SIVARATRI SPECIAL: Pilgrims thronging Srisailam on Friday. — Photo U. Subramanyam

SRISAILAM: Thousands of devotees worshipped Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy and Sri Brahmarambika after having a dip in the Krishna on Sivaratri at Srisailam on Friday. The Sivalinga here is one among the 12 `Jyothirlingas' and Brahmarambika is considered one of the 18 forms of `shakti' in the country.

The temple, streets and the bathing ghats reverberated with chants of `Om Namasivaya' and `Harahara Mahadeva' by the large number of devotees. The weary pilgrims burst into ecstasy on having a glimpse of the temple from a distance at the sikharam (sikhara darshanam).

The number of devotees on `deeeksha' has been increasing every year. This year, devotees on deeksha constituted about 70 per cent. Considering the heavy turnout on Monday last, officials anticipated record crowds on Sivaratri day, but the pilgrim rush was more or less the same size as what it was in the previous years.

According to the police, there was a heavy rush of vehicles streaming in with pilgrims in the early hours of Friday.

A majority of the pilgrims preferred spending the night at the temple town by taking part in devotional activities. Folk cultural activities were a special attraction. After `Maha Harathi', the temple was opened to the public around 3 a.m.

Other rituals

In the evening, Pagalankarana, Rudrabhishekam and Lingodbhavam were performed. Kalyanotsavam will be celebrated around midnight on Friday. Hundreds of devotees who held special passes witnessed the `Pagalankarana'.

Pilgrims thronged other Saivite shrines in the district at Mahanandi, Yaganti, Siddeswaram, Rupalasangameswara (Kurnool) and Kalvabugga.

The APSRTC ran specials to all places.

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