Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Srisailam

Srisailam is one of the oldest continuously worshipped Shaiva centres in India. The hill appears in inscriptions, literature and the Puranas under many names: Sriparvata, Srigiri, Srisaila and Srisaila Mallikarjunam. The Skanda Purana has a whole section, the Srisaila Khanda, on this shrine, and the Tamil Shaiva saints of the Tevaram sang its praises, which is why it is counted among the Paadal Petra Sthalams.

The earliest historical reference usually cited is a Nasik cave inscription of the Satavahana king Vasishthiputra Pulumavi (1st–2nd century CE), which mentions Sriparvata. The Mallikarjuna sanctum is generally considered the oldest part of the present complex and is often dated to around the 7th century. In the centuries that followed, the Chalukyas, the Kakatiyas and other Deccan dynasties made grants to the temple, and it became an important seat of the Pashupata and later the Virashaiva traditions.

The Reddi kings of coastal Andhra (c. 1325–1448) were devoted patrons of Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna. Prolaya Vema Reddi is credited with the stepped pathway up to Srisailam and down to the Pathala Ganga on the Krishna, and Anavema Reddi with the Veerashiro Mandapam.

The largest additions came under the Vijayanagara empire. The Mukha Mandapa and a gopuram on the southern side are credited to the Sangama kings (Harihara II is most often named), and the outer prakara wall with its sculptured panels belongs to this period. An inscription dated Saka 1379 (1457 CE) is carved on a pillar of the Nandi mandapa. Krishnadevaraya visited Srisailam in 1516, on his way back from his campaign against the Gajapatis, and is credited with the eastern Rajagopuram and the salu mandapas (pillared halls) lining the car street.

In the 17th century the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji visited Srisailam during his southern campaign; tradition credits him with the northern gopuram and says he left a small guard of Maratha soldiers to protect the temples. Tradition also holds that Adi Shankaracharya came here and composed the Shivananda Lahari.

Today the temple is run by the Srisaila Devasthanam under the Endowments Department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. In December 2022 the President of India inaugurated pilgrimage-infrastructure development at Srisailam under the central PRASAD scheme.

The temple faces east and stands within a complex of about two hectares, enclosed by high stone walls roughly 183 m by 152 m and about 8.5 m tall. Four gopurams, one on each side, lead into the complex, in the South Indian Dravidian tradition with clear Vijayanagara features. Among its many shrines, those of Mallikarjuna and Bhramaramba are the most important; the Bhramaramba shrine stands on a higher level to the west of the Mallikarjuna shrine.

The Mallikarjuna sanctum, the oldest part, is small and plain, which is why queues are long on busy days. The Mukha Mandapa leading to it has richly carved pillars, and the Nandi mandapa holds a large image of Nandi. A mirror hall in the first precinct has images of Nataraja.

The outer prakara wall is one of the most remarkable features of Srisailam. Its tiers of carved panels show episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Shiva's many forms and deeds, Shaiva saints, hunting scenes, animals and processions, giving a vivid picture of medieval Shaiva life.

The complex also holds a Sahasra Linga (a linga with a thousand small lingas), which tradition says was installed by Lord Rama, five lingas believed to have been installed by the Pandavas, and the Veerashiro Mandapam. Outside the walls, the long flight of steps of Reddi times leads down the hillside to the Pathala Ganga on the Krishna.