Sringeri Sharadhambal Temple, Karnataka :

Sringeri Sharadamba Temple is a renowned Hindu sanctuary devoted to the goddess Saraswati in Sringeri, Karnataka, India.

Sri Adi Shankaracharya established the Sringeri Sharada Temple in the eighth century. It housed a standing sandalwood sculpture of Shardamba introduced by Adi Shankaracharya until the fourteenth century when the Vijayanagara rulers and Sri Vidyaranya (twelfth Jagadguru) installed a situated gold sculpture of Sri Shardamba.

History :

The old temple of Sri Sharada, the presiding divinity of Sringeri, has a great history that starts with Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada’s foundation of the Dakshinamnaya Peetham. Initially, it was a basic holy place with the Murti of Sharada made of sandalwood introduced over the Sri Chakra cut on a stone by Sri Adi Shankara. Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha and Sri Vidyaranya consequently had a temple constructed in the Kerala style, with timber and tiled rooftop. The sandalwood idol was supplanted by the current golden icon by Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha.

Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati constructed the current design in stone, with cleaned rock walling around the sanctum, and Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati sanctified it in May 1916. Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha worked on the shrine in various ways. The Mahamandapam has gigantic stone columns perfectly cut with divinities like Durga, Raja Rajeshwari, Dwarapalakas, and Devis, all etched by Tamilnadu’s Shilpa Sastras. The Murti of Sri Sharada, purified by the love of Acharyas of the greatest virtue, loftiest dedication, and unmatched mantric powers, transmits grace and blessings.

The current Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal devoted a rupee one crore Golden chariot to Goddess Sharada in Sringeri in 1999. In the event of the Jagadguru’s brilliant celebration Vardhanthi (Birthday), brilliant entryways were introduced and initiated at the passage to the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Sharada temple. The gold entryway covering, is a great work of art. The figures of Ashta Lakshmi are engraved on the eight boards.

Festivals :

Consistently, the Navaratri is celebrated on a grand scale for 11 days, culminating in the Mahanavami day execution of Shathachandi Homa Poornahuti. Special Puja is performed in Sri Sharada Shrine on Chaitra Shukla Poornima. On Vaisaka Krishna Prathipath Mahabhishekam, a puja for Sri Sharadambal is performed. Deepotsava is held in Sri Sharada Shrine on Karthika Poornima. Lalitha Panchami is commended on Magha Shukla Panchami with a unique Puja performed by the Jagadguru to Sri Sharadamba. The Jagadguru plays out a Puja to Sri Sharadamba on Magha Krishna Dwitiya. Sri Sharadamba Rathotsava is seen on the Magha Tritiya.