About Sringeri
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The first Matha established by Adi Shankaracharya amidst the serene Tunga river.
Sringeri is a hill town located on the banks of the river Tunga. It is the site of the first Matha (Sharada Peetham) established by Adi Shankaracharya, the proponent of Advaita Vedanta. The town vibrates with vedic chants and spiritual energy.
History & Significance
Adi Shankaracharya was looking for a place to establish his first monastery. He reached the banks of the Tunga river and saw a strange sight: a cobra was spreading its hood to shelter a pregnant frog from the scorching sun. Struck by the harmony in this place where natural enemies protected each other, he decided to establish his Matha here.
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He installed a sandalwood idol of Goddess Sharadamba (Goddess of Learning). Later, the Vijayanagara rulers replaced it with a gold idol. The temple depicts the Dravidian style of architecture. Another marvel is the Vidya Shankara Temple, built in the 14th century, which combines Hoysala and Dravidian styles. It has 12 pillars representing the 12 zodiac signs; the sun's rays fall on the specific pillar corresponding to the solar month.