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Sringeri Sharada Peetham
Dakshinamnaya Math of Adi Shankara · Sringeri, Karnataka
॥ ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः ॥
The Sringeri Sharada Peetham in Karnataka is the first of the four cardinal monasteries established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, and the southern (Dakshinamnaya) seat of his Advaita Vedanta tradition. Set on the bank of the Tunga river, it is home to the goddess Sharada — a form of Saraswati — and to an unbroken line of Jagadguru Shankaracharyas that has guided the math for more than twelve centuries.
What is the Sringeri Sharada Peetham?
Adi Shankaracharya, the philosopher who consolidated Advaita Vedanta, is held to have founded four mathas at the compass points of India to preserve his teaching. Sringeri is the southern seat, and tradition counts it as the first he established. The math is led by a Jagadguru in a guru-to-disciple succession that has continued unbroken; the present pontiff stands in a line reaching back to Shankara’s direct disciple, Sureshvaracharya.
Goddess Sharada and the Sharadamba temple
The presiding deity is Sharada, goddess of learning, worshipped as a form of Saraswati. Shankara is said to have first installed an image of Sharada in sandalwood; later the minister-sage Vidyaranya, in the 14th century, replaced it with the golden and granite image worshipped today. The Sharadamba temple is the devotional centre of Sringeri, and students and scholars come to seek the Goddess’s grace over learning.
The Vidyashankara temple and its zodiac pillars
The architectural marvel of Sringeri is the Vidyashankara temple, built around 1338 in memory of the guru Vidyashankara and blending Hoysala and early Vijayanagara styles. Its hall has twelve pillars carved with the signs of the zodiac, arranged so that the sun’s rays fall on the pillar of the current solar month — a stone calendar that doubles as a temple. The walls carry richly worked Hoysala-style reliefs.
Why Sringeri — the river that spared the frog
The name Sringeri comes from Rishyashringa-giri, the hill of the sage Rishyashringa, whose hermitage tradition places nearby. Shankara is said to have chosen the site after seeing a cobra spread its hood to shade a frog in labour on the riverbank — predator sheltering prey — a sign of the spot’s spiritual power. The Tunga river that runs past the math is praised in the saying that its water is as good to drink as Ganga water is to bathe in.
Navaratri and the life of the math
Navaratri, and especially the Sharada Puja, is the grandest festival at Sringeri, when the Goddess is worshipped through nine nights and the Jagadguru leads elaborate rituals. The math is also a centre of Vedic learning, running schools that teach Sanskrit, the Vedas and Advaita philosophy. Beyond Sringeri itself, the peetham oversees a network of temples and institutions across India.
How to reach Sringeri
- By road: Sringeri is about 90 km from Chikkamagaluru and roughly 100 km from Mangaluru, set in the Western Ghats and reached by well-kept hill roads.
- By rail: Mangaluru and Shivamogga are the nearest major railheads, each a few hours away by road.
- By air: Mangaluru International Airport is the closest, about 100 km away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sringeri Sharada Peetham?
It is the first of the four cardinal mathas founded by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century and the southern (Dakshinamnaya) seat of Advaita Vedanta. It is led by an unbroken line of Jagadguru Shankaracharyas and is dedicated to the goddess Sharada.
Who is the deity at Sringeri?
The presiding deity is Sharada, the goddess of knowledge and a form of Saraswati, worshipped in the Sharadamba temple. The current golden-and-granite image was installed by the sage Vidyaranya in the 14th century.
What is special about the Vidyashankara temple?
Built around 1338, the Vidyashankara temple has twelve pillars carved with the zodiac signs, positioned so the sun’s rays fall on the pillar of the current month. It combines Hoysala and Vijayanagara architecture and works as a stone calendar.
Who founded Sringeri and why there?
Adi Shankaracharya founded the math. Tradition says he chose Sringeri after seeing a cobra shading a frog in labour on the Tunga riverbank, a sign of the place’s spiritual harmony. The name comes from Rishyashringa-giri.
When is the main festival at Sringeri?
Navaratri, with the Sharada Puja over nine nights, is the grandest festival, led by the Jagadguru. It draws large gatherings to the Sharadamba temple in autumn.
How do I reach Sringeri Sharada Peetham?
Sringeri is about 90 km from Chikkamagaluru in the Western Ghats. The nearest airport and major railhead are at Mangaluru, roughly 100 km away, with good road connections.
॥ जय जगद्गुरु शंकराचार्य ॥ xE2x80xA2 Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Temple Name | Sringeri Sharada Peetham |
| Primary Deity | Sharada (Saraswati) |
| Location | Sringeri, Chikkamagaluru |
| State | Karnataka, India |
| Significance | First math of Adi Shankaracharya |
| Founded | 8th century (Adi Shankara) |
| Key Shrines | Sharadamba & Vidyashankara temples |
| Architecture | Hoysala–Vijayanagara |
| Key Festival | Navaratri (Sharada Puja) |
| River Nearby | Tunga |
| Nearest Airport | Mangaluru (~100 km) |
| Entry | Free |