Mallikārjuna Jyotirliṅga Origin

The Mallikārjuna jyotirliṅga is one of the twelve self-born jyotirliṅgas, the luminous liṅgas that mark the great places where Bhagavān Śiva is present on earth. The Śiva Purāṇa tells how it began on Krauñca Mountain. It began with the love of Bhagavān Śiva and Pārvatī for their son Kārttikeya.

The account is in the Kumāra Khaṇḍa of the Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 20.

Kārttikeya goes to Krauñca

Nārada told Kārttikeya that his parents had declared Gaṇeśa the winner of the contest of going around the world. Nārada also told him that they had arranged Gaṇeśa’s marriage while Kārttikeya was still travelling. Kārttikeya was deeply hurt. In vairāgya (turning away from the world) he left Kailāsa. He went to Krauñca Mountain in the south and stayed there.

Śiva and Pārvatī visit their son

Bhagavān Śiva and Pārvatī could not leave their son alone in his pain. They began to visit him at Krauñca Mountain, and they kept a fixed rhythm:

• Bhagavān Śiva went to Krauñca Mountain on every amāvāsyā (new moon day).
• Pārvatī went on every pūrṇimā (full moon day).

They both went out of the same love of a parent. They wished to see their son and to be near him.

Kārttikeya moves away

Each time his parents came, Kārttikeya moved three yojanas further away. He would not stay in the same place as they were. This was how he lived from then on, and his vairāgya was complete.

Pārvatī’s request and the jyotirliṅga

Pārvatī asked Bhagavān Śiva to stay near their son always, and not only on the new moon day. Then Bhagavān Śiva took form on Krauñca Mountain as a jyotirliṅga. This jyotirliṅga was given the name Mallikārjuna. The place is on the hill called Śrīśaila, also called Śrīparvata, in the south.

Kārttikeya’s brahmacarya

From this time Kārttikeya’s state on earth is brahmacarya (the unmarried life). He remains on Krauñca Mountain.

The pilgrimage in Kārttika

The month of Kārttika is named for the Kṛttikā stars, and it is sacred to Kārttikeya. The text declares that a pilgrimage to Krauñca Mountain in this month gives very great puṇya (merit). The pilgrim receives the merit of all tīrthas (holy places) and is freed from the cycle of rebirth.

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Kumāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 20