Temples of Lord Siva across Andhra Pradesh have been richly decorated and geared up for Mahasivaratri on March 7. Hordes of devotees are already making a beeline for the temples offering prayers to the Lord and taking part in various spiritual programmes.
Srisailam got spruced up for the Sivaratri Brahmotsavam festival with the district administration moving with all its paraphernalia to the Nallamala hills. Special provisions for pilgrims have been created this year inside and outside the Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swami Devasthanam.
Special arrangements were made under the supervision of District Collector Ch. Vijayamohan.
Nearly five lakh devotees are expected to participate in the festivities over the next three to four days. The festival will begin at 1.30 a.m. on March 7 and continue till 1.30 a.m. of March 8.
Prabhotsavam will be performed at 6 p.m. of March 7, Lingodbhavakala Mahanyasapoorvaka Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam from March 7 10 p.m. to 1.30 a.m. of March 8. These rituals will be followed by Kalyanotsavam at 12 a.m. of March 8.
Maha Sivaratri festivities will be held at Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy temple at Yaganti in Kurnool district from March 6 to 10. The festivities would commence with Dhwajarohanam on Sunday, Kalyanotsavam on March 7, Nandikola Utsavam on March 8, Rathotsavam on March 9 and ending of Sivadeeksha, Nagavalli, Vasantotsavam and Poornahuthi on March 10.
Meanwhile, the hill temple of Kotappakonda in Guntur district has been specially decorated on the auspicious occasion. The pilgrims are offered a bouquet of tourist attractions, including a mini zoo, aquarium, a joy train ride etc. in addition to the facilities provided for their participating in the festival.
Legend was that Lord Siva, transformed himself into a 12-year old boy after destroying ‘Daksha Yagnam’. He later pacified and started a penance as Dakshina Murthy in Kailasam.
