9# Shri Sharada Temple, Sringeri

Sri Sharadamba Temple, Sringeri

One of the holiest and most important Hindu pilgrim centres, Sringeri was the site of the first of the four Peethas (centres) established by the great sage Adi Shankaracharya, the founder of the Advaita philosophy. Sringeri has the Sharadamba Temple dedicated to Sharadamba, Goddess of Learning and Wisdom. The temple is famed for the matchless beauty of the idol. Nearby is the Vidyashankara Temple which is an architectural marvel – its 12 sculpted pillars, each representing a sign of the zodiac, are placed so that the sun’s rays fall on each successively, in the order of the solar months

Major temples in Sringeri:

Sri Sharadamba Temple: Goddess Sharade is associated with knowledge, music, art and wisdom. Sri Sharadamba temple in Sringeri has a golden idol of Goddess Sharade and other temples dedicated to Torana Ganapathy, Adi Shankaracharya, Mahalaya Brahma, KodandaramaSwamy, Hanuman (Anjaneya), Garuda etc

Sri Vidyashankara Temple: Built entirely from stone in the 14th century, Sri Vidyashankara temple features Hoysala+Dravidian style architecture. The inner sanctum (Garbha Griha) of Sri Vidyashankara temple has Vidya Ganapathi, Goddess Durga, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara.Read more