Sringeri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthana Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peeta -(Sri Sharadamba Temple)

Address

Sringeri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthana Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peeta –

(Sri Sharadamba Temple),

Sringeri,

Karnataka 577139

Amman

Sharada Devi (Saraswati)

Introduction

Sri Sharadamba Temple is a famous temple dedicated to goddess Saraswati in the holy town of Sringeri in Karnataka, India. The Sharadamba Temple at Sringeri (Shringa giri in Sanskrit) is an 8th-century temple, founded by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. It housed a sandalwood statue of Shardamba in a standing posture, which was installed by Adi Shankarachaya until the Vijayanagara rulers and Sri Vidyaranya (12th Jagadguru) installed a seated gold statue of Sri Shardamba in the 14th century.

Puranic Significance

Sankara is believed to have envisioned this place as the holiest where a snake hooded as an umbrella to protect a pregnant frog from hot Sun during its labor. To commemorate this incident, a sculpture known as KAPPE SHANKARA is there on the footsteps to the river Tunga. This was the first place where Sankara is believed to have established one of the four major mutts. As per legend, the place is associated with sage Rishyasringa, son of Vibhandakamuni. He did severe penance at this place, leading to the name Sringeri. The temple was renovated during the regime of Vijayanagara Empire during the 14-16th centuries and later during 1916.

Beliefs

It is believed that Goddess Sharadambika is the incarnation of Goddess Saraswati, who came to Earth as Ubhaya Bharathi. It is a common faith that by worshiping her, one can receive blessings of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu along with Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.

The ritual of Aksharabhyasa performed here is considered to be sacred and fulfilling. The parents of kids in the age of 2-5 are given a slate and chalk or alternatively, a plate of rice on which they pray to Goddess Saraswati and the Guru to impart good knowledge and education to their children.

Special Features

It is believed that Lord Shiva gifted the crystal Chandramouleeshwara Linga to Sri Adi Shankaracharya. The Linga can still be visited and the Chandramouleeshwara Pooja is performed for the Linga every Friday night at 8:30 PM.

There are over 40 temples in Sringeri. Important ones are the Malahanikareshwara Temple on a small hillock called as Mallappa Betta. This is built on Dravidian style. There is one Bhavani Temple, SthamBha Ganapati (Ganesha on the piller). One of the best examples of temple architecture can be found in Sri Vidyashankara Temple which is next to Sri Sharadamba Temple. Janardhana Temple, Harihara Temple, Brindavana of past Jagadgurus at the Narasimha Vana is worth visiting. Kalabhairava Temple to the East, Durga Temple in the South, Anjaneya Temple to the West and Kali Temple to the North of Sringeri are also few important temples.

Festivals

The Saradambda temple and nearby structures additionally house a library, a Vedic school, a shrine for Adi Shankara, and other facilities of the monastery. It has been the historic epicenter of Sringeri’s annual Navaratri festival celebrations, as well as the chariot festival held in February or March every year. The temple also gives the site its name, with “Sarada peetha” meaning “seat of learning”