Sri Malahanikareshwara
Front view of Sri Malahanikareshwara Temple
नमो गौरीशाय स्फटिकधवलांगाय च नमो
नमो लोकेशाय स्तुतविबुधलोकाय च नमः ।
नमः श्रीकण्ठाय क्षपितपुरदैत्याय च नमो
नमः फालाक्षाय स्मरमदविनाशाय च नमः ॥
Steps leading to the temple
In the heart of the town of Sringeri is the temple of Sri Malahanikareshwara on the top of a hillock, which can be reached by a flight of about hundred and fifty steps. The structure is a fine piece of architecture with figures of Narasimha, Virabhadra and so on. On the ceiling is carved a lotus bud.
The linga that was worshipped by the Paramarishi Vibhandaka son of Kashyapa is known as Sri Malahanikaresvara(destroyer of the impurities of the soul) and is worshipped even today.
He did penance here, had the vision of the Lord and united the Lord in the Linga and disappeared from the mortal world.
It is an udhbhava linga.
Temple Structure and Deities
The temple structure is a fine piece of architecture, consisting of a navaranga, an antarala, a garbhagrha and with relieves on the pillars. The deities inside the temple are Lord Malahanikareshvara, Goddess Bhavani, Sthambha Ganapati, Chandikeshvara, Ganapati, and Durga.
The temple parikrama
The stone structure must have been raised early in the Vijayanagar period, replacing the older one in wood.
Repairs were undertaken by Sri Narasimha Bharati (!663-1765) 26th Acharya with great assistance from Somasekhara Nayaka of Keladi. The magnetic Nandi was installed by Janganna Mallinataha, during Somashekara nayaks regime (1664 – 1675) In the praakaara, the walls were constructed in 1685 by Sitammaji, daughter of Revanna Nayaka of Keladi.
Again in 1963 a Kumbhabhishekam was performed.
During another reconstruction by His Holiness Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Swamigal, a spacious navaranga was added which consists of four beautiful pillars of the Vijayanagara type. These pillars have high relief sculptures of various gods and goddesses such as Narasimha, Virabhadra, Sri Rama, Subrahmanaya, Venugopala, Hanumana, Kalingamardhana and Durga, again a synthesis of gods as propounded by Adi Shankara.
Structure from the rear side
The skilled artisans for the reconstruction were brought from Chettinaad, in Tamil Nadu.
The Kumbhabhishekam was performed on Feb 11, 1985 by Sri Abhinava Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamigal along with Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal. His Holiness Sri Swaroopananda Saraswati of Dwaraka Peetham also participated
Outside the temple there are small shrines of Meenakshi Sachidanandeshvara, kshetra palaka, and Bindu Madhava.
Bindu Madhava. is flanked by His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi on both sides and at the base a Saint sitting in Yogasana flanked by two disciples on both sides can be seen..
Festival
- Arudradarshanam (December-January)
- Mahashivaratri(February-March)
- Rathotsavam(February-March) and
- Laksha Deepotsavam(November December)
The Malahanikareshwara Rathotsava festival spans from Maga Krishna Dasami to Phalguna Shukla Dvitiya and is celebrated on the Maga Amavasya next day to Mahashivaratri. On Mahashivaratri, His Holiness performs special Puja to the Lord during the day for several hours.
On Kartika poornima day Deepothsavam is celebrated on a grand scale.
DarshanTimings
8:00 A.M. to 12:00 NOON
5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Seva
- Rudrabhishekha – Ekavara, Ekadasavara, Shata Rudra
Shatarudra Abhishekam is performed every month on every Ekadashi and Arudra nakshatram.
- Panchamritabhishekha
- Archana – Ashtothra, Sahasranama
For further details see seva page