Visiting a Jyotirlinga, seeking spiritual strength, and drawing inspiration from a warrior spirit, such a convergence of devotion, power, and valour is rare in Bharat, and it is this sacred harmony that lends deep symbolic meaning to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Srisailam, a site where a Jyotirlinga (Bhagwan Mallikarjuna) and a Shakti Peetha (Bhramaramba) coexist within the same sanctum complex, representing the divine union of Shiva and Shakti.
On 16 October 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a historic visit to the sacred hill town of Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh — an event that beautifully intertwined spirituality, history, and national pride. Joining him were Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, marking a moment of convergence between central and state leadership.
The Prime Minister’s itinerary included two profoundly significant stops: the Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Varla Devasthanam, one of India’s twelve Jyotirlingas and fifty-four Shakti Peethas, and the Shivaji Spoorthi Kendram, a heritage complex dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s southern expedition.
The Temple Visit: Reverence in the Nallamala Hills
At the ancient Mallikarjuna temple, the Prime Minister offered his prayers, performing Rudrabhishekam and Kumkum Archana, and sought blessings for the nation’s peace and prosperity.
Srisailam holds a rare distinction as one of the few places where both a Jyotirlinga (Bhagwan Mallikarjuna) and a Shakti Peetha (Bhramaramba) coexist within the same sanctum complex, symbolising the divine union of Shiva and Shakti.
The presence of Chief Minister Sri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Sri Pawan Kalyan, offering prayers beside the Prime Minister, added political gravitas to the spiritual occasion. The state government had prepared extensively for the visit, ensuring smooth arrangements and improved infrastructure around the temple precincts.
Shivaji Spoorthi Kendram: Remembering a Warrior Saint
Following the temple darshan, the Prime Minister visited the Shivaji Spoorthi Kendram, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister ever to do so. The invitation was extended by Somayajalu Nageshwar Rao, Organising Secretary of the Sri Shivaji Memorial Committee.
The Kendram stands as a tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s visit to Srisailam in 1677 during his southern campaign.
The complex includes:
• A Dhyana Mandir, featuring a life-size statue of Shivaji Maharaj in meditation
• A Darbar Hall, symbolising his strategic and administrative deliberations
• Replicas of four forts — Pratapgad, Rajgad, Raigad, and Shivneri — representing the expanse of his empire
Local lore and archival material at the Kendram recount that Shivaji Maharaj meditated at Srisailam for about ten days, seeking divine guidance. Under the spiritual influence of Samartha Ramadas Swamy, he performed tapasya (deep penance) before Goddess Bhramaramba, who is believed to have blessed him with renewed strength and presented him with a divine sword, affirming his dharmic mission.
Bridging Heritage and Leadership
This visit seamlessly connected Maratha valour, Telugu spirituality, and modern national leadership. The Shivaji Spoorthi Kendram embodies the idea of courage rooted in dharma, while the Mallikarjuna-Bhramaramba temple represents divine balance and unity.
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi expressed spiritual fulfilment, describing the shrine as a place where divinity and inspiration unite. Recalling Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s 1677 visit, he remarked that Srisailam embodies courage and devotion. “There is divinity in every part of this holy place,” he shared, thanking devotees for their warmth. His reflections reveal a deep personal connection with Bharat’s sacred geography — the Jyotirlingam of Lord Mallikarjuna, the Shakti Peetha of Goddess Bhramaramba, and the Shivaji Spoorthi Kendram — symbolising the union of faith, strength, and national inspiration.
Key Takeaways
• Cultural Integration: The event united devotees from Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi communities under a shared cultural legacy.
• Living Heritage: The Kendram and the temple together narrate a continuing saga of India’s civilisational depth.
• Tourism and Development Boost: The Andhra Pradesh government, under Chief Minister Naidu, announced plans for a comprehensive Srisailam Temple Master Plan, aimed at enhancing spiritual tourism and supporting local livelihoods.
For the Prime Minister, the visit to Srisailam was more than a pilgrimage, it was an experience of spiritual reaffirmation and cultural pride. His words reflected the profound reverence he holds for the confluence of Shiva and Shakti, devotion and courage, that Srisailam symbolises in Bharat’s eternal civilisational journey.
From Shivaji’s meditation beneath the Nallamala Hills to Modi’s homage centuries later, the thread of devotion and dharma continues unbroken. Srisailam, where faith, valour, and vision intersect, remains a living testament to India’s spiritual and cultural continuum.
The Prime Minister’s visit, joined by Andhra Pradesh’s top leadership, reaffirmed that Srisailam is not merely a shrine of the past but a guiding flame for the nation’s future.
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