Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy released “Srisailam – Abode of Siva and Sakthi”, a book brought out by The Hindu , at Sri Bhramaramba Devi temple in the pilgrim centre Srisailam on Maharnavami festival on Friday.
Mr. Krishnamurthy was all praise for the reputed national daily, The Hindu , for bringing out a comprehensive and informative book during Dasara Navaratri festivities. Terming it as a service to propagate Hindu dharma, the Deputy Chief Minister said the book illustrated the historical and spiritual significance of Srisailam, which was a haven for saints and mystics and would help people across the country comprehend the significance of the prominent pilgrim centre.
As the title of the book aptly projected, Srisailam is unique as it has both a Jyothirlingam and a Sakthi Peetham. The Jyothirlingam at Sri Mallikarjuna temple was one of the “Dwadasa (12) Jyothirlinga” and the Sakthi Peetham among Ashtadasa (18) Sakthi Peethams in the country, Mr. Krishnamurthy said. The pilgrim centre hailed as a paradise on earth, has a Sivalingam installed by Lord Sri Rama and was visited by Pandavas, he added.
The book not only has comprehensive information and captivating pictures put forth after considerable research and compilation of facts, but also recounted the times when eminent personalities such as Kanchi Paramacharya, Presidents Babu Rajendra Prasad and R. Venkataraman, Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, Governor Shankar Dayal Sharma, Chief Ministers N.T. Rama Rao and N. Chandrababu Naidu visited the Shrine with a pictorial outlook, he remarked.
Mr. Krishnamurthy said that the State government was determined to develop Srisailam on par with the Tirumala temple, augment facilities for pilgrims and preserve the reserve forest having a plethora of medicinal plant varieties and streams and to safeguard the picturesque environment.
The 80-page book encapsulated the Srisailam temple history, mythology, various facets of ‘puranas’ and architecture, motifs and mysticism, historical monuments, ways of worship over the centuries, Sivaratri festival, the mandala regimen, the forest terrain and the trekking route, Chenchu devotees and rock-paintings etc. The book also has comprehensive information about the hydro-electric power project turned irrigation project, tiger reserve, temple artefacts housed in Madras Museum, the government’s Divya Darsanam scheme, Annaprasadam, offerings by devotees and the scope for research.
‘Ready reckoner’
Srisailam temple Executive Officer Narayan Bharat Gupta termed the book as a ready reckoner on the holy shrine and the prominent pilgrim centre, which attracted devotees from far and wide.
Earlier, Mr. Krishnamurthy released the 2018 calendar brought out by Srisailam Devasthanams. The Hindu ’s former Resident Editor Dasu Kesava Rao coordinated the contents of the book. Vedic scholar Ganti Radhakrishna Sarma and others took part.
