Upon reaching eighteenth sacred steps, the President was welcomed with a poorna kumbha. She bowed to the offering, prayed with her eyes closed before Dharmashasta (Bhagwan Ayyapa), received Deep arti from inside the mandir, and embraced Ayyappa with tears in her eyes. President Droupadi Murmu made a historic visit to Sabarimala, observing all rituals and climbing the sacred eighteen steps. The visit, conducted under tight security, marked the first Presidential darshan at Sannidhanam in five decades.
President Droupadi Murmu visited Sannidhanam at Sabarimala Mandir on October 22, observing all traditional rituals. The ceremonial knot was prepared with a symbolic wash of her hands and feet at a specially arranged area in the Pampa, followed by a ritual bath. The Pampa Ganapati Mandir was also carried with a Irumudi Kettu, a sacred bundle of offerings carried by devotees, to Bhagwan Ayyappa as part of the customary practices. The Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and security personnel, accompanying the President, participated in filling the Irumudi Kettu, and proceeded to the Sannidhanam. The President ascended the hill in a Devaswom Board vehicle and reached the Sannidhanam, where she climbed the eighteenth sacred steps. Typically, the special force of the Kerala Police assists devotees at this stage, but the President was guided up the eighteenth step by her accompanying security officer, holding her hand while observing the Irumudi Kettu ritual. The OSD and security officer, dressed in appropriate ceremonial attire, accompanied her throughout the ascent.
Upon reaching the eighteenth sacred steps, the President was welcomed with a poorna kumbha. She bowed to the offering, prayed with her eyes closed before the Dharmashasta (Bhagwan Ayyapa), received the Deep arti from inside the mandir, and embraced Ayyappa with tears in her eyes, fulfilling the spiritual significance of her visit. The temple visit was conducted strictly according to established rituals. Following this, the President also visited Malikapuram Mandir. Droupadi Murmu becomes the first sitting President to visit the Sannidhanam after VV Giri, marking a historic occasion five decades later.
Following in the Footsteps of Shivaji’s Pilgrimage
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.
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. 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) co-exist within the same sanctum complex, representing the divine union of Shiva and Shakti.
Historic Visit
On October 16, 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 was Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu .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.
At the ancient Mallikarjuna Mandir, 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 Shri 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.
PM Visits Shivaji Spoorthi Kendram
Following the temple darshan, the Prime Minister visited 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.
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 Bhagwan Mallikarjuna, the Shakti Peetha of Goddess Bhramaramba, and the Shivaji Spoorthi Kendram — symbolising the union of faith, strength, and national inspiration.
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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