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Vidyashankara Temple
Shringeri is the site of one of the original Advaitha maths established by Shri Adi Shankara himself. It has a continuing tradition and recorded history from the eighth century. Shri Adi Shankara’s disciple Sureshwarachrya was the first head of this math.
The Vidyashankara temple was built in the year of 1338 A.D. The temple has a unique feature of the monuments, which is entirely built 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. On the western side of the temple is the Garbhagriha, with Vidya Ganapati on one side and Durga on the other side of the entrance. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu , Lord Maheshwara appear with their consorts on the other three sides of the Garbhagriha.
On 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 represented by the twelve signs of the zodiac, and arranged in their regular order. 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.
The vimana over the Garbhagriha rises magnificiently with sikhara, mahapadma and stupi. The rest of the roof is made up of sloping channelled slab. The basement is elaborately sculpted with animals, puranic stories, Shiva, 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.
This temple is very large store house of the scupltures. The meditation of the Linga (Vidya Shankara Linga) in the sanctum and other Murtis will lead to divine realization.
Vidyatirtha Rathotsava (car festival) 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 pooja. The Aradhana of Shri Vidya Shankara is also performed on sashti, saptami and ashtami.
This temple is under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India, owing to its architectural marvel.
This temple also houses a broken sandalwood idol of Sharadamba, believed to have been installed in the Sharadamba temple, by Adi Shankara Himself. This idol, it is believed, was damaged during the Muslim invasion, and Shri Vidyaranya had the current gold statue of Sharadamba installed in its place
Vidyashankara Temple
Shringeri is the site of one of the original Advaitha maths established by Shri Adi Shankara himself. It has a continuing tradition and recorded history from the eighth century. Shri Adi Shankara’s disciple Sureshwarachrya was the first head of this math.
The Vidyashankara temple was built in the year of 1338 A.D. The temple has a unique feature of the monuments, which is entirely built 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. On the western side of the temple is the Garbhagriha, with Vidya Ganapati on one side and Durga on the other side of the entrance. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu , Lord Maheshwara appear with their consorts on the other three sides of the Garbhagriha.On 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 represented by the twelve signs of the zodiac, and arranged in their regular order. 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.
The vimana over the Garbhagriha rises magnificiently with sikhara, mahapadma and stupi. The rest of the roof is made up of sloping channelled slab. The basement is elaborately sculpted with animals, puranic stories, Shiva, 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.
This temple is very large store house of the scupltures. The meditation of the Linga (Vidya Shankara Linga) in the sanctum and other Murtis will lead to divine realization.
Vidyatirtha Rathotsava (car festival) 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 pooja. The Aradhana of Shri Vidya Shankara is also performed on sashti, saptami and ashtami.
This temple is under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India, owing to its architectural marvel.
This temple also houses a broken sandalwood idol of Sharadamba, believed to have been installed in the Sharadamba temple, by Adi Shankara Himself. This idol, it is believed, was damaged during the Muslim invasion, and Shri Vidyaranya had the current gold statue of Sharadamba installed in its place
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