Post by radha on Jul 26, 2012 10:18:02 GMT 5.5
SRI GURUPYO NAMAHA:,RESPECTFUL PRANAMS TO SRI KANCHI MAH A PERIVA
Journey to SriSailam
Srisailam, also called Dakshina Kailasam (Kailash of the south) is considered to
be one of the holiest of holy places in our country. Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavatpadal has
described the twelve Jyotir lingams in his Dwadasha Linga Stotram. Amongst them, the
Jyoti lingam, also called Mallikarjuna is found in Srisailam. The Sthala tree for this
pilgrim center is the tree called Arjunam. The Goddess worshipped at Srisailam temple is
called Bramarambika. Bramaram refers to a bee. Since Siva has the name of Mallika
(Jasmine), we can sense that the Goddess in the form of bee is hovering around the
jasmine flower. To reach this pilgrim center in Andhra Pradesh, one has to travel about
sixty miles from Kurnool to Pethacharivu, through a road surrounded by forests on both
sides. From there, a twelve mile trek up a mountainous road has to be undertaken to reach
Srisailam. Every year, on the day of Sivarathri, thousands of people walk through the
path to have darshan of Mallikarjuna. A few people used to go there on Makara
Sankaranthi or Ugadhi. Other than the above mentioned holy days, travelers did not
travel there that often. However, now roads have been formed for cars or buses to go up
the mountains.
When Adi Sankara traveled around India, he went to Srisailam and had darshan of
Mallikarjuna Mahalingam and Sri Bramarambika. Proof of his visit can be seen in this
slokam from the Shivanandalahari composed by Sri Adi Sankara.
“sandhayaramba vijrumbitham shruthi shirasthaanaantharaadhishtitham
saprema bramaraabhi raamamasakrut sadvaasanaa shobhitham
bhogeendraa bharanam samastha sumanaha pujyam gunaavishkrutam
seve Shree giri mallikarjuna mahaalingam shivaalingitham||”
The meaning of the above shloka is that “One who dances during the holy time of
evening (sandhya), one who blossoms like a flower, one who resides in the Upanishads
which are the height of Vedas, one who is adorned by Brahmarambika, who is devoted to
him, one who wears the snake as an ornament, one who always has Satva guna and is
worshiped by the Devas, one who is engulfed by the Ambika and called Shiva, I prostrate
to that Mahalingam also called Mallikarjun and residing at Srisailam”. Our Swamigal
used to often sing the above shloka in his sweet voice and worship Lord Shiva.
The Devi’s shrine is situated on the outer corridor of the Mallikarjun shrine. The
holy water in this place is called ‘Padala Ganga or Krishnaveni’. In order to reach the
tank, one has to climb down nine hundred steps and walk two miles. In spite of the
distance, devotees trek down to take a dip in the holy waters. Appar, Sundarar and
Sambandar, all three Saivite saints have sung songs on the deity of this temple, also
called Thiruparuppadam. The legend is that Nandi is in the form of a hill near the templeA PERIVA:
Kanchi Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Saranam
Journey to SriSailam
Srisailam, also called Dakshina Kailasam (Kailash of the south) is considered to
be one of the holiest of holy places in our country. Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavatpadal has
described the twelve Jyotir lingams in his Dwadasha Linga Stotram. Amongst them, the
Jyoti lingam, also called Mallikarjuna is found in Srisailam. The Sthala tree for this
pilgrim center is the tree called Arjunam. The Goddess worshipped at Srisailam temple is
called Bramarambika. Bramaram refers to a bee. Since Siva has the name of Mallika
(Jasmine), we can sense that the Goddess in the form of bee is hovering around the
jasmine flower. To reach this pilgrim center in Andhra Pradesh, one has to travel about
sixty miles from Kurnool to Pethacharivu, through a road surrounded by forests on both
sides. From there, a twelve mile trek up a mountainous road has to be undertaken to reach
Srisailam. Every year, on the day of Sivarathri, thousands of people walk through the
path to have darshan of Mallikarjuna. A few people used to go there on Makara
Sankaranthi or Ugadhi. Other than the above mentioned holy days, travelers did not
travel there that often. However, now roads have been formed for cars or buses to go up
the mountains.
When Adi Sankara traveled around India, he went to Srisailam and had darshan of
Mallikarjuna Mahalingam and Sri Bramarambika. Proof of his visit can be seen in this
slokam from the Shivanandalahari composed by Sri Adi Sankara.
“sandhayaramba vijrumbitham shruthi shirasthaanaantharaadhishtitham
saprema bramaraabhi raamamasakrut sadvaasanaa shobhitham
bhogeendraa bharanam samastha sumanaha pujyam gunaavishkrutam
seve Shree giri mallikarjuna mahaalingam shivaalingitham||”
The meaning of the above shloka is that “One who dances during the holy time of
evening (sandhya), one who blossoms like a flower, one who resides in the Upanishads
which are the height of Vedas, one who is adorned by Brahmarambika, who is devoted to
him, one who wears the snake as an ornament, one who always has Satva guna and is
worshiped by the Devas, one who is engulfed by the Ambika and called Shiva, I prostrate
to that Mahalingam also called Mallikarjun and residing at Srisailam”. Our Swamigal
used to often sing the above shloka in his sweet voice and worship Lord Shiva.
The Devi’s shrine is situated on the outer corridor of the Mallikarjun shrine. The
holy water in this place is called ‘Padala Ganga or Krishnaveni’. In order to reach the
tank, one has to climb down nine hundred steps and walk two miles. In spite of the
distance, devotees trek down to take a dip in the holy waters. Appar, Sundarar and
Sambandar, all three Saivite saints have sung songs on the deity of this temple, also
called Thiruparuppadam. The legend is that Nandi is in the form of a hill near the templeA PERIVA:
Kanchi Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Saranam