Sringeri Sri Sharadamba Temple

Sringeri Sri Sharadamba Temple

Sri Sharadamba Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Saraswati on the banks of river Tunga in the holy town of Sringeri in

Chikkamagaluru district- Karnataka. Sri Adi Shankaracharya established Sringeri Sharada Peetha which is named after the great Rishi Rishyashringa.The prime deity of the temple is Sharadamba Devi.

The Sharadamba Temple (Shringa giri in Sanskrit) is an 8th-century temple, founded by Sri Adi Shankaracharya and initially he placed a sandalwood idol of Sharadamba 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.

Legend

Shankara 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 labour.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 Shankara is believed to have established one of the four major mutts. As per Hindu 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.

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.