Sringeri

Origin of the name

The name Sringeri is derived from Rishyashringa-giri, a nearby hill that is believed to have contained the heritage of Rishi Vibhandaka and his son Rishyashringa. Rishyashringa appears in an episode in the Bala-Kanda of the Ramayana where a story, narrated by Vasishtha, relates how he brought rains to the drought-stricken kingdom of Romapada.

Legend

According to legend, Adi Shankaracharya is said to have selected the site as the place to stay and teach his disciples, because when he was walking by the Tunga river, he saw a cobra with a raised hood, providing shelter from the hot sun, to a frog about to spawn. Impressed with the place where natural enemies had gone beyond their instincts, he stayed here for twelve years. Adi Shankaracharya also established mathas in the northern (at Jyotirmath, near Badrinath), eastern (at Puri) and western (at Dwaraka) quarters of India.

Geography and Climate

Sringeri is located at 13.42°N 75.25°E / 13.42; 75.25. It has an average elevation of 672 metres (2204 ft).

Sringeri experiences a Tropical monsoon climate under the Köppen climate classification.

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census, Sringeri had a population of 4253. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Sringeri has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 86%, and female literacy is 79%. In Sringeri, 8% of the population is under 6 years of age. Kannada is spoken by the majority of the people, but Tulu is also spoken by a minority in the town mainly by those coming from Udupi region.

Places of interest

Sringeri is home to a number of historic temples. Of these, Sri Sharadamba temple and Sri Vidyashankara temple and parshwanath jain temple are very prominent.Other historic temples nearby are Hornadu, Kollur and Kalasa.

Sharadamba Temple

The Sharada temple, dedicated to the Goddess of learning and wisdom, has grown from a simple shrine dating to the time of Adi Shankaracharya. In the fourteenth century, Vidyaranya is said to have replaced the old sandalwood image with a stone and gold image. The temple structure itself continued to be made of wood till the early 20th century. After an unexpected fire that damaged the structure, the current structure was built in the traditional south Indian style of temple architecture.

Vidyashankara Temple

The Vidyashankara temple was built in commemoration of the pontiff Vidyashankara, around 1357-58 C.E.. It was built by Vidyaranya, patron-saint of Harihara and Bukka, the brothers who founded the Vijayanagara empire. The niches in the temple have a number of sculptures from Hindu mythology. Inscriptions in the temple record contributions made by several Vijayanagara emperors but the temple was probably built on an earlier Hoysala site as it combines Hoysala and Vijayanagara architectural features. The temple architecture is also an exhibition of the astronomical expertise of medieval south Indian temple builders. The main temple hall features 12 pillars designated for the 12 signs of the zodiac. Windows and doors along the temple walls are arranged such that equinoxes sunrise views reach the deity. The northern and southern gates enable the sunrise view from the hall during solstices. The Vidyashankara Temple was built in the year 1338 A.D. It is a unique monument built entirely of stone combining both Hoysala (Chalukya) and Dravidian architectural styles. The structure stands on a high plinth and commands a magnificent view from the hills and their slopes all round. It is more or less a rectangle with apisidal east-west ends. On the western side is the Garbhagriha, with Vidya Ganapati on one side and Durga on the other side of the entrance. On the other three sides of the Garbhagriha are shrines to Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara with their consorts. In the eastern half of the structure is a mantapa with twelve pillars, huge monoliths carrying large figures and carrying heavy projecting corbels on top. These twelve pillars are marked by the twelve signs of the zodiac in their regular order, and arranged in such a manner that the rays of the sun fall on each of them in the order of the twelve solar months. On the floor is a large circle, marked with converging lines to indicate the direction of the shadows. The central ceiling is an exquisite piece of workmanship with lotus and pecking parrots. The vimana over the Garbhagriha rises magnificently with shikhara, mahapadma and stupa. The rest of the roof is made up of sloping channelled slab. The basement is elaborately sculpted with animals, puranic stories, Shiva, Vishnu, Dashavatara, Kali, Shanmukha and so on. From the caves of the corners of the central hall chains of stone rings hang which is a common feature of the Vijayanagar period.

To the student of Hindu iconography, this temple is a veritable store house of sculpture. The meditation of the Linga (Vidya Shankara Linga) in the sanctum and other Murtis will lead to Divine realization.

Vidyatirtha Rathotsava is celebrated on a grand scale during kartika Shukla paksha. The festival spans for seven days from Tritiya to Navami. On the Saptami day His Holiness Jagadguru Bharathi Teertha Mahaswamiji performs special Puja. Also the Aradhana of Sri Vidya Shankara is performed on shasti, saptami and ashtami. This temple is under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India owing to its architectural marvel.

Sri Parshwanath Swamy Basadi

Sri Parshwanath Basadi (Digambar Jain Temple) is situated in the heart of Sringeri Town. This basadi was built in the memory of Mari Setty whose origin goes to one Vijayanagara Shanthi Shetty of Nidugodu village near Belur. The date of construction comes to about 1150 A.D. The main temple is 50 feet long and 30 feet wide. Completely built of stone it has a slooped roof. The Basadi consists of Garbhagriha, Sukhanasi, Navaranga, Mukha Mandapa and Pradakshina Patha.

In the Garbhagriha, there is the idol of Sri Parshwanatha Swamy presiding deity made of black stone. It is one foot high and on its base, the words Srimathparisanathaya Namaha are inscribed. Generally a single cobra holds its hood over the Lord’s head. But here, the speciality is that a pair of cobras intertwined hold their seven hoods like an umbrella. Hence this deity is known as Jodi Parshwanatha Swamy.

In the sukhanasi the idol of Goddess Padmavati is kept. It is about nine inches in height and is made of black stone. Besides this, the beauty of the Sukhanasi is enhanced by the Jina images of marble, sphatika, black stone and the bronze images of 24 tirthankaras in the Gandhakuti and by the beautiful idols of Brahma, Saraswathi, Ganadharas, etc.

Sirimane Falls

Sirimane falls is situated at a distance of 12 km from Sringeri. Visitors can visit the place by two wheelers and small vehicles like Car, Jeep and Suvs. No public transport is available to Sirimane falls. However limited number of buses from Sringeri town till Kigga are available. Kigga is located 5 km away from the falls. One can Hire vehicles from Sringeri to visit Sirimane falls.

Hanumanagundi Falls

Hanumanagundi falls also known as Soothanabbi falls is located on the way to Horanadu Via Kudremukh. Distance between Sringeri and the waterfalls is 36 km. Waterfalls lies inside Kudremukh National forest which is famous for Shola Forests. Gangamoola the birthplace of Tunga, Bhadra and Netravati rivers also lies in this region.

Temples of Guardian Deities

Sri Adi Shankara had constructed four temples on the four sides of the sringeri village.

Sri Malahanikareshwara Temple

This is located at the centre of the Sringeri town.

Sringeri Sharada Peeta

The Sringeri matha is known as Sringeri Sharada Peetha. It is one of the four Hindu Advaita maths established by Adi Shankaracharya. It is also referred to as Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada peetam. Following the tradition initiated by Adi Shankaracharya, the maţha is in charge of the Yajur Veda (the Krishna (Black) Yajurveda is more prevalent in South India, over which the maţha has authority in the Smarta tradition).The head of the matha is called Jagadguru (teacher to the world) and also carries the Shankaracharya name as a title. The present Sringeri Shankaracharya Shri Bharati Tirtha has nominated Jagadguru Vidhushekhara Bharathi Mahaswami as his successor.

Rashi Stambhas

The twelve pillars in the Vidyashankara temple are popularly known as Rashi Stambhas (Zodiac Pillars). Symbols of the twelve divisions of the zodiac are engraved on these pillars. The temple is an architectural marvel. Among the many delicate carvings, lions that are engraved in biped positions on the pillars may be mentioned. There are stone balls inside the growling faces of the lions and they can be moved inside their mouths. 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 zodiac symbol on the pillar corresponding to the position of the sun.

How to Reach

Sringeri can also be reached from Mangalore which is at distance of 105 kilometers by road via Karkala. KSRTC operates AC and Non AC luxury buses from Bengaluru. Other travels like SRS and Sugama operate buses from Bengaluru. Sringeri is situated at a distance of 86 kilometres from Chikmagalur by road. Chikkamagaluru is connected to Bengaluru and other cities through road and a rail line via Kadur.

It is 95 km from Shimoga which is connected to Bengaluru through Bus and Rail routes. Private buses are operated from Sringeri to Shimoga with good frequency.

Udupi is at distance of 80 km via Hebri and Agumbe. The nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport at Mangalore.

Where to Stay

Best time to Visit

Since Sringeri is situated in the Malnad region, the best time to visit is between October and March.