Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam, Dakshinamanaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri



Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri

Sri Vidyashankara



The ancient shrine of Sri Vidyashankara at Sringeri

लम्बिकायोगनिरतं अम्बिकापतिरूपिणम् ।
विद्याप्रदं नमामीशं विद्यातीर्थ महेश्वरम् ॥

The Vidyashankara Temple was built in the year 1338 A.D. It is a unique monument built entirely of stone combining both Hoysala (Chalukya) and Dravidian architectural styles. The structure stands on a high plinth and commands a magnificent view from the hills and their slopes all round. It is more or less a rectangle with apisidal east-west ends. On the western side is the Garbhagriha, with Vidya Ganapati on one side and Durga on the other side of the entrance. On the other three sides of the Garbhagriha are shrines to Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara with their consorts. In the eastern half of the structure is a mandapa with twelve pillars, huge monoliths carrying large figures and carrying heavy projecting corbels on top. These twelve pillars are marked by the twelve signs of the zodiac in their regular order., and arranged in such a manner that the rays of the sun fall on each of them in the order of the twelve solar months. On the floor is a large circle, marked with converging lines to indicate the direction of the shadows. The central ceiling is an exquisite piece of workmanship with lotus and pecking parrots.


A view of the magnificient vimanam of Sri Vidyashankara temple

The vimana over the Garbhagriha rises magnificiently with sikhara, mahapadama and stupi. The rest of the roof is made up of sloping channelled slab. The basement is elaborately sculpted with animals, puranic stories, Siva, Vishnu, Dasavatara, Kali, Shanmukha and so on. From the caves of the corners of the central hall chains of stone rings hang which is a common feature of the Vijayanagar period.


Sri Vidyashankara

To the student of Hindu iconography, this temple is a veritable store house of sculpture. The meditation of the Linga (Vidya Shankara Linga) in the sanctum and other Murtis will lead to Divine realization.

Vidyatirtha Rathotsava is celebrated on a grand scale during kartika Shukla paksha. The festival spans for seven days from Tritiya to Navami. On the Saptami day His Holiness performs special Puja. Also the Aradhana of Sri Vidya Shankara is performed on shasti, saptami and ashtami. This temple is under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India owing to its architectural marvel.

Darshan Timings

Morning – 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Evening – 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Seva

The following Sevas are performed at the Shrine of Sri Vidyashankara

  • Abhishekha – Ekavara,  Ekadasavara and Shata Rudrabhishekha,  Panchamrita
  • Archana – Ashtotra
  • Navagraha Pooja

For further details see seva page

Other than the above, Special Seva is performed to the following deities located at Sri Vidyashankara Temple

  • Sri Durgamba
  • Sri Shanaishchara
  • Sri Kartaveeryajuna (Sahasrarjuna)

Seva Details for the above deities are available in Page Nos.14, 15 and 16 of our Seva List http://www.sringeri.net/sevas

 
  • Weapons do not cut This (Atma); nor does fire does burn It. Water does not wet (nor drown) nor does wind dry It. This (Atma) cannot be slain, nor burnt, nor wetted, nor dried up. It is changeless, all-pervading, stable, immovable and eternal. Bhagavan Sri Krishna on Significance of God
  • Do not be proud of wealth, people (relations and friends), and youth. All these are snatched by Time in the blink of an eye. Giving up this illusory world, know and attain the Supreme. Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada on Mohamudgara
  • Today God is altogether ignored and this is the cause of all our suffering and misery. Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamigal on Significance of God
  • By God’s grace, we have obtained a human birth, the power of discrimination and someone to teach us about the ultimate, truth. If we still remain lazy, we will be wasting a marvelous opportunity. Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamigal on Significance of God
  • No man is omniscient. Hence man should not have the ego that he knows all. It is ego that leads man astray and drives him to commit sins. Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal on Significance of God's Names