Sringeri is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage centre of Karnataka and is the home to Sharada Peetham.

Sharada Devi is enshrined seated on the Sri Chakra Peetham holding a Japmala with a parrot perched on the top of her hand. The original image of sandalwood was installed by Adi Shankaracharya and it was replaced with a golden image in the 14th century. The processional image Sri Sharadamba is enshrined in the southern prakaram. There is also a shrine to Adi Shankara here. Each Friday witnesses the procession of Sri Sharadamba in a silver chariot around the temple. The Navarathri festival season also witnesses procession of the processional image of Sri Sharadamba. Also in this temple are shrines to Shakti Ganapati, Mahishasuramardhini and Rajarajeshwari.

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam, Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri is the first and foremost Peetham of the four Peethams established by the renowned 8th century philosopher saint Sri Adi Shankara, the principal exponent of Advaita (non-dualism). The Divinity of Knowledge, Goddess Sharada, installed at Sringeri by Sri Adi Shankara, graces the Peetham as the presiding deity.

Shringeri is a temple town situated 100 kms from Mangalore, along the banks of river Tungabhadra and along the majestic Western Ghats in Chickmagalur district.

Adi Shankaracharya as he was walking along the banks of river Tunga presumed to have seen a cobra with raised hood providing shade to spawning frog. He felt this land to be sacred as two of these natural enemies were at peace with each other.

He established a Math here and settled down for 12 years. The name Shringeri is derived from Rshyasrnga giri, a nearby hill, has two temples, one dedicated to Goddess Sarada and the other to Vidyasankara.

The temple was built in 14th century, had wooden framework and a sandalwood statue. This was replaced with stone and gold and later temple was also constructed in traditional South Indian Architecture following a fire that destroyed the wooden frame work.

Temple architecture is very fascinating and it is a display of the astronomical expertise of south Indian temple builders. The main temple hall features 12 pillars representing the 12 Zodiac signs. Windows and doors along the temple walls are built in such a way that at the start of each solar month, the sun's rays fall on the pillar meant for the zodiac sign of that month.

We seek the blessings of Sri Sharadambal for the education of our community.

Sri Adi Sankaracharya, the original Sankaracharya, lived from 788–820 AC. His philosophy is called Advaita vad. He toured India with the purpose of propagating his teachings through discourses and debates with other prominent scholars. Wherever Shankaracarya traveled he was victorious, and opposing philosophies bowed. He established four Mathas and appointed his four main sanyasi disciple acharyas as spiritual heads of each math: Totakacharya, Sureshwaracharya, Hastamalakacharya and Padmadacharya. The disciplinic succession of Shankaracharya has existed up until today where successors also use the title 'Jagadguru Shankaracharya'.

Who is Sankaracharya?
Sri Shankara was born of Shivaguru and Aryambal at Kaladi in Kerala.  Shivaguru and Aryambal were childless couple, spent their life in pooja and giving alms to poor, went to Trichur and performed pooja for 48 days to Lord Vadakkunathan ( Lord Shiva) and prayed for a son. Impressed by the devotion, the Lord blessed the couple with a son who is extremely intelligent and offered a life for a short period. The boy was named Shankara.

One day when Shankara was taking bath a crocodile caught hold of his legs. Shankara called out to his mother for help. His mother Aryambal was stunned at this horrible sight. Shankara told his mother that he could  start a new life as a sanyasi, if he became a sanyasi. His mother agreed for his wish and gave the permission. Shankara became a sanyasi and  Shishya of Sri Govinda Bagawathpathar, a ascetic. At Kasi, he was blessed with Vedas by Lord Shiva.

Sarasawani, wife of Mandala Misra, who was the Judge in the discussion between Mandala Misra and Shankara, revealed that Shankara was none other than Lord Shiva. While Sri Shankara and Mandala Misra were walking along with Sarasawani on the banks of river Tungabhadra, in Sringeri, Sarasawani stood fixed in the sands of Tungabhadra and created a seat for spreading Advaitha. This seat is today called Sharada Peetham or the seat of Sharada. This was the first Mutt installed by Shri Shankara. He visited many holy places and spread the Advaitha. He is well known for his intellectual, spiritual leadership and became Adi Shankaracharya.  

Jagadguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya was the greatest exponent of the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta and a savior of Vedic Dharma. Salutations to Sankara, who is an ever shining star on the sky of Indian philosophy.

The existence of Vedic Dharma in India today is due to Sankara. The forces opposed to Vedic religion were more numerous and powerful at the time of Sankara than they are today. Still, single-handed, within a very short time, Sankara overpowered them all and restored the Vedic Dharma and Advaita Vedanta to its pristine purity in the land pure knowledge and spirituality.

Sankaracharya occupies a very important position in the history of Indian philosophy. It can be affirmed, without any fear of contradiction, that Bharata Varsha would have ceased to be Bharata Varsha several centuries ago and would never have survived the murderous sword, the devastating fire and the religious intolerance of the successive invaders, if Sankara had not lived the life he lived and taught the lessons he taught. And those lessons are still pulsating in every cell and in every protoplasm of the true aspirant and the true Hindu.

What is Advaita Vedanta?
The doctrine of advaita vedanta as expounded by Sankara can be summed up in half a verse: “Brahma Satyam Jagan Mithya Jivo Brahmaiva Na Aparah" — Brahman (the Absolute) is alone real; this world is unreal; and the Jiva or the individual soul is non-different from Brahman. This is the quintessence of his philosophy.

According to Sri Sankara, whatever is, is Brahman. Brahman Itself is absolutely homogeneous. All difference and plurality are illusory.

Tenets of Advaita Vedanta

• Brahman (the Absolute) is alone real; this world is unreal; and the Jiva or the individual soul is non-different from Brahman.
• The Atman is self-evident (Svatah-siddha). It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny the Atman, because It is the very essence of the one who denies It.
• Brahman is not an object, as It is Adrisya, beyond the reach of senses, mind or intellect. It is not another. It is all-full, infinite, changeless, self-existent, self-delight, self-knowledge and self-bliss. It is Svarupa, essence. It is the essence of the knower. It is the Seer (Drashta), Transcendent (Turiya) and Silent Witness (Sakshi). It is always the Witnessing Subject. It can never become an object as It is beyond the reach of the senses. Brahman is non-dual, one without a second. It has no other beside It.
• Sat-Chit-Ananda constitute the very essence or Svarupa of Brahman, and not just Its attributes.
• The world is not an illusion according to Sankara. The world is relatively real (Vyavaharika Satta), while Brahman is absolutely real (Paramarthika Satta). The unchanging Brahman appears as the changing world because of a superimposition of non-Self (objects) on Self (subject - Brahman). This is called Avidya.
• The Jiva or the individual soul is only relatively real. Its individuality lasts only so long as it is subject to unreal Upadhis or limiting conditions due to Avidya. The Jiva identifies itself with the body, mind and the senses, when it is deluded by Avidya or ignorance. Just as the bubble becomes one with the ocean when it bursts, so also the Jiva or the empirical self becomes one with Brahman when it gets knowledge of Brahman. When knowledge dawns in it through annihilation of Avidya, it is freed from its individuality and finitude and realizes its essential Satchidananda nature. It merges itself in the ocean of bliss. The river of life joins the ocean of existence. This is the Truth.
• Because samsara (or duality) exists due to ignorance or Avidya, Knowledge (Jnana) alone can make an individual realize his true nature. Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga etc., are necessary only to purify the individual and to help remove this Avidya. All other paths culminate in Jnana.
• Brahma Jnana is not about acquiring any external knowledge (as Brahman can't be an object of knowledge), it just about removing the Avidya or Maya.

Padmashali/Shettigar seek the blessings of Sri Adi Shankaracharya for the overhaul progress of the community.

Current Shankaracharya: Shri Bharati Tirtha Sannidhanam

To the ignorant, You are verily the holy Ganga,
To the wise, You are the seat of Knowledge,
To every one, You bestow what is good,
O Bharati Tirtha, I seek refuge in You!

Sri Bharati Tirtha, the present 36th Jagadguru of the Sringeri  Sharada Peetham, a sanyasin of the highest paramahamsa order, is arguably the foremost scholar today of Vedanta and shastras.

In 1966, he approached the then Sringeri Jagadguru Sri Abhinav Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji as a bachelor at the age of 15 seeking his blessings and instruction in sastras. The Sringeri Acharya was then observing chaturmasya atUjjain. Sitarama Anjaneyulu ( that was the Acharya’s name in his poorvashrama) had come with great Vairagya growing in him. As the great Acharya was  returning after bath in the river Sipra, Sitarama Anjaneyulu prostrated before him and sought his tutelage, which was granted. The very next day the Acharya started teaching him. He soon became a guru of scholar and a dear disciple.

Within 8 years he finished the study of Krishna Yajurveda, Purva and Uttara Mimamsa, Nyaya Sastra and many other treatises and commentaries. He also became a poet in Sanskrit.

Outside school hours, he devoted time to Sanskrit studies. Here he had a great command over the language. At night he learnt Vedas from his father. He studied Samhita, Brahmana and Aranyaka very well.

In 1974, on the day in which he was invited into Sanyasa, His Holiness spoke in Kannada for the first time at the felicitation meeting with such a telling eloquence that all those present could not control their admiration which listening to him.

For Sri Bharati Tirtha (also Sri Sannidhanam), His guru Sri Abhinav Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamigal (also Sri Mahasannidhanam) was every thing. He has a great respect to his Guru.

At Sringeri, under Sri Bharati Tirtha, the Mutt has undergone many changes. Improvement of Vedapatashalas, free food, text books and comfortable accommodation for students, teaching the Senior students etc. The Mutt conducts Chandi Homas, Sahasra Chandi Homas, Atirudra Homas for the welfare of the world.

Sri Sannidhanam is accessible to the devotees twice a day, in the morning during Theertha Prasadam distribution and in the evening. For the past many years, during Chaturmasya period, His Holiness has been conducting classes in the Brahma Sutras to select band of sincere devotees.

The members of the Padmashali Samaja Seva Sangha had the privilege of performing Pad Pooja and Sahasra Nama Seva of Parama Poojya Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Abhinav Tirtha Mahasannidhanam and Parama Poojya Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Sannidhanam on 04-04-4982 at Gokul Geetha Govind Hall, Sion and sought the blessings for the betterment of the Padmashali Community.

The members of the Padmashali Samaja Seva Sangha had another privilege of performing Pad Pooja, Vastra Kanike and Samashti Bhiksha Kanike of Parama Poojya Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Sannidhanam on 16-09-2007 at Sri Sringeri Math, near Diamond Garden, Chembur and sought the blessings for the betterment of the Padmashali Community.

“Sourced with permission from http://www.sringerisharadapeetham.org”