And Shri Sharadamba temple at Sringeri, Chikkamagalur district, Karnataka.
The small town of Sringeri is a popular pilgrimage centre featuring historic temples : the architecturally unique and magnificent Sri Vidyashankar Temple and Sri Sharadamba temple.
The small town of Sringeri, located amidst the lush green Malnad region of the Western Ghats, is one of the must visit places around Mangalore, Chikmagalur and Udupi.
Being one of the popular pilgrimage centres of Karnataka, it has the architecturally unique and magnificent Sri Vidyashankara Temple that incorporates the spectacular Hoysala, Chalukya and other South Indian styles of temple architecture, and Sri Sharadamba temple, which is also important to pilgrims.
| Place Details & Brief History | Our Visit to Sringeri
| Shri Vidyashankara Temple | Sharadamba Temple
| The marvellous Zodiacal Pillars of Vidyashankara Temple
| Tips for Travellers | Getting There & Transportation | Food & Accommodations | Best times to visit
| Location Map | Get Directions | Nearby Attractions
Brief History of Sringeri
The Sharada Peetham was established in Sringeri by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, a Hindu theologian and proponent of the the Advaita philosophy, in about 8th century CE.[1] He installed an image of Godess Sharada and began the propagation of his philosophy. Now, Sharadamba temple exists at this place.[2]
Sringeri temple enclosure houses the Sharada Peetham, with the Sharada Temple of historical significance and pilgrimage. It also houses the historical and architecturally unique Vidyashankar Temple.
It is located on the banks of the river Tunga. Shri Adi Shankaracharya also established mathas in all four corners - the north, south, east and west of India.
Our Trip to Sringeri
Starting from Mangalore, passing by Moodabidri and Karkala, then through the lush green surroundings and the blissful and misty Western Ghats, early morning in the rainy season, we arrived at Sringeri.
The hilly Western Ghat regions of Karnataka is also known as Malenadu (or Malnad, in anglicised form). Malenadu essentially means "land of mountains" in Kannada.
Leaving our footwear at the stands, we entered into the temple compound. As we went in walking, the entrance to Sharada Temple was on the right, and we could see the Shri Vidyashankar Temple straight ahead, beside the river Tunga.
Shri Vidyashankara Temple of Sringeri
Shri Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri is one of the magnificent temple architectures found in India, beautifully built entirely out of carved stone in around 1338 CE [3], in the memory of Guru Vidyashankara, by Vidyaranya who had headed the Sringeri Sharada peetha from 1331 CE to 1386 CE and played an important role in establishing the glorious Karnata Samrajya, better known as the great Vijayanagara Empire.
This splendid temple was built with the aid of the Vijayanagara rulers, combining different temple architectural styles of the time, such as, the Hoysala, Chalukya, and Dravida or Dravidian styles. This temple is a magnificent work of art in the form of architecture.
Shri Vidya Shankara Temple in Sringeri, is a centrally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
This temple is undoubtedly one of the fine monuments full of beautifully carved sculptures, and featuring a unique style, which looks like Hoysala, if you see the walls and the jagati or raised platform on which it stands, which can be used for circumambulation (pradakshina).
This temple has curved sides like some temples in Coastal Karnataka or Kerala, or like the Chalukya era Durga Temple at Aihole.
The peak (shikhara or a vimana) of the temple features a different style altogether, with three small storeys. The walls will certainly remind you of the temples at World Heritage site of Hampi, the capital city of Vijayanagara.
It is a unique and beautiful combination of different styles of Indian temples, South Indian temple architecture to be more specific, a combination which probably isn’t found anywhere else.
The outer walls feature relief sculptures of various scenes from the puranas (Hindu mythology), with animals like lions, elephants and horses, people leading horses or elephants, sculpted all around the lower part of the wall that is actually an upper raised section on which the temple stands.
The rear side of the temple features the Dashavatara (Ten avataras or incarnations of Lord Vishnu).
You can see such warring elephants, horses, and similar scenes in the lower part of the walls of several temples, such as, for example the temples in the World Heritage site of Hampi Vijayanagara, Hoysala temples, etc. You can also see such relief sculptures even on the remnants of the massive Mahanavami Dibba at Hampi-Vijayanagara.
After spending a while observing and admiring the splendid exteriors, we went inside the temple, which is even delightfully splendid.
The marvellous Zodiacal Pillars of Vidyashankara Temple
The twelve zodiacal pillars (called raashi-stambhas) inside the temple hall, on which are carved the twelve signs of the zodiac, are arranged in such a way that rays from the rising sun fall on each of them, in the order of the twelve zodiac.
For example, if the Sun is now located in the constellation Capricorn (Makara Raashi), then the rays fall on the pillar with the Capricorn symbol.
Unfortunately we do not have pictures of them as photography is prohibited inside the temple. So, let me emphasise on words this time.
The floor has an elevated circle, which can be typically found in Hoysala and some of Vijayanagar styled temples. This is however marked with converging lines which is said to indicate the direction of the shadows when the sunlight falls on the Zodiac pillars.
The intricately carved ceiling shows excellent craftsmanship, which is also usually found in Hoysala or Vijayanagar styled temples.
Straight ahead, to the west, inside the temple, the garbhagriha or the main sanctum, houses the Hindu God Vidya Ganapati on one side and Goddess Durga on the other.
This temple is functional even today and photography is not allowed inside.
Tunga Riverbank
This temple lies on the banks of River Tunga. We spent some time feeding puffed rice to the fishes here.
Lot of fishes come on the river edge, where the devotees feed it with puffed rice. They are said to be sacred fish, you are not supposed to catch it.
Sringeri Sharada Temple
As mentioned earlier, Shri Adi Shankaracharya installed the image of the Sharada, or Sharadamba, the goddess of knowledge, and built a shrine here.
The originally modest shrine had an image of the goddess made of sandalwood. The temple was later built of wood, in the Southern Indian style with tiled roof. It was renovated with the current granite structure, with polished granite outer walls surrounding it in May 1916 CE.
The main hall of this temple has huge stone pillars with carved deities on them. This temple does not feature much architectural style and intricate carvings or designs like the Vidyashankara temple, but is important to the devotees and pilgrims.
Panoramic View of Sringeri Temples
Sri Vidyashankara Temple to the left, and Sri Sharadamba Temple to the right.View Larger Map
Tips for Travellers
Some useful information:
Vidyashankar Temple Timings:
7:00 AM to 1:00 PM
5:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Rest of the time, the temple remains closed, but you can see it from the outside.Sharadamba Temple Timings:
6:00 AM to 2:00 PM
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM- Footwear has to be left outside, before you enter the temple compound in the footwear stand. Better go as early as possible in the morning, as the entire area is paved with stones, and walking on those heated stones later in the day will bake your bare feet.
- The place is sacred to the believers and pilgrims. Do not consume alcohol, smoke or non-vegetarian food nearby the temple area and create nuisance. Also, fishing is prohibited in this area.
Food & Accommodations:
There aren’t a great many restaurants for food here. Sringeri is a small town. We had some food and tea in one of the small "hotel" restaurant. That was good enough for us. (The food joints or restaurants will be named "Hotel" in most places this side. Don't confuse this "Hotel" to a Hotel that provides accommodation.)
Decent accommodation is provided at the Guest Houses run by the Sringeri Temple administration for the pilgrims and devotees. Here, accommodations are allotted on first come - first serve basis, and advance booking is not entertained.
Also, traditional South Indian food is served everyday in the afternoon and at night, in the temple premises itself for the pilgrims and visitors. This serving of traditional vegetarian food as a service to devotees (Annadaanam)exists in most of the famous temples of this side, for example Horanadu, Kollur, Dharmasthala, etc.
There aren't many places to stay nearby. The place is sacred to the believers, and alcohol, smoking, non-vegetarian food are prohibited in Sringeri Temple guest houses and most other lodges around.
You can also travel to Sringeri as a part of your trip or tour when you are at Mangalore, Udupi or Chikmagalur which have several good accommodations.
Transportation:
There are a good number of buses that ply to Sringeri from Mangalore, Udupi, Chikmagalur, etc. Hiring a cab or some 4 wheeler is a good option, as you can easily cover other nearby places of attractions worth visiting.
Sringeri is about 87 kms from Chikkamagaluru town, 108 kms from Mangalore (via Karkala), 81 kms from Udupi (via Agumbe route), and about 95 kms from Udupi via Karkala route.
See below map for various routes and directions.Best times to visit
During the winter, between October to February or March, before the summer heat begins. If you simply love the monsoon rains, go ahead in rainy season (around June to September).
Keep an eye on the weather in the rainy season, as just like the remaining parts of the great Western Ghats mountain range, this Malenad region of it receives very heavy rainfall in the monsoon. Ghat section roads this time may be bad or get closed due to landslides and bad weather.
Navaratri festival is grandly celebrated in Sringeri every year. It usually falls on the month of October. Check this year’s calendar for the exact dates, if you are interested in the cultural activities.
Location Map for Sringeri
View Sringeri Directions in a larger map
Directions to Sringeri and nearby places of interests map
View Sringeri Directions in a larger map
Nearby Attractions
- Agumbe – The sunset view point in Agumbe at an elevation of 643 m (2,110 ft) is a very popular spot.
- Chikkamagalur district features lush green mountains, waterfalls and landscapes. Mullayyanagiri, Kemmannugundi, Baba budangiri, Bhadra wildlife and river camps are some of the major attractions. It also has some fine Hoysala Temples, for example the Amrutesvara Temple at Amruthapura.
- If you are interested in pilgrimage, then there are several popular pilgrimage temples of importance nearby, like Horanadu Annapurneshwari Temple, Kalasa Temple, Kollur Mookambika temple, etc.
Have a look at the above map, where we have added some of the Places of interests in and around Sringeri, for your convenience. We will eventually add the places to the map which aren't listed currently.
References:[2] Sri Sharadamba on the Sringeri Sharada Peetham Website
[3] Sri Vidyashankara on the Sringeri Sharada Peetham Website
Some useful External Links for further reading:
[2] Pilgrim Facilities on sringeri.net, the Sringeri Sharada Peetham Website