Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham - Sringeri

Sringeri – one of the four sacred institutions established by great Âdi Sankara, centuries ago, to promote the growth of Sanâtana Dharma (Eternal Virtue of Hinduism). Its main temple is that of Siva who’s called Candramoulîsvara and also has a temple for Goddess Sarasvatî who’s called Sâradâ.
Adi Shankaracharya is said to have stayed here for twelve years and selected the site as a place to stay and teach his disciples. He established the first Shankara Mutt (out of the four Shankar Mutts in India) which is popularly known as the Jagadguru Sri Shankaracharya Mutt of Sringeri or Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetam.

Sri Sharadamba Temple

The ancient temple of Sri Sharada, the presiding deity of Sringeri has a glorious history that begins with the setting up of the Dakshinamnaya Peetham by Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada. Originally it was an unpretentious shrine with the Murti of Sharada made of sandalwood, installed over the Sri Chakra that Sri Adi Shankara carved on a rock. Subsequently Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha and Sri Vidyaranya had a temple built in the Kerala style, with timber and tiled roof. Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha substituted the sandalwood idol with the present golden idol.


A form of the goddess of learning, Saraswati, Sharadambal is the main deity revered by the gurus of Sringeri…. This is a comparatively recently-built temple, the original one being first a simple shrine with the deity and later enlarged by successive gurus. The present temple is a beautiful one, with the idol being even more beautiful….. On Fridays, she is decorated as Saraswati with the Veena in her hand, and it is a sight to behold!

Few Words From Guruji Sri Narendra Babu Sharma:
For Success in Education, Offer Aksharabhyas Seva for goddess Sharadamba, by offering 1000 varahas i.e 1000 Rupees.

Darshan Timings:
Morning - 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Evening - 5:00 PM to 9.00 PM

Sri VidyaShankara temple

The Vidyashankara Temple built in the 14th century (1338)is dedicated to Lord Shiva . The temple stands almost at the entrance to the River Tunga and is an architectural marvel. A fusion of Hoysala, Chalukya, Vijaynagar and Dravidian styles, this temple was built by the pontiff, Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha Acharya, as a tribute to his Guru, the 10th Acharya, Sri Vidyatirtha during the reign of the brothers ,Harihara and Bukka, the founders of the Vijaynagar empire. His brother and succeeding Acharya Sri Vidyaranya was the Guru of the Vijaynagar Empire, founded in 1336 which had its capital in Hampi.




The temple has twelve pillars adorned with sculptures and they represent the twelve zodiac signs and it is said that they are placed in such a way that the rays of the sun fall on each of them in the order of the calender or the twelve solar months.One cannot miss the stone rings that hang in the shrine which is seen in most monuments built during the Vijaynagar period. The sculptures on the ceilings, walls and even the floor are all depictions of the various puranas . Another temple is said to be buried beneath this temple and there is a story around it .




Sri Vidyatirtha was the reigning Acharya in the 13th century when two brothers from Ekasilanagaram or today's Warangal came to meet him. While the younger brother renamed as Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha stayed with him, the older, Sri Vidyaranya travelled to spread the doctrines .Sri Vidyatirtha wanted to meditate and he explained to Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha that his body would assume the shape of Chaturmurti Vidyeshwara after twelve years of yoga.

An underground chamber was excavated near the bank of the river Tunga and the pontiff went into meditation with the instruction that no one should open the door for twelve years .After three years, when Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha was away, the attendants out of curiosity opened the chamber only to see that the body was no longer there, but there was a linga in its place . Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha was upset over the incident , but he received a message from his Guru to build a temple there and call it the Vidyashankara temple .Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha succeeded Sri Vidyatirtha as the next Acharya and he was followed by his brother, Sri Vidyaranya.

The river Tunga

Narasimha Vanam

The other side of the bridge is in total contrast to the city-side. Here, the area has been allowed to grow wild in a controlled manner, and normally, one finds peacocks and deer in plenty. Now, though they have been moved to a safer area for the monsoon, it is here that one can see nature at its best – this place is called ‘Narasimha Vanam’




The Guru Nivas…… it is here that the Acharya gives darshan every morning and evening, and it is here that her himself performs the puja every night. This puja begins at 8:30 PM and lasts till 10:30PM, but it well worth the effort of staying awake late..

At last comes the Story behind Sringeri:


Tradition has it that after the Acharya had dispersed all the non-Vedic creeds prevailing in the country, He was on the look-out for a convenient and holy place where he could establish an institution to spread the truths of Advaita Vedanta. When the Acharya came to Sringeri, he saw an unusual sight on the banks of the Tunga. A cobra was seen spreading out its hood over a frog in labour pains, to give it shadow from the scorching mid-day sun. Struck with the sanctity of the place, which could infuse love between natural adversaries, the Acharya chose this very location to establish His first Math.

How to reach Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham - Sringeri
Sringeri, one of the foremost Shakthi Sthalas of India, lies in the Western Ghats in Karnataka, 150 km from Mangalore and 350 km from Bangalore

By Bus:
The KSRTC (State Owned Transport) operates buses from all major cities to Shringere and Shimoga. Tickets can be booked from online vendors, KSRTC offices or online at www.ksrtc.in There are also a good number of buses and private transport from Shimoga town to Shringeri.

By train
Shimoga or Kadur is the nearest railway stations and is linked to Bangalore. An alternate town is Koppa. The Shimogha Express (Train Number : 6227) runs from Bangalore to Shimoga. The train departs from Bangalore (Station Code : SBC) at 2340 hrs and arrives at Shimoga, next day at 0513 hrs. The train can also be boarded in Bangalore at Yeshwantpur and Malleswaram.

A similar train - Bangalore Express (Train Number : 6228) departs Shimoga (Station Code: SME) at 2205 hrs and arrives at Bangalore (Station Code : SBC) at 0500 hrs next day. Both trains run on all days in a week.

By Plane / Nearest Aiport
The nearest airport is Mangalore (110km from Sringeri). Deccan / Kingfisher / Jet operate this route from Bangalore. Ticket costs range between INR 1800 - 2500. You can take a bus or hire a private taxi to reach Sringeri.

Sri Sharada Temple - Sringeri Info:
The Administrator
Jagadguru Sri Shankaracharya Dakshinamanya
Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham
Sringeri - 577 139 ,
Chickmagalur District,
Karnataka, INDIA
Site:www.sringeri.net
Phone:
+91-8265-250123
+91-8265-250594
+91-8265-250192

+91 code prefix is required only for international calls originating out of India. 8265 is the STD prefix, required for all calls outside Sringeri.

Important Point From Guruji Sri Narendra Babu Sharma:
First Visit Sri Kudali Sringeri Shankaracharya Mahsamsthanam.
Then Visit Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham.
Sri Kudali Sringeri is the Moola Sthana of Goddess Sharadamba, this is reason behind visiting Sri Kudali Sringeri First.

Update: Difference Between Kudali Sringeri and Sringeri:
Kudali Sringeri:
Goddess Sharadha is in Yantra Swaruppa.
Here Goddess is Facing in North (Uttara) Direction.
Here Goddess idol is made up of stone.
Goddess Niluvaambha Sharadha Stays Here.

Sringeri:
Goddess Sharadha is in Mantra Swaruppa.
Here Goddess is Facing in East (Purva) Direction.
Here Idol of Goddess is not made up of Stone.
Only on occasion of Navarathri Goddess Sharadha Stays here.