My wife and I visited Sri Kshetra Shringeri to seek the blessings of the present Shankaracharya, Jagadguru Bharathi Tirtha Swamiji and his nominated Jagadguru Vidhushekara Bharathi Mahaswami.
The Shringeri Sharada Peetha, also known as Dhakshinamnaya Shringeri Sharada Peetam is one of the four Hindu Advaita matha established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century CE.
We have always tried to take Jagadguru's blessings at each turning point in both our son's journey through life. Before conducting Upanayana (Yagnopavita) and before marriage are considered a major turning point, and blessings of Jagadguru is believed to be auspicious.
The ancient temple of Sri Sharadambika has a glorious history. Originally built with Sandalwood and installed over a Srichakra carved by Sr Adi Shankaracharya over a rock, today the sandalwood idol is substituted with the present golden idol.
Close to this temple on a small hillock is Sri Malahanikareshwara temple. The deities inside this temple are Malahanikareshwara, Bhavani, Chandikeshwara, Durga and Sthamba Ganapati. The Shiva Linga at this temple is said to have been worshipped by Sage Vibhandaka (Son of Sage Kashyapa).
Just 9 KMs from Shringeri is a place called Kigga with its lesser known Rishyashringeshwara temple. This was built during the Vijayanagar period and houses a Shiva Linga with three protuberances resembling horns. Shringeri in fact derives its name from Rishyashringeshwara...
Adi Shankaracharya established four guardian deities in four directions. Kala Bhairava temple in the East, Kere Anjaneya in the West, Kalikamba in the north and Durgamba in the south. Sri Adi Shankaracharya consecrated the temple of Sri Durgamba in this Mallikarjuna Swamy temple which has a Swayambu (self manifested) Shiva Linga. This is unique...since in no other Shiva Temple both Shiva & Parvathi reside together. Ganesha and Subramanya deities are also within the same complex, bringing the family together.
Around 20 KMs from Shringeri is Lakshmi Narasimha Peetham at Hariharpura, established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya himself. Located at the holy banks of river Tunga, Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy and Goddess Sri Sharadambika are the chief deities. Also, there is the deity of Sri Lakshmi Narayana. The puranic history of Hariharpura dates back to the episode of Daksha Maha Yajnya. Skanda purana addresses Hariharpura as Dhakshashrama. In addition to being a Yajnya bhoomi and Tapo Bhoomi, with the arrival of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Hariharpura also became a Jnyaana Bhoomi. Adi Shankaracharya consecrated the deity of Goddess Sr Sharada Parameshwari with the installation of Sri Chakra.
While returning from Shringeri, we took a detour to Horanadu Annapurneshwari teertha sthala. Here too, the main deity was put in place by Sri Adi Shankaracharya; the new deity was consecrated in 1973. The main deity is made of gold and is believed that a person who seeks the blessings of Goddess Annapurneshwari would never have scarcity for food in life.
