About Mallikarjuna Temple Information-Sringeri

Mallikarjuna temple, situated in the heart of the temple town, is an ancient shrine dediacted to Lord Shiva where He is known as Malahanikaresvara (popularly referred to as Mallikarjuna), destroyer of the impurities of the jiva. This temple is said to be as old as the Ramayana. The sanctum sanctorum houses a large swayambhu Shiva linga made of black-stone.

Records say that the early structure was renovated by Puttap­payya in 1621.  It is in this temple that Shri Abhinava Nrisimha Bharati (1600-1623), then head of the Sringeri Mutt, drew a figure of Lord Ganesha with a piece of turmeric on a pillar, and worshipped it in the absence of an image of the deity. Since that time, the outline of the god gradually bulged out in relief. This Ganapati is called Kambada Ganapati - Ganapati of the pillar. One can have peaceful darshan as this temple has few pilgrims.

You can get a panoramic view of the surroundings as you climb higher. Early mornings or late evenings are ideal to be at the top.