Sri
Sharadamba Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Saraswati in
the holy town of Sringeri.
The
Sharadamba Temple at Sringeri (Shringa
giri in Sanskrit) is an 8th-century temple, founded by Sri Adi
Shankaracharya. It housed a sandalwood statue of Shardamba 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
Sankara
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 Sankara 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.
Significance of the Sringeri Temple
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. The parents of kids
in the age of 2-5 are given a slate and chalk or alternatively, a plate of rice.
They pray to Goddess Saraswati and the Guru to impart good knowledge and
education to their children.
Temples in Sringeri
There
are over 40 temples in Sringeri. Important ones are the Malahanikareshwara
Temple on a small hillock called as Mallappa
Betta. This is built on Dravidian style. There is one Bhavani Temple, Sthambha Ganapati (Ganesha on the
piller). One of the best example of temple architecture can be found in Sri
Vidyashankara Temple which is next to Sri Sharadamba Temple. Janardhana Temple,
Harihara Temple, Brindavana of past Jagadgurus at the Narasimha Vana are worth visiting. Kalabhairava Temple to the East,
Durga Temple in the South, Anjaneya Temple to the West and Kali Temple to the
North of Sringeri are also few important temples.
History
Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada established the first
of the four Amnaya Peethas at
Sringeri more than twelve centuries ago to foster the sacred tradition of Sanatana Dharma. Hallowed for all times
by Sage Rishyashringa who stayed and performed Tapas here, Sringeri attracted
the great Acharya with a remarkable sight. Tradition has it that after the
Acharya had dispersed all the non-Vedic creeds prevailing in the country. He
was on the look-out for a convenient and holy place where he could establish an
institution to spread the truths of Advaita Vedanta. The Madhaviya Shankara Digvijayam describes that the Acharya came
across many virtuous people at Sringeri and taught them the doctrine of Advaita. He then invoked the Divinity of
Knowledge, Goddess Sharada and consecrated an icon of the Goddess. Thus the Peetha
He founded at Sringeri came to be known as the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetha.
The Acharya appointed his prime disciple, Sri
Sureshwaracharya as the first Acharya of the Peetha. Since then, the Peetha has
been blessed with an unbroken Guru Parampara, a garland of spiritual masters
and Jivanmuktas representing Sri Adi
Shankaracharya.
The Throne of Transcendental Wisdom
Besides being a centre of spiritual power, Sringeri also
came to be known as a great place of traditional learning owing to the presence
of Goddess Sharada and the erudition of the Acharyas of the Peetha. The
Acharyas were instrumental in bringing forth commentaries on the Vedas and in
further expounding the Bhashyas of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. The Acharyas also
wrote a number of independent works related to Advaita besides producing a
number of hymns underlining their ardent devotion to the non-dual Supreme
worshipped in multifarious forms. The Peetha thus came to be regarded as the Vyakhyana Simhasana, The Throne of
Transcendental Wisdom. Consequently, the Birudavali
hails the Acharya as the occupier of this throne. Many regard Goddess Sharada
Herself to be moving in the form of the presiding Acharya of the Peetha.
In the 14th century, royal patronage to the Peetha began
with the founding of the famous Vijayanagar empire under the divine guidance of
the 12th Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Vidyaranya. Over the succeeding centuries, a
number of empires and rulers including the Mysore Maharajahs Hyder Ali and Tipu
Sultan, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Peshwas and the Keladi rulers and
Travancore Rajas were drawn towards the Peetha.
Today, the Sringeri Sharada Peetha bedecked with an unbroken chain of Acharyas continues to uphold the principles of Sanatana Dharma.
Originally it was an unpretentious shrine with the Murti of Sharada made of sandalwood,
installed over the Sri Chakra that
Sri Adi Shankara carved on a rock. Sanctified by the worship of an unbroken
succession of Acharyas of the highest purity, loftiest devotion and unsurpassed
mantric powers, the Murti of Sri
Sharada radiates grace and blessings.
In the year 1999, the present Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri
Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal, dedicated to Goddess Sharada a Golden chariot at
Sringeri. On the event of golden jubilee Vardhanthi (Birthday) of the
Jagadguru, golden doors were installed at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum
of Sri Sharada temple. The gold covering to the door with eight panels have the
figures of Ashta Lakshmi inscribed on them.
Festivals
Navaratri festival is celebrated on a grand scale every year for 11 days with Shathachandi Homa Poornahuti performed on the Mahanavami day. On the Chaitra Shukla Poornima day, special Puja is performed in Sri Sharada Shrine. On Vaisaka Krishna Prathipath Mahabhishekam and special pooja is done for Sri Sharadambal. On Karthika Poornima day Deepotsava is conducted in Sri Sharada Shrine. On the Magha Shukla Panchami, Lalitha Panchami is celebrated with special Puja performed to Sri Sharadamba by the Jagadguru. On the Magha Krishna Dwithiya special Puja to Sri Sharadamba is performed by the Jagadguru. On the Magha Trithiya Sri Sharadamba Rathotsava is celebrated.