Vidyashankara Temple
It is a nice pilgrimage to travel to Sringeri, a little town on the Sahyadri Hills in the Western Ghats of Karnataka that is lusted with greenery. On the banks of the River Tungabhadra, the Sringeri temple complex has the Vidyashankara Temple and the Sharada Peetham. This temple was built in around 1338 A.D. by Vidyaranya in memory of his grandfather Vidyashankara. Adjacent to Vidyashankara Temple, a sandalwood idol of Goddess Sharada, along with a Sri Chakra in front of her, was installed by the Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century.
The damaged idol was then replaced by a gold idol of Goddess Sharada by Vijayanagara Rulers after it was destroyed by Muslim invaders. One of the main attractions for tourists is the architecture and style of Hoysalas and Dravidians. The structure of the temple stands by the block of stone featuring sculptures of various Hindu gods and scenes of Hindu mythology all over the outer wall. The sculptures of animals like elephants and horses are crafted on both sides of the temple. There are six doorways leading to the temple that beautifully carved twelve pillars called raashi pillars or zodiacs in the temple complex. Each pillar has a roaring lion with a rolling stone ball in its mouth, and the ceiling is beautifully carved with lotus and parrot sculptures. So back your bag and plan your trip to Vidyashankara temple to enjoy the unique features of this temple and learn more about the structure and its history.
Entry Fee:
There is no entry fee for general entry.
Darshan time:
7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., 05:00 p.m. to 08:30 p.m. open every day.
Specialty of the temple:
The main significance of the temple is the pillars, which are called rashi pillars. There are six doorways leading to the temple that beautifully carved twelve pillars called rashi pillars, or zodiacs, in the temple complex. Each pillar has a roaring lion with a rolling stone ball in its mouth, and the ceiling is beautifully carved with lotus and parrot sculptures. The river Tungabhadra, where a lot of fish are found comes over the edge of the river when visitors feed them puffed rice. Every year, at Kartika Shukla Paksha, Vidyatirtha Rathotsava is grandly celebrated. Additionally, the Sharada Peetham celebrates the Navaratri Festival. So pack your bags and plan your trip to Vidyashankara Temple to enjoy the unique features of this temple and learn more about its structure and its history.
Best time to visit the temple:
The best time to visit the temple is from October to March.
Dress code of the temple:
The preferred dress code for men is shirt- pants, and dhoti-shirt, and for women, it is a saree, half saree, or chudidhar.
Festival of the temple:
During the Kartika Shukla paksha Vidyatirtha Rathotsava is a main festival that is annually celebrated. Additionally, Sharada Peetham hosts a Navaratri Festival celebration.
How to reach the temple?
By Air : The closest airport to Sringeri is Mangalore.
By Train :The closest railway stop to Sringeri is the Udupi railway station from here you can take a cab or a bus to visit the temple.
By Road :To reach the Vidyashankara temple, you can take buses from the major cities like Bangalore.
FAQ
1.Who is the main God of the Vidyashankara Temple?
The main deities of the Vidyashankara Temple are Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.
2.What is unique features of the Temple?
The 12 zodiac pillars which are the distinctive feature are made to emit musical notes When touched.
3.What is the entry fee?
There is no entry fee to the vidyashankara Temple.
4.Are there any special festivals celebrated at the Vidyashankara Temple?
Yes the temple celebrates various festivals including Mahashivaratri and Navaratri with great enthusiasm.