Shringeri, Religious settlement in Chikkamagaluru district, India
Shringeri is a religious settlement in Chikkamagaluru district, located on the banks of the Tunga River at 672 meters (2,200 feet) elevation and surrounded by forested hills. The complex includes several temples, residential buildings for pilgrims, and an older shrine resting on a stone platform with multiple carved pillars.
In the 8th century, Adi Shankara established the first matha of India at this site after witnessing a cobra protecting a frog from the sun. The complex grew over the centuries with support from different rulers, who added new buildings and shrines.
The name of this settlement comes from a Sanskrit term meaning horn, referring to the shape of the surrounding hills. Devotees come here throughout the year to attend ceremonies and visit the temple, which serves as a spiritual center.
Pilgrims receive free meals throughout the year at the complex, and accommodations are available for overnight stays. The temple can be reached on foot from the riverbank, and visitors should be mindful of local rituals taking place during ceremonies.
Visitors feed the sacred fish of the Tunga River as part of a tradition spanning centuries, linked to the protection of all life. The older temple within the complex combines elements from several South Indian architectural styles in a single structure.
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