Sringeri

Karnataka > Chikmagalur > Sringeri

Sringeri is one of four centres in India where Acharya Shankara founded his Mathas. The place in Chikmagalur district is 334 km. away from Bangalore and is a taluk headquarter. Sringeri has an old Parshwanatha basadi. There is the Sharadamba temple ascribed to Acharya Shankara and the magnificent Vidyashankara temple on the banks of the Tunga river, built during the 14th century. It has 12 pillars inside called Rashikambhas and sun's rays fall on a specific pillar in the morning on each solar month. There is the Sachchidananda Vilasa Ashrama, the Kalabhairava temple, and temples built in memory of Narasimha Bharati and Chandrashekara Bharati, the previous pontiffs. The Sringeri Matha grew to be jahgir as Vijayanagara, Mysore, and other families made munificient grants. Tipu also made liberal donations to the matha. Sringeri is a quiet serene place with many guest houses for visitors. It is a centre of Samskrit Learning also.