Sringeri

Sringeri
ಶೃಂಗೇರಿ
Shringeri
taluk

Sri Vidyashankara temple (1342 AD) at Sringeri
Sringeri
Coordinates: 13°25′N 75°15′E / 13.42°N 75.25°E / 13.42; 75.25Coordinates: 13°25′N 75°15′E / 13.42°N 75.25°E / 13.42; 75.25
Country  India
State Karnataka
District Chikkamagaluru
Government
 • MLA D. N. Jeevaraj
Elevation 672 m (2,205 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 4,253
Languages
 • Official Kannada
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 577139
Telephone code 08265
Vehicle registration KA-18

Sringeri, also written as Shringeri is a hill town and taluka headquarters located in Chikkamagaluru district in the state of Karnataka, It is the site of the first maṭha (Sringeri Sharada Peeta) established by Adi Shankara, Hindu theologian and exponent of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, in the 8th century CE It is located on the banks of the river Tungā and also a historical Temple (1200 years).

Origin of the name

The name Sringeri is derived from Rishyashringa-giri, a nearby hill that is believed to have contained the hermitage 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.[1]

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

Sringeri is located at 13°25′N 75°15′E / 13.42°N 75.25°E / 13.42; 75.25.[2] It has an average elevation of 672 metres (2204 ft).

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census,[3] 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.

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

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 chettinadu style of temple architecture.[4]

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, mahapadama and stupi. The rest of the roof is made up of sloping channelled slab. The basement is elaborately sculpted with animals, puranic stories, Siva, Vishnu, Dasavatara, 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 Mahaswamigal 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.[5][6][7][8]

Temples of Guardian deities

Adi Shankara with disciples, by Raja Ravivarma, 1904

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

Loads of fishes in Tunga River

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 is Shri Bharati Tirtha and the successor of srigeri sharada math was erected recently by mahasannidhanam jagadguru bharathi theertha mahaswamy who is sannidhanam jagadguru vidushekhara bharathi mahaswami.

Sri Shankara Temple at Sringeri

Zodiac Pillars

The twelve pillars in the Vidyashankar temple are popularly known as Rashistambhas (zodiacal 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 zodiacal symbol on the pillar corresponding to the position of the sun.

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. It is situated at a distance of 86 kilometres from Chikkamagaluru by road. Chikkamagaluru is connected to Bengaluru and other cities through road and a rail line via Kadur. Sringeri can also be reached from Mangaluru which is at distance of 105 kilometers by road via Karkala. Udupi is also at distance of 80 kilometres via Hebri and Agumbe. The nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport at Mangalore.

References

  1. ↑ "The legend of Rishyasringa". Sringeri Sharada Peeta. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
  2. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Sringeri
  3. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  4. ↑ "Sri Sharadamba Temple". Sringeri Sharada Peeta. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
  5. ↑ http://www.sringeri.net/temples/sri-vidyashankara|accessdate= 2015-03-15|
  6. ↑ "Sri Vidyashankara Temple". Sringeri Sharada Peeta. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
  7. ↑ "Zodiacal pillars of Sringeri" (PDF). Current Science. Indian Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2006-03-25.
  8. ↑ "Vidyashankara Temple". Indiantemples.com. Retrieved 2006-11-07.

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