| Sringeri, 104 kms from Mangalore, is a well-known centre of pilgrimage situated on the banks of the river Tunga and at the foot of the Sahya Mountain - a part of the Western Ghats, in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. It is as sacred as Kashi, Rameshwaram, Puri, Dwaraka, Tirupathi, Srisailam, Srirangam, Pandharpur, Badrinath and Pashupathinath. This place is held in high esteem also because of the Maha samsthan of Jagadguru Sri Shankaracharya. |
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It is here that Sri Adi Shankarachrya, the exponent of the Advaita system of philosophy, established the first southern centre ("Sringeri Math") for propagating the Sanatana Dharma. Sharada being the Goddess worshipped here, this holy place is known as Sharada Peeth as Goddess Sharada is being worshipped here. While moving all over India, Sri Shankara selected a few places for establishing his spiritual centres. Sringeri is prominent amongst such places, the others being Puri, Dwaraka, Badrinath, Kashi and Kedarnath. Sri Shankara spent a longer period |
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| Sringeri is situated on the banks of the River Tunga amidst the scenic Western Ghats. It is located at a distance of 336 Kms from Bangalore and 107 km from Mangalore through Karkala. Adi Sankaracharya established the first of the four peethas here. |
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| Sringeri Mutt is known as Sringeri Sharda Peetham. Sharada Devi is the main deity in the Sharadamba temple, seated on a Chakra Peetham with a parrot perched on top of her hand and holding a Japa mala. Adi Shankaracharya had installed the original image of sandalwood and later on it was replaced with a golden image in 14th century. The mutt is in charge of the Yajur Veda. In South India Yajurveda is more prevalent. The head of the math is called Jagadguru (teacher of the world) and also carries the Shankaracharya name as a title. |
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| Every Friday Sharada Devi is taken for a procession in a silver chariot around the temple. |
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| When you enter the temple complex on the far side is the beautiful Vidyashankara temple, with a blend of Dravidian, Hoysala and Vijayanagar style architecture. It houses the vidyathirta linga. The temple was built in memory of Guru Vidyashankara in the 14th century with help Vijayanagar rulers. The twelve pillars in the Vidyashankar temple are popularly known as Rashistambhas (zodiacal pillars). |
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| Symbols of the twelve divisions of the zodiac are engraved on these pillars.It is said that the design of the pillars involved certain astronomical concepts. For example, the first rays of the rising sun fall on specific pillars with the zodiacal symbol on the pillar corresponding to the position of the sun. Sankara Jayanti is celebrated here with a lot of pomp and show. |
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| There are stone lions with stones in their mouth which can be rotated. |
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| Sringeri flourished as a great learning center and many temples and mutt's were built. Many students came here to learn vedic philosophy |
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| Adi Shankaracharya |
| The permanent charm of the name of Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada, the founder of the Sringeri Mutt, lies undoubtedly in the Advaita philosophy he propounded. It is based on the Upanishads and augmented by his incomparable commentaries. He wrote for every one and for all time. The principles, which he formulated, systematized, preached and wrote about, know no limitations of time and place. |
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| It cannot be denied that such relics of personal history as still survive of the great Acharya have their own value. It kindles our imagination to visualise him in flesh and blood. It establishes a certain personal rapport instead of a vague conception as an unknown figure of the past. |
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| Sringeri Sri Sharada Peetha |
| Sri Shankara Bagavathpada is the august founder of the Sringeri Sharada Pitha in Karnataka. To this day, the Pitha shines as beacon light to seekers of spiritual knowledge. At Sringeri, he saw a strange sight on the bank of River Tunga. A serpent was protecting a pregnant frog with its outstretched hood from Scorching heat of sun.Overwhelmed by the sight of vicious foes being compassionate friends on this land, he decided to establish the first Pitha at Sringeri. Here he spent 12 years teaching philosophy to his disciples. The serenity of sacred Sringeri is there for anyone to see even today. |
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| Festivals and Fairs |
| Sharada Navrathri festival is celebrated here for 11 Days. Sharada Devi is worshipped as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. |
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| How to reach |
Air : Mangalore is the nearest Airport.
Rail : The nearest railway station is Birur on the Bangalore - Pune railroad.
Road: Sringeri is well-connected by a network of roads. There are buses to Sringeri from everywhere in Karnataka. Sringeri is 336 Kms from Bangalore and 107 km from Mangalore
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