I haven't blogged for a while now. I promise myself to do it more often now onwards.
Sunday 14th Oct. 18 I visited the Shringeri temple. This is one of the Peethas founded by Adi Shankaracharya. The current pontiff of the peetham is also known as one of the four Shankaracharyas. The other three being Puri in the East, Dwarka in the West, and Jyotirmath in the North.
Sringeri also happens to be the place where my maternal grandfather stayed during my childhood days. So I have very fond memories of the place.
Sringeri is 3 hour by road from Shimoga ( Shivamogga, the current correct version). Took a pvt. bus ( Mookambika ) at 8am and reached Sringeri at 1115am. The bus stand has been shifted quite a distance away from the temple complex and one has to walk about a km. to reach the temple.
At the entrance, one is greeted by the presence of elephants. The mahouts, I am told, have traditionally been Muslims. May not be from inception, since Islam was not born during Shankaracharya's days. These elephants have been an inalienable part of the Shringeri experience from my childhood days. Many devotees feed bananas to the elephants or have their children blessed by them.
The main Sharadamba temple is fully built in rough hewn granite. But photography is not allowed here. It is an engineering marvel. Even with sweltering heat outside and thousands of devout milling around, the structure is cool inside.
This temple is the oldest in the complex and is supposedly as old as Adi Shankaracharya himself.
I had the fortune of being in the temple when the Shankaracharya was himself worshipping Sharadamba. The temple also serves a simple meal to all visitors between 1230 to 1430 and 1900 to 2030 hrs. Not partaking this is seen as a sign of insolence. The priests repeatedly request the devotees to proceed to the bhojanalyam.
The Bhojanalayam at the rear of the complex is a grand structure that can easily seat 1000+ people at a time. Visitors have to essentially sit on the floor, which a small raised platform, simulating what is known as a paat in Marathi.
I had a little difficult time in sitting on the floor while having lunch. I promise myself to try and do this more often at home.
By 2pm, I caught the same bus which had brought me from Shimoga at the entrance of the temple. People here are simple and friendly. The conductor recognised me while issuing the ticket.
The road from Shimoga to Sringeri winds through forests via NarashinhaRaj Pura (NR Pura)
and Koppa with lot of villages on the way. Arecanut, coffee and rice are the main crops.
Cost of living seems low in these parts. For Rs 10, I got 4 bananas.
