Madhava Vidyaranya — Sringeri Sharada Peetham

trade_routes:

• "Karnataka Western Ghats temple corridor" connected_events:
  • event: "Ancient Tamil Sangam period" significance: "One of the earliest temple sites in Tamil Nadu" trade_routes:
• "Karnataka temple pilgrimage corridor" vahana: "Nandi (sacred bull)" sacred_colours:
• white (Shiva)
• saffron
• ash grey connected_events:
  • event: "Ancient Tamil Sangam period" significance: "One of the earliest temple sites in Tamil Nadu" associated_kings:
• "Ancient Tamil kingdoms" sacred_flowers:
• lotus
• tulasi
• jasmine connected_events:
  • event: "Ancient Tamil Sangam period" significance: "One of the earliest temple sites in Tamil Nadu" associated_kings:
• "Ancient Tamil kingdoms" trade_routes:
• "Karnataka temple pilgrimage corridor" sacred_flowers:
• lotus
• tulasi
• champaka sacred_trees:
• peepal
• bilva (bael)
• tulasi sacred_animals:
• Nandi (sacred bull)
• peacock
• elephant sacred_colours:
• saffron
• white
• gold vahana: "Nandi (sacred bull)" primary_scriptures:
  • title: "Linga Purana" type: "purana" festival_dates:
• "Maha Shivaratri (Feb–Mar)"
• "Diwali (Oct–Nov)" trade_routes:
• "Ancient South Indian temple trade corridor"

Sringeri Sharada Peetham: The Oldest Monastery

Sringeri is one of the four holiest Advaita monasteries established by Adi Shankaracharya. It is dedicated to Sharada (the goddess of learning, Saraswati) and has been a center of Sanskrit scholarship for over 1,200 years.

The Shakti Peetha Connection

Sringeri is associated with the Shakti Peetha tradition:

• According to legend, the head part of Sati fell here
• This makes it one of the 51 sacred sites
• The deity Sharada is worshipped as the form of the goddess

Vidyaranya (Madhava)

The 12th pontiff of Sringeri, Vidyaranya (also known as Madhava), was a legendary scholar who:

• Wrote the Panchatantra (fable collection)
• Composed sangita ratnakara (music treatise)
• Helped establish the Sringeri math's reputation for scholarship
• Is associated with the founding of the Vijayanagara Empire

Famous Songs from Sringeri

The Sringeri tradition has produced several devotional compositions:

• Sharada Bhajans sung during daily puja
• Kirtanas by various pontiffs
• Sanskrit stotras in praise of Sharada

Key Pontiffs