The sacred hills of Srisailam resonated with chants of “Hara Hara Mahadeva” as Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a deeply spiritual visit to the ancient Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bhramaramba Devi Mandir, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Bharat. The air was filled with devotion as thousands of Shiva bhakts, clad in saffron, lined the route from Nandi Mandapam Circle to Gangadhara Mandapam to greet the Prime Minister with thunderous chants and folded hands.
At 11:38 a.m., Prime Minister Modi departed from the Bhramaramba Guest House and proceeded towards the Mandir, accompanied by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. As the convoy reached the Mandir entrance, Vedic scholars extended a traditional Poornakumbham welcome, applying vibhooti and kumkum before escorting the dignitaries through the pradakshina path into the Mandir’s sanctified precincts.
The Prime Minister first offered salutations to the Dwajasthambam (Mandir flagstaff) and performed Shiva Sankalpam, marking the beginning of his sacred rituals. With profound reverence, he participated in the Ratnagarbha Ganapati Puja, Eka Vara Rudrabhishekam, Bilwarchana, Pushparchana, and Maha Mangala Harathi to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy, the presiding deity. The rituals concluded with Mantrapushpam and the offering of Teertha Prasadam by the Mandir priests.
In continuation of his spiritual journey, the Prime Minister visited Mallikagundam, the sacred spot believed to be the subterranean flow of the Saraswati River, before gazing upon the Mandir’s grand Garbhalaya Shikhara a rare and spiritually significant sight known as Shikhara Darshan.
The visit then extended to the divine sanctum of Mata Sri Bhramaramba Devi. With folded hands and deep devotion, PM Modi offered Kumkumarchana to the Sri Chakra consecrated by Adi Shankaracharya, using sacred swords known as Khargamala. He performed Shodashopachara Puja with ceremonial precision and received the Ma’s Harathi amid the resonant chants of Vedic hymns.
At the Vedashirvachana Mandapam, scholars from the four Vedas performed Chaturveda Ashirvachanam, invoking blessings for the Prime Minister. PM Modi received the Teertha Prasadam of the Ma, marking the culmination of his Mandir rituals.
In a moment symbolizing respect and devotion, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan presented portraits and Shesha Vastras (sacred vestments) of Bhagwan Mallikarjuna Swamy and Ma Bhramaramba Devi to the Prime Minister.
Following his Mandir visit, PM Modi, accompanied by both state leaders, visited the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial and Inspiration Centre in Srisailam a site dedicated to the valor and legacy of the great Maratha warrior.
Inside the memorial, the Prime Minister spent time observing the wall murals and paintings depicting key moments from the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He bowed reverently before the grand portrait of the warrior king and offered floral tributes at the Meditation Hall before the idol of the Ma installed there.
Officials briefed the Prime Minister about the centre’s Darbar Hall, Meditation Hall, and its various initiatives aimed at promoting the ideals of courage, devotion, and self-governance that Shivaji Maharaj epitomized. Impressed by the presentation, PM Modi appreciated the efforts of the organisers in preserving and promoting Bharat’s civilisational heritage through such inspirational institutions.
