Bhairavakona has been spruced up for celebrating Maha Sivaratri.— Photo: Kommuri Srinivas

Bhairavakona, the abode of the Trimukadurga sametha Bhareveswara has been spruced up for celebrating the Maha Sivaratri in a big way.

The historic temple at Kothapali-Ambavaram villages, near Chandrasekarapuram in Prakasam district and bordering Nellore and Kadapa districts, is an archaeologists’ delight with numerous rock cut temples chiselled in the 7th century A.D by expert sculptors.

Protected monument

The temple, a protected monument of the Archaeological Survey of India, is visited by tens of thousands of pilgrims every year as Lord Bhairava, a fiery form of Lord Siva, acts as Kshetrapalaka.

In the temple situated in the thick Nallamalla forest range, pilgrims enjoy the waterfalls and the scenic beauty before offering worship to Lord Siva who appears in eight forms, Shashinaga, Rudra, Visweswara, Nagarikeswara, Bhargeswara, Rameswara, Mallikarjuna and Pakshamalika Linga

Temple priest K.Venkata Narasaiah said all arrangements had been put in place for celebrating the festival in a befitting manner. The facilities for the pilgrims had been augmented with walking track and metal road.

Meanwhile, APSRTC Regional Manager S.Adam Saheb told The Hindu: 380 special bus services would be operated to various Siva temples within the district and outside.

As many as 40 bus services each would be operated to especially to Bhairavakona from Kanigiri in Prakasam district and Udayagiri in neighouring Nellore district, he added.