Srikakulam Raavivalasa Sri Endala Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple – Andhra Pradesh

Address

Srikakulam Raavivalasa Sri Endala Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple – Andhra Pradesh

Ravivalasa Village, Tekkali Mandal,

Srikakulam District,

Andhra Pradesh – 532211.

Moolavar

Mallikarjuna Swamy

Introduction

Sri Endala Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple is located at Ravivalasa Village in Tekkali Mandal, Srikakulam District in Andhra Pradesh. The main murti worshipped in the shrine is known as Sri Yandala (Endala) Mallikarjuna Swamy. The murti is swayambhu, which appeared on its own. The Shivling is 18 feet in height and 32 feet in width. Lord Rama worshipped the Shivling and did not construct a temple around it as the Shivling was growing.

Puranic Significance

According to sthala purana, in Tretayuga after Rama killed Ravana and was returning to Ayodhya, Sushena who was their physician expressed his desire to stay back at Sumancha Parvata and do penance for Lord Shiva. People around the area were with ill health and he wanted to help them. After some time passed Rama sent Hanuman to enquire about Sushena. When Hanuman came, he saw that Sushena had passed away. Seeing the body of Sushena and feeling sad, he covered the body with a deer skin (ajina in sanskrit) and placed some jasmine flowers on top of it and went to convey the news to Lord Rama. Rama, Sita and Lakshman come there to pay their respects and when they remove the deer skin, a Shivalinga starts growing. They took bath in the Pushkarini(pond) near the Swayambhu lingam, did Pooja and left. The lingam grew gradually. From the time the Shivalinga came, people started recovering their health. This Swamy was called Mallikajina Swamy. Mallika(jasmine flower) and ajina(deer skin). Hence he was called Mallikajina Swamy.

Later in Dwaparayuga when the Pandavas were in agnyatavasam, Arjuna is said to have worshipped this Swamy, hence he was known as Mallikarjuna Swamy.

In later times the Raja of Tekkali tried to build a temple around this shivalinga but did not succeed. Lord Shiva appeared in his dream and told him not to enclose him in a temple that the air which touches him and reaches the devotees will keep them safe and healthy. So a temple was not built. As he was exposed to the sunlight (enda in telugu), this swamy was called Sri Endala Mallikarjuna Swamy.

Special Features

The Shivalingam is believed to be more than 1500 years old. Structure enabling the devotees to go and do abishekam from top.

In the months of Kartheeka and Maagha, there is huge crowd. A bath in the Pushkarini which is known as Sitamma Koneru is believed to cure people from skin diseases. The popular belief is that the murti worshipped in the temple belongs to the Treta Yuga. Bhagavan Sri Ram on his way back to Ayodhya from Lanka rested on the Sumantha hills at Ravivalasa.