Yogimallavaram Kala Bhairavar Temple Chittoor,Andhra Pradesh

Yogimallavaram Kala Bhairavar Temple (also known locally as Sri Parasareswara Swamy / Sri Kalabhairava Temple) stands in Yogimallavaram, just off Tiruchanur (Alamelumangapuram) near Tirupati, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh.

The temple’s main deity is Kala Bhairava, with sub-shrines for Mrityunjaya Swamy, Aishwarya Saneeswarar, Kubera Bhairava, and Dakshinamurthy, offering protection, prosperity, and wisdom to devotees.

Inscriptions found at the site are dated between the 11th and 13th centuries CE, and many sources describe the temple as ~1000 years old.

The temple’s main deity is Kala Bhairava, with sub-shrines for Mrityunjaya Swamy, Aishwarya Saneeswarar, Kubera Bhairava, and Dakshinamurthy, offering protection, prosperity, and wisdom to devotees.

Sthalapurana

Long ago, during the time of the Mahabharata, the Pandava prince Arjuna performed severe penance to obtain Lord Shiva’s most powerful weapon — the Pashupatastra.

Arjuna chose the forested region near present-day Tiruchanur for his meditation. He stood in deep austerities, focusing on Shiva alone. To test his devotion and valor, Lord Shiva appeared in disguise as a hunter (Mallu). At the same time, a wild boar (considered a demon in disguise) came charging toward Arjuna.

Both Arjuna and the hunter released arrows at the boar, and a quarrel arose over who killed it. A fierce fight broke out between Arjuna and the hunter. Arjuna fought bravely but was eventually overwhelmed. At that moment, he realized that the hunter was no ordinary man. With humility, he made a garland of wild flowers and placed it on the hunter’s head in surrender. To his wonder, the garland appeared on the head of the Shiva Lingam he had been worshipping.

Immediately, Lord Shiva revealed his true form along with Parvati and blessed Arjuna, granting him the powerful Pashupatastra.

Because of this event:

The place came to be known as Yogimallavaram — “Yogi” refers to Arjuna, who came here as a yogi to meditate, and “Mallu” refers to Shiva in the form of the hunter.

Lord Shiva was worshipped here as Parasareswara Swamy (as Sage Parasara is also believed to have worshipped Shiva here).

Over time, the worship of Kala Bhairava, the fierce guardian form of Shiva, also became prominent at this temple.

Thus, Yogimallavaram is considered a sacred site where both Arjuna’s penance and Shiva’s divine play (Leela) took place, and devotees believe worshipping Kala Bhairava here removes obstacles, grants courage, and protects them from negative forces.

Festivals

Maha Shivaratri is observed with special abhishekams and homams.Monthly Ashtami draws devotees for Kala Bhairava’s darshan and offerings.