Mallikarjuna Rameswaram Jyotirlingas Tirth Yatra 4N 5D

About this tour

Discover the holiest pilgrim sites in India, Explore the boundless energy of the Jyotirlinga and Learn their importance in our lives. It is a common belief that a person who is fortunate to visit all the 12 Jyotirlingas during their lifetime is released from all karmic debt backlog and attains moksha. The 12 Jyotirlingas are associated with each of the 12 zodiac signs and visiting the one associated with a person’s sun sign is recommended . The Lingam is the infinite creation of energy, it is represented by a round stone (symbolic of the dome of the sky) and sitting in the yoni (representing the earth). Sometimes it has a more phallic presentation symbolic of the interwoven divine male and female energies. There are twelve Jyotirlinga temples found throughout India, which are naturally occurring Lingas. These are places where the Linga was found and a temple was built around it. The found Linga already had the power of Shiva within it, it did not need pranipratishta to awaken it or instill Shiva’s energy into it. The jyotirlinga represents the atman (Soul).

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is in Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple or Srisailam Temple in Andhra Pradesh. This temple is situated on a hilltop by the Krishna river. Several rulers contributed to the building and maintenance of the Mallikarjuna Swamy temple. However, the first records appear in 1 AD in the books of the Shathavahanas empire builders. Subsequently, Ikshvakus, Pallavas, Chalukyas, and Reddis, who were also followers of the Mallikarjuna Swami contributed to the temple. The Vijayanagara Empire and Chhatrapati Shivaji also improved the shrine and temple (building the gopuram in 1667 AD) respectively. Worship was halted here during the Mughal era but resumed during the British rule. However, it was only after independence that this temple came back into prominence. Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati could not make up their minds as to which of their sons, Ganesha or Kartikeya should get married first. To determine who would be first, they set a contest for the two: whoever would go around the world first would be the winner. Lord Kartikeya immediately set off on his mount, the peacock. Lord Ganesha, on the other hand, went around his parents claiming that they were the world to him. It is said that going around one’s parents is equivalent to going around the world. So, he outwitted his brother and won the race. The pleased parents married their son off to Siddhi (spiritual powers) and Riddhi (prosperity). In some legends, Buddhi (intellect) is also believed to be his wife. When Lord Kartikeya heard about this on his return, he was upset and decided that he would remain unmarried. (However, in some Tamil legends he is said to have two wives.) He left for Mount Krounch and started living there. His parents visited him there and hence there is a shrine for both there – a linga for Shiva and a Shakti Peetha for Parvati.

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is special in that it is both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha (special shrine to Shakti Devi – there are 18 of them) – there are only three such temples in India. It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared as Arjuna on Amavasya (No moon day) and Goddess Parvati as Mallika on Poornima (full moon day), and hence the name Mallikarjuna. The temple is a work of architecture with its tall towers and beautiful carvings. It is also enclosed within tall walls that fortify it. Devotees believe that visiting this temple brings them wealth and fame. It is believed that Goddess Parvati fought the demon Mahishasura by transforming herself into a bee. Devotees believe they can still hear a bee buzzing through a hole in the Bhramaramba temple!

Rameswaram is a town on Pamban Island, in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It’s known for Ramanathaswamy Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site with ornate corridors, huge sculpted pillars and sacred water tanks. Devotees bathe in the waters of Agni Theertham, off the beach east of the temple. Gandamadana Parvatham is a hill with island views. A chakra (wheel) here is said to bear an imprint of Lord Rama’s feet. Rameshwaram is believed to be the place from where Lord Rama started his journey to get his wife Sita back from Ravana and the Lord was helped by ‘Vaanar-Sena’ army of legendary monkey-humans and served by Hanuman, Lord Ram’s paramount devotee. Also, many later versions of Ramayana testify of installing a ShivaLingam by Shri Ram and Devi Sita to worship Lord Shiva as a part of penance for Brahmahatya – killing of Brahmana, Ravana who was himself a well-known staunch follower of Lord Shiva. The Rameshwaram Temple, built in 12th century is believed to have the same Shiva Lingam. The bridge to Lanka named ‘Rama Setu’, also known as Adam’s Bridge is of religious as well as ecological importance. Some 30 Km long, it was supposed to be passable on foot till 15th century after which a storm deepened the channel.

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