The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is located on a mountain in Sri Sailam associated with a legend from the Shiva Purana. According to the legend, when Lord Shiva took the form of a linga on the mountain along with Parvati to reside there after their son Kartikeya became angry and left home. The tip of the mountain is said to emancipate people from sins and free them from the cycle of life and death. The Mallikarjuna Temple at Pattadakal was constructed in the Dravidian style by Queen Trilokyamahadevi to celebrate a victory of King Vikramaditya II over the Pallavas

2. Legend of Mallikarjun Jyotirlinga
According to Shiva Purana, when Lord Ganesh was married of
before his Kartikeya, and because of this brother Kartikeya became
angry. Despite being stopped and consoled by his parents Shiv-Parvati,
Kartikeya went away to the Kraunch Mountain. Even the Gods went
and tried consoling Kartikeya but all their efforts were in vain. Because
of this incident Shiv-Parvati were very sad and both decided that they
would themselves go to Kraunch Mountain. However, when Kartikeya
came to know that his parents have arrived, he went away. Eventually
Lord Shiva assumed the form of Jyotirlinga and resided on that
mountain by the name of Mallikarjuna. Mallika means Parvati, while
Arjuna is another name of Shiva. In this way both Shiva and Parvati
came to reside in this linga. It is said that by merely seeing the tip of
mountain one is emancipated from all his sins and worries. The
person becomes free from the vicious cycle of life and death.

3. MALLIKARJUNA, P TT
A ADAKAL
Pattadakal located in Bijapur district of Karnataka was not only
popular for Chalukyan architectural activities but also a holy place for
royal coronation, 'Pattadakisuvolal'. Temples constructed here mark the
blending of the Rekha, Nagara, Prasada and the Dravida Vimana styles of
temple building.
The oldest temple at Pattadakal is Sangamesvara built by
Vijayaditya Satyasraya (AD 697-733). The other notable temples at
Pattadakal are the Kadasiddhesvara, Jambulingeswara both attributed to
7th century A.D. while Galaganatha temple was built a century later in
the style of rekha nagara prasada. The Kasivisvesvara temple was the last
to be built in early Chalukyan style. The Mallikarjuna temple was
constructed by Rani Trilokyamahadevi to celebrate the victory over the
Pallavas by Vikramaditya II. She is also credited to have built the
Virupaksha temple influenced by the architecture of the Kailasanatha
temple at Kanchipuram. The Virupaksha temple later served as a model
for the Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna I (757 -783 A.D.) to carve out the great
Kailasa at Ellora.

4. Mallikarjuna Temple is a smaller version of the Virupaksha
temple and was built by Vikramadiyta's second queen Trilokyamahadevi in
745. This temple is also was constructed by Rani Trilokyamahadevi to
celebrate the victory (by Vikramaditya II) over the Pallavas. The
Mallikarjuna temple was built immediately after and close to the
Virupaksha temple (It has a similar plan), with a 4 storeyed vimana with a
circular griva and sikhara. Mallikarjuna temple in Dravidian style.

5. Architecture of Mallikarjun Temple
The architecture of the ancient Mallikarjun Temple is very
beautiful and intricate. The temple has fort like walls, towers and a
rich endowment of sculptural work. The huge temple is built in the
Dravidian style with lofty towers and sprawling courtyards and is
considered to be one of the finest specimens of Vijayanagar
architecture. Temple of Tripurantakam, Siddavatam, Alampura and
Umamaheswaram located in the vicinity of Mallikarjuna Jyotirlina are
considered to be the four gateways to Sri Sailam.

6. PLAN OF MALLIKARJUNA– BADAMI & PATTADAKAL

7. DETAILES OF MALLIKARJUNA TEMPLE,
P TT
A ADAKAL & BADAMI
MALLIKARJUNA TEMPLE--- PLINTH & PARAPET

8. MALLIKARJUNA TEMPLE ART

11. INSIDE MALLIKARJUNA TEMPLE.

14. STONE CARVING OF LORD SHIVA & DEVI PARVATI