Srisailam, a town in Andhra Pradesh, houses the second Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva that goes by the name MallikaArjuna. This Jyotirlinga is blessed by the divine presence of both Lord Shiva as Arjuna and Maa Parvati as Mallika.
There are many legends surrounding the MallikaArjuna Jyotirlinga that go around as local folklore. As mentioned in the Shiva Purana though, the story surrounds Lord Kumara whom we also know as Lord Kartikeya, the first born son of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati.
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati wanted to marry their sons off.But, who would get married first, to decide that a contest between the two sons was decided upon. Both, Lord Kumara and Lord Ganesh, had to circumambulate the earth seven times on their respective vehicles.The first to complete the task was to get married first.
Lord Kartikeya set off on his vehicle, the peacock to circumambulate the earth seven times. Lord Ganesha, in the meanwhile, circumambulated his parents 7 times declaring that they were his whole world.Overcome by the cleverness and love of Lord Ganesh, his parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were elated and subsequently married him off to Goddesses Riddhi and Siddhi.
Lord Kartikeya upon his return was greeted by Lord Narad. He informed him about Lord Ganesh’s clever strategy and his marriage. Lord Kartikeya found it unfair and was quite agitated.He was angry with his parents and in a huff left Mount Kailash and went to Mount Krauncha (present day,Bellary district,Karnataka). He settled off and refused to come back to Kailash.
Maa Parvati was distressed due to the separation from her son.Lord Shiva tried to console her. He sent the gods and the sages, accompanied by their attendants to Mount Krauncha to persuade Lord Kartikeya to come back. The gods and sages went there happily and humbly requested Lord Kartikeya to return to Mount Kailash but to no avail. He didn’t budge.
Maa Parvati was grief-stricken and could not bear the intense pangs of separation from her son. Both Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati, out of filial affection, decided to go to the Krauncha mountain to meet their son. Lord Kartikeya came to know of the arrival of his parents. He was still quite angry,so he further moved thirty-six kilometres away, more inwards into the jungle surrounding the mountain.
Lord Shiva And Maa Parvati decided against following Lord Kartikeya but remained there in the South, assuming the form of MallikaArjuna jyotirling. It is said that Maa Parvati as Mallika visits her son alone on every Full Moon day (Poornima )and Lord Shiva as Arjuna visits his son every NewMoon day(Amavasya).
It is said anyone afflicted with misery of any sort gets rid of it after taking the Darshana of the MallikaArjuna Jyotirling. Thus, goes the Story behind the Mallikarjuna Jyotirling.
Har Har Mahadev!
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