Ravivalasa

Ravivalsa is a village in Tekkali Mandalam of Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh state, India. Ravivalasa is famous for its Sri Endala Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple. There is a belief that people will get rid of their skin diseases like scabies, ring worm, impetigo and other fungal skin infections after seeing this god.

History

In the Tretayuga on his return way, after Ravana death, to Ayodhya, Rama took rest on SUMANCHA hills of this forest area of Ravivalasa along with his army and followers. Sushenudu who was a divine doctor in the Rama followers felt happy and wondered on seeing the Medicinal plants and barks around in this forest but the people were unhealthy,and suffering . He wants to do something good to the people. He expressed his desire to stay on this hill and do TAPASSU for Lord Shiva. Rama granted permission and left for Ayodhya leaving SUSHENA here. SUSHENA worshipped Shiva years and years and used to serve the people around with the Medicinal plants.

After some years Rama sent Hunuma to the whereabouts of SUSHENA. Hanuma(Anjaneya) came to Ravivalasa hills SUMANCHA and found skeleton of SUSHENA, thought that SUSHENA was died and burried the skeleton, put some jasmine flowers (Malle pulu), covered with deer skin, returned to Ayodhya and told every thing he done. Rama after hearing the sad news came to this SUMANCHA HILLS along with Sita, Laxmana, Hanuma. Hunma lifted the deer-skin to show the skeleton to Rama but found a Shiva Linga with Malle-pulu (jasmine flowers), instead of body of the SUSHENA. All are astonished and shocked, took a bath in the near by pond and started worshipping the Shiva-linga. After the pooja the Linga began to grow. Air flowing down-warda the ling with breeze from the medicinal plants, giving good health to the people. As it is growing Rama was not built any temple there. The name from Jasmin = Malle, skin = jinamu, so a linga worshipped with MallePoolu and covered with deer skin = Mallekajina Swami and it was modified to MALLIKARJUNIswamy. The pond Named as SEETHA KUNDAMU.

The history of the temple can be traced to the Mahabarata period. Legend has it that Pandavas while in exile visited this temple and met Markandeya Maharshi, who appraised them of the importance of the Ravivalasa shrine. On Maha Sivaratri and Kartika Mondays, large gatherings of devotees worship this temple's deity.

References

* Discover District series /OM Arts Prints - Vijayawada
* [http://www.srikakulamonline.org/ Srikakulam online

some paras copied and translated
* [http://te.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%B5%E0%B0%BF%E0%B0%B5%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%B8_%28%E0%B0%9F%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%95%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%BF%29]