Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve - Ancient History

Ancient History

The ancient temples at Srisailam of Lord Mallikarjuna and his consort goddess Bhramaramba, an incarnation of Parvathi as the fair-complexioned boon from Brahma, contain one of the twelve sacred Shaiva Jyotirlingas and one of the eighteenMaha Shakthi peethas in India.

This area contains ruins of the ancient Nagarjuna Viswa Vidyalayam run by the great Buddhist scholar Nagarjunacharya (150 A.D.), a southern Indian master of Mahayana Buddhism who is believed to have been responsible for the Buddhist activity in the area. The site was once the location of many Buddhist universities and monasteries.

The ruins of a fort of the 3rd century BCE Indian ruler, Ikshwaku Chandragupta overlook the Nirjivapuram (Lifeless city) valley. The ancient fort of king Pratap Rudra of the Kakatiya dynasty and several other forts are visible on the banks of the Krishna River. An ancient 105 mi (169 km) wall constructed there by the Kakateeyas is an impressive historic feature.

This area contains several rock shelters and cave temples including: Akka Mahadevi Bhilam, Dattatreya Bhilam, Umaa Maheswaram, Kadalivanam, and Palankasari.

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