiting Srisailam at least once in a life.

further information can be obtained from following website

http://srisailam.co.in/index.html

Marriage of Shiva and Shakti

The legend of marriage of Shiva and Shakti is one the most important legends related to the festival of Mahashivaratri. The story tells us how Lord Shiva got married a second time to Shakti, his divine consort. According to legend of Shiva and Shakti, the day Lord Shiva got married to Parvati is celebrated as Shivaratri - the Night of Lord Shiva.

The Legend
Legend goes that once Lord Shiva and his wife Sati or Shakti were returning from sage Agastya's ashram after listening to Ram Katha or story of Ram. On their way through a forest, Shiva saw Lord Rama searching for his wife Sita who had been kidnapped by Ravana, the King of Lanka. Lord Shiva bowed his head in reverence to Lord Rama. Sati was surprised by Lord Shiva's behavior and inquired why he was paying obeisance to a mere mortal. Shiva informed Sati that Rama was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Sati, however, was not satisfied with the reply and Lord asked her to go and verify the truth for herself.

Using her power to change forms, Sati took the form of Sita appeared before Rama. Lord Rama immediately recognized the true identity of the Goddess and asked, "Devi, why are you alone, where's Shiva?" At this, Sati realized the truth about Lord Ram. But, Sita was like a mother to Lord Shiva and since Sati took the form of Sita her status had changed. From that time, Shiva detached himself from her as a wife. Sati was sad with the change of attitude of Lord Shiva but she stayed on at Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva.

Later, Sati's father Daksha organised a yagna, but did not invite Sati or Shiva as he had an altercation with Shiva in the court of Brahma. But, Sati who wanted to attend the Yagna, went even though Lord Shiva did not appreciate the idea. To hre great anguish, Daksha ignored her presence and did not even offer Prasad for Shiva. Sati felt humiliated and was struck with profound grief. She jumped into the yagna fire and immolated herself.

Lord Shiva became extremely furious when he heard the news of Sati's immolation. Carrying the body of Sati, Shiva began to perform Rudra Tandava or the dance of destruction and wiped out the kingdom of Daksha. Everybody was terrified as Shiva's Tandava had the power to destroy the entire universe. In order to calm Lord Shiva, Vishnu severed Sati's body into 12 pieces and threw them on earth. It is said that wherever the pieces of Shakti's body fell, there emerged a Shakti Peetha, including the Kamaroopa Kamakhya in Assam and the Vindhyavasini in UP.

Lord Siva was now alone undertook rigorous penance and retired to the Himalayas. Sati took a re-birth as Parvati in the family of God Himalaya. She performed penance to break Shiva's meditation and win his attention. It is said that Parvati, who found it hard to break Shiva's meditation seeked help of Kamadeva - the God of Love and Passion. Kaamadeva asked Parvati to dance in front of Shiva. When Parvati danced, Kaamadeva shot his arrow of passion at Shiva breaking his penance. Shiva became extremely infuriated and opening his third eye that reduced Kaamadeva to ashes. It was only after Kamadeva's wife Rati's pleading that Lord Shiva agreed to revive Kaamadeva.

Later, Parvati undertook severe penance to win over Shiva. Through her devotion and persuasion by sages devas, Parvati, also known as Uma, was finally able to lure Shiva into marriage and away from asceticism. Their marriage was solemnized a day before Amavasya in the month of Phalgun. This day of union of God Shiva and Parvati is celebrated as Mahashivratri every year.

Another Version of the Legend
According to another version of the legend, Goddess Parvati performed tapas and prayers on the auspicious moonless night of Shivaratri to ward off any evil that may befall her husband. Since then, womenfolk began the custom of praying for the well being of their husbands and sons on Shivaratri day. Unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal husband