Srisailam  

Srisailam has great ancient significance. With great significance since many eras, Srisailam where Sri Bhramarambika Devi-Mallikarjuna Swamy resides has been a worshipping place for millions of devotees over thousands of years. History is always told through books or through stories of various dynasties. If one looks at dynastic prevalence, one would find inscriptional evidence from South India's first dynasty, the Satavahanas at Srisailam. Satakarni who was the third of the Satavahana kings was also an ardent devotee of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy and was popular for naming himself as Mallanna.

There is a mention of Srisailam in ancient scriptures belonging to the 3rd century C.E. Satakarni in scriptures describing lands under his rule mentioned Srisailam as Chakora Shetagiri. Post the Satavahanas, the Ikshvaku dynasty ruled Andhra. Although these rulers no longer exist to tell the tale, it is fair to say that they considered Srisailam as a holy destination. In the 6th century C.E, Kadamba king Mayura Sharma addressed Srisailam as Sriparvatam. A kind called Bruhaddhana with the help of Kadamba's won over then rulers, the Pallava dynasty to conquer and rule over the land. They unified Sriparvatam along with the land they won over. In the dynasty of Badami Chalukyas, the ruler Pulakeshi constructed many temples and is known to be the king of temples. He was known to be the first Kshatriya to have performed Shiva Deeksha.

During 735-755 C.E, Dantidurga, the ruler of the Rashtrakuta Empire ruled the lands in and around Sriparvatam. During 980-1058 C.E, Kalyana Chalukyaraju, Trayalokamalya Deva established a gopuram on Garbhalayam. His grandson during 1069 C.E donated a village to Srisailam for Satram's and Dharamshala. By the end of the 11th century, Srisailam had earned the reputation of Maha Shiva temple and a temple that is home to Vedas. Rulers of the Hoysala dynasty collected Crystal Shiva Lingams from Patalaganga near the Krishna River in Srisailam and constructed numerous temples using them. Maharashtrians since then have been calling Srisailam as Southern Kashi. Prataparudra who hails from the Kakatiya dynasty alongside his wife visited Srisailam, performed Tulabhaaraseva and earned the blessings of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bhramaramba. The Reddy Rulers of the 13th century played an important role in developing Srisailam. The great devotee of Lord Shiva, Prolaya Vema Reddy ruled over Srisailam, donated a village called Raamatheertham and helped uplift the development of Srisailam. His son, Anavema Reddy laid steps for devotees who come from Telangana. He constructed a hall called Veerasiro Mandapam as an ancestral memory. It is said that great devotees during that time used to offer their body parts as their way of showing their devotion. In 1405 C.E Katyavema Reddy laid steps to Srisailam and Pedakomati Vema Reddy laid steps to Patalaganga. In the 14th century C.E, Vijayanagara Dynasty ruled Andhra Pradesh. Among its rulers, Viroopaksha, Saalupa Parvatayya, donated many villages to Srisailam. The wife to Hariharaya II, Vitalamba laid steps that lead to Patalaganga. On the auspicious occasion of Shivaratri, Hariharaya II directed the construction of the main hall of the main temple.Above three are of history. Sri Krishnadevaraya considered Srisailam as a separate Kingdom and appointed his loyal minister Chandrasekhara as Administrator of Srisailam. Chandrasekhara made Mandapas in the name of Sri Krishnadevaraya and his uncle Dhemarasu. History says that the gopuras in the southern, eastern and western sides of the temple were constructed by Sri Krishnadevaraya. The icon of Maharashtra, Sri Chatrapathi Shivaji who was a devotee of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bhramarambika Devi ordered the construction of Northern Gopuram. During the 18th and 19th centuries, in the temple of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bhramarambika Devi, many chenchus graced the temple grounds and were part of many rituals and prayers. It is believed by locals that long ago when Mallikarjuna Swamy was hunting in the forest, a local girl fell in love with the god and was later married to the god in presence of the locals. Ever since Mallikarjuna Swamy who resides in Srisaila Kshetram is considered as their son-in-law by the locals and hence called Chenchu Mallanna and Chenchu Mallayya.