The Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple, more commonly known as Srisailam Temple and it is situated on the banks of River Krishna. The town of
General Information
The temple is surrounded by walls as high as 6 meters and several towers. The Srisailam Temple is adorned with beautiful and intricate sculpture work. The temple has four main Gateways in four main directions: Tripuranthakam facing eastwards - It is located in the Prakasam district. The presiding deities are God Tripuranthakeswara Swamy and Goddess Tripurasundari. Siddhavatam facing south - It is located in the Kadapa district on the banks of River Penna. God Jyotisideswara Swamy and Goddess Kamakshi are the presiding deities. Alampur facing towards the west - It is located in the Mehboobnagar district on the banks of the River Tungabhadra. The famous Navabrahma Alayas, a group of nine temples are situated here. They were all built in the Chalukya period. Umamaheswaram facing northwards - It is located in the Mehboobnagar district. God Umamaheswara Swamy and Goddess Umamaheswari Devi are the main deities worshipped here.
The existing main temple is a huge complex consisting of separate temples of Mallikarjuna and Bhramaramba, several sub shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, springs etc., This entire complex is fortified by the most impressive Prakaram wall of massive stones. The Prakaram wall contains four Dwaras (principal gates) at four cardinals surmounted by the Gopuras. The eastern entrance is the Mahadwaram.
The centre of the temple complex consists of an enclosure below the level of the principal gates of the cardinals. This enclosure has Salamandapas at the northern and southern sides. The space between the inner enclosure and outer Prakaras walls was maintained gardens in olden days.
In the inner court yard there are Nandimandapa, Veerasiromandapa, the temple of Mallikarjuna, the temple of Bhramaramba and all are in a row from east to west. Some of the minor shrines such as the temple of Vriddha Mallikarjuna, Sahasra Lingeswara, Arthanariswara, Veerabhadra, Uma Maheswara and a group of five temples named as Pandava Prathista temples and a row of nine temples called as Navabrahma temples etc., are also located in the inner courtyard.
Nandimandapa
This large sized pillared Mandapa is situated immediately beyond the Mahadwaram. It is in square shape and has porches projected to the east, south and northern sides. Among the 42 pillars of this mandapa, the two pillars on each side of eastern porch and the central four pillars are of ornate designing and the remaining pillars are in simple type. The raised Adhistana of this mandapa is divided into compartments and the upper compartment is decorated with procession of elephants inter spaced by lotus medallions, fishes and swans etc., The Dwarapalakas are also carved at the upper compartment of the Adhistana on each side of the eastern porch. All these decorations are clearly of Vijayanagara period. The central portion of the mandapa is slightly raised and where a huge Nandi (Divine bull) of 20’ by 10’ size lies facing the shrine of Mallikarjuna. The central portion of the ceiling has the figure of Nandiswara murthi (Siva and Parvathi riding on the bull) surrounded by Dikpalakas on their respective Vahanas. The sculpting of Dikpalas on the ceiling is a rare feature.
Veerasiromandapa
This important structure is situated immediately to the west of the Nandimandapa, built by the Reddi King Anavema Reddi in the year 1378 AD. According to an inscription, this mandapa was constructed for the purpose of offering of their own heads, hands and tongue to the God by the Veerasaivas and this unique practice was named as Veeracharam. At present this open mandapa has 16 pillars and the low Adhistana is a simple structure. The central space of the mandapa is slightly raised and contain a circle in a square. The lower part of the stone ceiling has double shatkona in which a lotus set was carved. The inscription which relates the construction of this mandapa states that it was 38 pillared structure with a spacious central hall possessing arched thorana and flanked by dwarapalaka image. The inscription also describes the ceiling as a decorated one with lotus medallions. Unfortunately, these architectural elements are disfigured including the number of pillars and the structure is totally altered.
The Mallikarjuna Temple
The temple of God Mallikarjuna is situated in the centre of inner courtyard and faces to the east. This temple consists of Mukhamandapa, Antarala and Garbhagriha.
Mukhamandapa
The Mukhamandapa is situated to the west of the Veerasiromandapa. It is an elaborated closed hall consisting of 16 pillars. This mandapa is also named as Mahamandapa and was built by the Vijayanagara king, Harihararaya – II in the year 1405 AD.