Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 16 offered prayers at the famous Srisailam temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Nandyal district. He arrived on a day-long visit to the state, had darshan at Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Varla Devasthanam, which is one of the 12 Jyotirlings and one of the 52 Shakti Peeths. PM Modi reached Srisailam amid tight security and was accompanied by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
Temple priests and officials welcomed them at the main entrance of the temple. They participated in various rituals at the temple. The priests and officials explained the unique features of the temple, which is known for its coexistence of a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peeth in the same premises. PM Modi visited the temple for the first time. He is the fourth Prime Minister to visit the temple. Earlier, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and P. V. Narasimha Rao had offered prayers at this temple.
PM Modi will also visit the Sree Shivaji Spoorthi Kendra, a memorial complex that includes a Dhyana Mandir (Meditation Hall) featuring models of four iconic forts – Pratapgad, Rajgad, Raigad, and Shivneri – placed at the four corners. At the centre of Spoorthi Kendra stands a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in deep meditation. This Kendra is run by the Sree Shivaji Memorial Committee, which was established at Srisailam to commemorate the historic visit of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to the sacred shrine in 1677. Earlier, on his arrival at Kurnool airport, the Prime Minister was received by Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Kalyan and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh.
