Religion is closely associated with the history and culture of Sringeri. From times immemorial it has been the abode of several well-known sages. The celebrated sage Adi Sankaracharya`s matha is located here. It is also considered the birthplace of Rishyasringa, a sage. Throughout India Shankaracharya had established four mathas throughout India. One of these is located here. Sarada Peetham was established in the 1st millennium. Here the idol of Sarada is seen with a Sri Chakra.
The sage also popularized the philosophy of non-dualism. The primary idol in this temple is the Sphatika-linga. According to an anecdote this linga was handed over to Shankaracharya by Lord Shiva. The sage had contributed a great deal to the Bhakti Movement in India. The backdrop of the temple comprise of Tunga River. It adds more beauty and serenity to the holy place.
Another must see temple in Sringeri is the Vidyashankara Temple. This temple was built as a reminiscent for saint Vidyashankara who once looked after the Sarada Math. His profound knowledge was the key source behind the evolution of the Vijayanagara Dynasty. The Vijayanagara kings, hence, built a temple to show their reverence for the great teacher. Several idols have been placed inside the Vidyashankara Temple in Sringeri. The ruby idols of Venugopala, Srinivasa and Nandi are also installed within this temple. Inscriptions containing contributions from Vijayanagara rulers are also to be found here.
The temple is a living testimony of an amalgamated architectural design of Hoysala and Dravidian. The base on which it stands is a sculptured one. There are six doors to enter the temple. The 12 pillars in the mandap are called the Raasi pillars. They are arranged in such a way that the sun`s rays fall on each of them during the solar month. The columns are adorned with lions that are posed with rolling stone balls in their mouths. There are also 61 carved images inspired from the Puranas that reflect the craftsmanship of ancient India. In this temple Buddha is depicted as Lord Vishnu.
The Janardana Temple possesses an idol of Adi Shankaracharya. According to legends Rishyasringa attained salvation at this place. The town is believed to have been named after him. As travelers one will also come across the brindavanam of Sureshwaracharya.
Sringeri in Karnataka primarily is a temple town but the best part about this city is its exquisite beauty. Situated by the banks of a river it provides the perfect spot for introspection and peace. Sringeri lies in the district of Chikmagalur and is accessible from Bangalore by road. Train services from Mangalore and Shimoga are available too. The nearest airport would be that of Mangalore.
