Sri Sharadamba Temple, Sringeri
Sringeri, Chikkamagaluru district, on the Tunga river in the Western Ghats · Goddess Sharadamba (Sharada), the goddess of learning, a form of Saraswati
The seat of the goddess of learning, founded by Adi Shankaracharya, where children begin their first letters.
Sringeri is a quiet hill town on the Tunga river, and its Sharadamba temple is the heart of the Sringeri Math, the southern peetham (seat) founded by Adi Shankaracharya. The goddess is Sharada, the goddess of learning. Pilgrims come for darshan of the goddess, for darshan of the Jagadguru, and to eat the free meal served every day. Parents bring small children here to begin their education in a rite called Aksharabhyasa. The Math runs the temple, guest houses and kitchen itself.
Timings
- Sharadamba temple: 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM on normal days (Math pilgrim-info page). The temple page of the same site says 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM for the evening. Check the notice at the temple.
- Maha-Mangalarati: 10:00 AM, 12:00 noon and 7:30 PM
- Other temples of the Math: 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Guru Darshanam: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM daily. Changes when the Jagadguru is away on tour.
- Free meal (Nitya Annadana): 12:15 PM – 2:30 PM and 7:15 PM – 8:30 PM
Daily rituals
- 10:00 AM – Maha-Mangalarati: The mid-morning aarti at the Sharadamba temple.
- 12:00 noon – Maha-Mangalarati: The midday aarti.
- 7:30 PM – Maha-Mangalarati: The evening aarti.
- 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM (8:30 PM on Fridays) – Chandramoulishwara Puja: Performed by the Jagadguru when he is in Sringeri.
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free. Sringeri Math provides foldable wheelchairs free of charge at the Information Centre.
Sevas and costs at Sri Sharadamba Temple, Sringeri
Archana (Ashtotram, Trishati, Sahasranamam, Laksharchana) – Check at the seva counter or on the portal
When: During temple hours
The priests chant the names of the goddess in your name.
How to book: Seva counter in the temple, or the Math's online seva portal.
Persons allowed: Per ticket
Prices are on the Math's seva portal; we could not read them.
Durga Shata Chandi – Check on the portal
When: As scheduled by the Math
A large chanting ritual from the Devi Mahatmya.
How to book: Math seva office.
Persons allowed: Sponsoring family
Listed on the temple page of the Math.
Suprabhata Seva – Check on the portal
When: Early morning
The goddess is woken with hymns.
How to book: Seva counter or portal.
Persons allowed: Per ticket
Listed on the temple page of the Math.
Swarna Pushpa Seva – Check on the portal
When: As scheduled
Worship with golden flowers.
How to book: Seva counter or portal.
Persons allowed: Per ticket
Listed on the temple page of the Math.
Aksharabhyasa – ₹500 seva kanike
When: Every day, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
A child learns the first letters, guided by a priest, as the start of education. Days like Vijayadashami, Lalita Panchami and Thursdays are considered auspicious, but it is done every day.
How to book: Pay at the counter in the temple premises. No advance booking is needed; you can skip the queue by booking on seva.sringeri.net and printing the receipt at a kiosk.
Persons allowed: One child aged 2½ to 5
From the Math's Aksharabhyasa page.
One-day Navaratri Seva – ₹20,000 for one day
When: During Sharannavaratri
Maha Puja Kanike Sankalpa in the sanctum (7:00–9:00 AM), Suvasini Puja (10:30–11:30 AM) and participation in the Dindi Utsava. Seva-kartas receive a prasada bag with a saree, kumkum and sweets.
How to book: Through the Math's announcement and portal.
Persons allowed: Sponsoring family
From the Math's Sharannavaratri page.
How to book darshan
Sevas can be booked at the counters in the temple or on the Math's online seva portal. The Math also lists a separate online accommodation service, but its own page says guest houses are given on a first-come basis and advance booking is not entertained.
Sringeri Math online seva portal
- Open seva.sringeri.net, the portal linked from the Math's own website (sringeri.net).
- Choose the seva, give the devotee's name and details, and pay online.
- For Aksharabhyasa, print the seva receipt at a kiosk near the seva counters to skip the queue.
- For guest houses, go to the Information Office next to the main entrance of the temple.
Booking safely
- Look-alike seva or accommodation sites. Use only sringeri.net and the portals linked from it.
Aksharabhyasa needs no advance booking. Guest houses are not booked in advance; ask at the Information Office.
Prasadam and offerings
- Nitya Annadana – Free. Meals served at 12:15 PM – 2:30 PM and 7:15 PM – 8:30 PM in the Sri Bharathi Theertha Prasada hall.
Dress code
Traditional, modest clothes. The Math does not publish a detailed dress code on its site; look for the notice at the temple.
Temple etiquette
- Timings change when the Jagadguru is on tour. Check the Math's website or the notice at the temple.
- Guest houses are allotted first come, first served. Advance booking is not entertained.
- Leave footwear at the stand and follow the queues and the priests' instructions.
Why it matters
According to the Math, Adi Shankaracharya set up the Dakshinamnaya Peetham at Sringeri and installed a sandalwood image of Sharada over a Sri Chakra that he carved on a rock. Later the sandalwood image was replaced with a golden one, which is the present image.
The Math says the original sandalwood image is now kept in the temple of Sri Vidyashankara at Sringeri.
The Math runs the daily free meal (Nitya Annadana) in a dining hall near the temple for almost 7,500 people, including schools and hospitals.
Sharannavaratri is the biggest festival of the year, when the goddess is dressed in a different alankara each day.
Legends
The cobra and the frog
Wikipedia records the story that Adi Shankaracharya chose this place after seeing a cobra spread its hood to shelter a frog in labour from the sun. He stayed for twelve years.
Rishyashringa
The town takes its name from Rishyashringa-giri, a hill said to have held the hermitage of the sage Rishyashringa, who in the Ramayana brought rain to a drought-stricken kingdom.
History
Adi Shankaracharya's time (traditional): Foundation of the Peetham
The Math's own history begins with Shankara setting up the Dakshinamnaya Peetham at Sringeri.
Vijayanagara era: Timber temple
Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha and Sri Vidyaranya had a temple built in the Kerala style with timber and a tiled roof, the Math says. Bharati Krishna Tirtha replaced the sandalwood image with the golden one.
1342 CE: Vidyashankara temple
A photo caption on Wikipedia dates the Sri Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri to 1342 CE.
May 1916: Granite temple
Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati raised the present granite structure, which Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati consecrated in May 1916.
1999 onwards: Golden chariot and golden doors
The present Jagadguru dedicated a golden chariot worth about one crore rupees in 1999. Golden doors with eight panels of Ashta Lakshmi were later fixed at the entrance to the sanctum.
Architecture
The present temple is built in granite with polished granite walls around the sanctum. The mahamandapam has huge stone pillars carved with Durga, Raja Rajeshwari, door guardians and other deities, in the style of Tamil Nadu temple sculpture (as the Math describes).
The sanctum doors are covered in gold with eight panels of the Ashta Lakshmi, a work worth about ₹24 lakh according to the Math.
What to see
- Golden image of Sharadamba: The goddess is shown with a rosary, a pot of nectar and a book, in the posture of teaching.
- Golden chariot: A golden chariot dedicated to the goddess in 1999, used in the festival processions.
- Vidyashankara temple: The old temple that houses the original sandalwood image of Sharada.
- Nitya Annadana: The free meal in the Sri Bharathi Theertha Prasada hall near the temple.
How to cover the temple
Park on the north bank of the Tunga, walk to the temple, take darshan of Sharadamba, attend an aarti, eat the free meal and, if the Jagadguru is in town, attend Guru Darshanam. This is the usual route.
- Park and cross the river: Car parking is on the north bank of the Tunga. From there pilgrims walk to the temple.
- Goddess Sharadamba: Join the queue for the golden image of Sharadamba. Attend the Maha-Mangalarati at 10:00 AM, 12:00 noon or 7:30 PM.
- Vidyashankara temple and other temples of the Math: The other temples of the Math are open 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
- Guru Darshanam: Darshan of the Jagadguru, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM daily, subject to his tour programme.
- Free meal: Nitya Annadana at 12:15–2:30 PM and 7:15–8:30 PM in the Sri Bharathi Theertha Prasada hall.
Customs and traditions
Aksharabhyasa (first letters)
A young child begins learning the alphabet in front of the goddess of learning.
Sharada is the goddess of learning, and Sringeri is her seat. The Math says Vijayadashami, Lalita Panchami, Akshaya Tritiya and Thursdays are especially auspicious, but it is done every day.
For a child aged 2½ to 5. 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the temple. Seva kanike ₹500 at the counter. No advance booking is needed; you can book on seva.sringeri.net to skip the queue.
Navaratri alankaras
The goddess is dressed in a different form each day of Navaratri, such as Brahmi, Maheshwari, Vaishnavi, Veena Sharada, Rajarajeshwari and Gajalakshmi.
The Math says all these are forms of one Jaganmata, showing her as giver of knowledge, wealth and protection.
Attend the evening darshan during Sharannavaratri. A one-day Navaratri Seva costs ₹20,000.
For elders and differently-abled visitors
Access: Moderate. The temple is on level ground and the Math offers free wheelchairs, a dining hall and guest houses. The long ghat road journey and the crowds in Navaratri are the main difficulty for elders.
- Sringeri Math provides foldable wheelchairs free of charge for the physically challenged and the aged, on a returnable basis, from the Information Centre at the Math.
- The Information Office is next to the main entrance of the temple. Guest houses are allotted first come, first served.
Waiting time
approx. under an hour on ordinary days (not stated by the Math).
The 11 days of Sharannavaratri, weekends and holidays.
Best time to visit
October to February is cool (the Math says it can drop to about 10°C in November–February). June to September is very rainy.
Festivals
Sharannavaratri Mahotsava (September–October, 11 days)
The biggest festival. The goddess is dressed in a new alankara every day. Shatachandi Homa Purnahuti is done on Mahanavami. There is a daily Durbar of the Jagadguru.
Lalita Panchami and Rathotsava (Magha (January–February))
Special puja on Magha Shukla Panchami, and the goddess's Rathotsava on Magha Tritiya.
Karthika Poornima Deepotsava (November)
A festival of lamps in the Sharada shrine.
Chaitra Shukla Poornima puja (March–April)
Special puja in the Sharada shrine.
How to reach Sri Sharadamba Temple, Sringeri
- By air: Mangaluru airport is the nearest large airport. The Math's table gives 110 km from Mangalore city.
- By rail: Shimoga, Udupi and Mangalore are the nearest railway stations, according to the Math. The Math's own table lists Udipi 80 km and Shimoga 105 km.
- By road: Sringeri is 360 km from Bengaluru, 260 km from Mysuru, 110 km from Mangaluru, 80 km from Udupi, 105 km from Shivamogga and 100 km from Chikkamagaluru. Buses run from these towns; Koppa is 30 km away.
Road safety
Sringeri sits in the Western Ghats, reached by winding forest and ghat roads from Shivamogga, Udupi, Karkala or Chikkamagaluru. Roads are good in dry months. In the monsoon, rain is very heavy, power can fail and ghat roads can slide.
The final approach is a forest road into a small hill town. Cars park on the north bank of the Tunga, and pilgrims walk to the temple.
Where to stay
The Math runs guest houses near the temple (Sri Shankara Kripa, Sri Sharada Kripa, Yatri Nivas and others) for a small kanike. They are given first come, first served; advance booking is not entertained.
- Sringeri Math guest houses – Small kanike (amount not published). Approach the Information Office next to the main entrance of the Sharada temple.
Suggested plan
One day
- Reach in the morning. Park on the north bank of the Tunga.
- Darshan of Sharadamba. Attend the 10:00 AM or 12:00 noon aarti.
- Free meal at 12:15 PM.
- Guru Darshanam at 10:30 AM if the Jagadguru is in town.
- Evening aarti at 7:30 PM.
Tips
- Carry an umbrella in June–September and a shawl in winter.
- Power cuts happen in the rainy season, so carry a torch (the Math advises it).
- Aksharabhyasa needs no advance booking; carry the child's birth details.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aksharabhyasa done every day?
Yes. The Math does it on all days between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM, for children aged 2½ to 5. The seva kanike is ₹500.
Can I book a guest house in advance?
The Math's page says advance booking of guest houses is not entertained. They are given first come, first served.
Temples nearby
- Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi – Car Street (Ratha Beedi), Udupi, Udupi district (about 82 km by road)
- Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple, Kateel – Kateel (Kateelu), on an islet in the Nandini river, Dakshina Kannada district (about 88 km by road)
- Sri Manjunatha Swamy Temple, Dharmasthala – Dharmasthala, Belthangady taluk, Dakshina Kannada district (on the Nethravathi river) (about 101 km by road)
- Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur – Kollur, Byndoor taluk, Udupi district (on the Sowparnika river, below Kodachadri) (about 111 km by road)
- Murudeshwar Temple – Murudeshwar, Bhatkal taluk, Uttara Kannada district, on the Arabian Sea coast (about 150 km by road)
- Kukke Shree Subrahmanya Temple – Subrahmanya village, Kadaba taluk, Dakshina Kannada district (on the Kumaradhara river, below Kumara Parvata) (about 154 km by road)
More Saraswati temples
- Sri Gnana Saraswati Temple – Basara (Basar), Nirmal district, on the Godavari near the Maharashtra border
- Maa Sharda Temple, Maihar – Trikut hill, Maihar, Maihar district (formerly Satna district)
Official website: www.sringeri.net
Sources
- Sringeri Math – Sri Sharadamba temple
- Sringeri Math – Temple timings
- Sringeri Math – Pilgrim facilities
- Sringeri Math – Aksharabhyasa
- Sringeri Math – Sharannavaratri Mahotsava
- Sringeri Math – Travel and weather
- Wikipedia – Sringeri
Last checked: 2026-10. Timings and fees change – confirm with the temple before you travel.