ANDHRA PRADESH - Everything is ready for Maha Shivaratri

Atmakuru (Kurnool): All set to celebrate Maha Shivaratri in seven centers of Lord Siva renowned pilgrimage in Nallamala forest region of the district. The festival is barely 48 hours. Special arrangements have been made for the festival for the benefit of devotees thronging Srisailam, Mahanandi, Saptanadi Sangameswaram, Nagaluti Veerabhadreswara temple, Sapta Maheswaram, Omkareswaram, Gundla Brahmeswaram, Rudra Koteswaram and temples Kolanu Bharati.

These seven Kshetras have been widely mentioned in our ancient texts. Srisailam is described as Ashtadasa Sakti peetham. The presiding deity Lord Mallikarjuna is a self-manifested deity (Swayambhu Lingam) here. A Mahanandi, Lord Shiva is known as Kameswari of Mahanandeeswara. A Saptanadi Sangameswara, the Siva Lingam was installed by Dharmaraja, the eldest of the Pandavas on the banks of the confluence of seven rivers. The kshetrapala Srisailam is known as Nagaluti Veerabhadrudu. A Gundla Brahmeswaram, Lord Shiva is known as Rajarajeswara Swamy.