Mallikārjuna Jyotirliṅga

Mallikārjuna is the second of the twelve Jyotirliṅgas, the self-arisen liṅgas of light of Śiva (a liṅga is Śiva’s sacred sign or form). It stands at Śrī Śaila (Śrīśailam) on the Kṛshṇā River in Andhra Pradesh.

Its story grows out of a quarrel between Gaṇeśa and Kumāra (Skanda) about which of Śiva’s sons should be married first. Kumāra, upset at how it ended, went away to the mountain Krauñca and would not come back. Śiva and Pārvatī could not bear to leave their son. They followed him as a divine jyotis (light): Śiva visits on amāvāsyā (the new-moon day) and Pārvatī on pūrṇimā (the full-moon day). They made their lasting home at Śrī Śaila as Mallikārjuna and Mālinī (or Bhramarāmbā).

Location

Śrī Śaila (Śrīśailam) is a holy mountain on the banks of the Kṛshṇā River in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the oldest and most famous kshetras (holy places) of both Śiva and Śakti (the Divine Mother) in the Deccan. It is also home to one of the eighteen Mahāśakti Pīṭhas (great seats of the Devī), that of Bhramarāmbā.

The Story of Its Origin

This Jyotirliṅga comes from the famous contest between Gaṇeśa and Kumāra. The two sons of Śiva and Pārvatī argued about which of them should be married first. Śiva and Pārvatī set a test: whoever went around the whole universe first would be married first. Kumāra set off at once on his peacock to circle the universe. Gaṇeśa, wise though elephant-headed, walked around his parents instead, because for a devotee who understands Vedānta, Śiva and Pārvatī are the same as the whole universe. Gaṇeśa was declared the winner and was married first.

When Kumāra came back from circling the universe, he found the matter already settled in Gaṇeśa’s favour. Feeling slighted, he did not return to Kailāsa. Instead he went away sadly to the mountain Krauñca (said to be Śrī Śaila) and declared that he would stay there as an ascetic.

Śiva and Pārvatī did not want to be parted from their beloved son. When they could not bring him back by pleading, they decided to follow him. They appeared as a divine jyotis, a column of light, at Krauñca (Śrī Śaila). Śiva visits the mountain on every amāvāsyā (new-moon day), and Pārvatī visits on every pūrṇimā (full-moon day). So devotees who come on these tithis (lunar days) have a special chance to receive darśana (sacred sight) of both Śiva and Pārvatī at this kshetra.

The Names Mallikārjuna and Bhramarāmbā

The Jyotirliṅga is called Mallikārjuna, from mallikā (jasmine) and arjuna (a name of Śiva meaning the white, pure or shining one). The Śakti present at Śrī Śaila is called Bhramarāmbā, “the Mother of the bees” or “the humming Devī”, whose seat is one of the eighteen Mahāśakti Pīṭhas. Together, Mallikārjuna and Bhramarāmbā make Śrī Śaila a leading kshetra where Śiva and Śakti are honoured as one.

Why It Matters

The story of Mallikārjuna stands apart among the Jyotirliṅgas. It does not begin with a human devotee’s tapas or with rescue from an asura, but with Śiva’s own love as a parent for Kumāra. It teaches that Śiva follows his devotee. Even when the devotee is his own son, in a moment of pride and withdrawal, Śiva moves toward the devotee, not the other way round.

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 15