Kurnool: Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Bramaramba Devi Kalyanotsavam will perform on Sunday midnight on the auspicious day of Maha Shivaratri at Srisailam.

The Srisaila Devasthanam authorities have made all arrangements to conduct Maha Shivaratri celebrations in Srisailam. Nandi Vahana Seva will be held at 7 pm for the presiding deities on Maha Sivaratri.

According to the temple sources, Lingodbhava Rudrabhishekam and Pagalankarana will be performed at 10 pm, and later Kalyanotsavam will be organised at midnight on a grand note as per the tradition. Nearly 15 lakh devotees have arrived at the Srisailam shrine during the Brahmotsavams and have had dharshan, and at least 3 lakh pilgrims halted at the temple town to perform Shivaratri Jagarana on Sunday night.

The hills were reverberating with Shiva Nama smaranam (chanting of Om Namah Shivaya). 70% of the pilgrims who have come here were Siva Swamulu (Shiva Deeksha devotees).

As soon as they arrived at the hills, the pilgrims were taking a holy dip in the Patala Ganga and offering prayers to the presiding deity and Goddess Bhramaramba.

The Srisailam is renowned as Dakshina Kasi (Varanasi of the south) and one among the 12 Jyotirlingas. Presiding deity Mallikarjuna Swamy and his consort Brahmaramba are worshipped at the temple.

The temple premises also have Shivalingas installed by Pandavas, Triphala Vruksham believed to bestow babies to childless couple, river Saraswathi, Mallika and Manoharagundas known as Antarvahini, Vrudda Mallikarjuna lingam and sahasra Lingeswarudu installed by Lord Rama and Sita.

There are Sivaji Spoorti Kendra, pancha mathas, patala ganga, a water reservoir, power generating unit and a ropeway for the amusement of the pilgrims.

On the Mahasivarathri day at midnight during Lingodbhavakalam (the sacred time in which God Siva manifests in the form of a huge flaming Linga), Abhishekam will be religiously performed to God Mallikarjuna Swamy.

The Pagalankarana is a unique custom found only in the Srisailam temple and is the most significant event of the festival. A person belonging to the weavers community (Devanga) ties a lengthy new white cloth called a Paga (Turban), starting from the Sikhara of the Swamyvari Vimana Gopuram, passing around the Nandi idols placed on the Mukha Mandapam of the temple.

The interesting feature of this event is that the Devanga will decorate the Paga with a naked body in total darkness, and all the lights at that time are put off in the temple. The cloth used in the Pagalankarana is hand-woven by weavers throughout the year. Nearly 30 Pagas are offered by various weavers individually as a vow, and all the Pagas will be decorated simultaneously by a single weaver.

After the Pagalankarana, Kalyanotsavam of God Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Bhramaramba Devi will be performed. The Rathothsavam will commence effectively on the next day of Mahashivratri in the evening.

Mahashivaratri festival will perform in renowned Shiva Khestras of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on the auspicious day in the temples of Srikalhasti, Draksharamam, Maha Nandi, Vemulavada. The temple authorities are decorated the temples and made elaborate arrangements to the pilgrims.