The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is located on the Shri Shaila Mountain in Andhra Pradesh. Merely seeing this Jyotirlinga cleanses one of sins. Let's explore the story of this Jyotirlinga, which goes as follows.

In Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of the Krishna River, stands the sacred Shri Shaila Mountain, where the Shri Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga (the second Jyotirlinga) is located. This site is also known as the 'Kailash of the South.' It symbolizes the combined form of Shiva and Parvati, where 'Mallika' refers to Parvati and 'Arjuna' refers to Shiva.

According to the Shiva Purana, it is believed that Lord Shiva himself visits this place on Amavasya (new moon day), and Mata Parvati comes here on Purnamasi (full moon day). In this unique Jyotirlinga, both the forms of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati are enshrined, making this place extremely sacred and significant.

The Story of the Emergence of Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga:

According to the Shiva Purana, this story unfolds within the exciting context of Lord Shiva's family. There was a competition between their sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya, about who would get married first. To resolve this, Shiva and Parvati set a condition: whoever completed a circumambulation of the Earth first would get married first. Kartikeya set off immediately on his peacock to circumambulate the Earth. However, for Lord Ganesha, who rode a mouse, this task was extremely challenging.

Lord Ganesha is considered the deity of wisdom, so he used his intelligence to his advantage. He circumambulated his parents, Mata Parvati and Lord Shiva, seven times and humbly told them, "You are my entire world; therefore, by circumambulating you first, I have completed the circumambulation of the Earth." In this way, Ganesha achieved victory through his wisdom and secured the right to marry first.

When Kartikeya returned after circumambulating the Earth and heard about Ganesha's marriage, he became very angry and went to the Kraunch mountain. Shiva and Parvati tried to persuade him to return, but Kartikeya did not agree and, in his anger, moved twelve more miles away. Seeing their son's stubbornness, Shiva and Parvati also took on a divine, luminous form and established themselves there.

From that day on, the Mallikarjuna Lingam of Lord Shiva became renowned across the three worlds, where both the forms of Parvati and Shiva are enshrined. Since then, this place has been known as the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, where 'Mallika' means Parvati and 'Arjuna' signifies Shiva. According to the Shiva Purana, Lord Shiva himself visits this place on Amavasya (new moon day), and Mata Parvati comes on Purnamasi (full moon day). Anyone who sees this Jyotirlinga is believed to be freed from all sins and to have their desires fulfilled.

Thus, the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is described as a site that is considered to bestow all kinds of happiness upon its devotees.

Verified from Puran...............

Writer :- krishna