October 4, 2018

My TripAdvisor Review No.375: Sringeri Mutt, Chikmagalur. Abode Of Divinity And Serenity.

We drove about 54 km from Thirthahalli to reach the Sringeri Mutt in Chikmagalur district. Sringeri exudes divinity and serenity and mother nature is at her most beautiful here. It is nestled in Western Ghats with the winding River Tunga flowing through it, and one feels really at peace among the imposing temples in the natural surroundings.

There is a huge parking lot for cars and buses, as the mutt gets devotees from all over India throughout the year. Just across the river is a hanging bridge leading to the Guru Niwas, the ashram of the Jagadguru. We were told that we can meet the presiding Jagadguru only at certain specified times in the morning or afternoon.

The 4 main temples are situated in a large compound with the river flowing around it. The main temples are 1) Sri Sharadamba Temple, dedicated to the goddess of learning and the presiding deity of Sringeri, 2) Sri Adi Shankaracharya Temple, dedicated to the Jagadguru who established this mutt more than twelve centuries ago, 3) Sri Torana Ganapati Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, and 4) Sri Vidya Shankara Temple, dedicated to Jagadguru Vidya Shankara, the 10th pontiff of the mutt.

We entered the temple complex through the large gopuram, after depositing our footwear in the stand outside. There was an information counter at the entrance, where a pujari politely replied to all our queries and guided us. He told us that we could take snaps outside, but not inside the temples so as not the disturb the sanctity of the sanctum sanctorum. We met the two temple elephants just as we were exiting the Ganapati temple. After doing darshan of all the temples we went to the Prasadalaya where all the devotees were given the free prasad. We were served sweet sheera, rice, sambar, rasam and buttermilk. We had to sit on the floor and were served on plantain leaves from stainless steel pails.

We were very happy to have visited such a beautiful, scenic and holy place where the peace and serenity is palpable and almost tangible.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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