Baghwan Sankara belongs to 8^th century.  He was not simply a spiritual Guru but effected many reforms too fighting against the odds that tried to diminish the glory of Vedic religion.  Shakti worship was of a crude type in those days.  Sri Bhagwat Pada worked hard to bring in acceptable ways of worship of Shakti in a decent manner showing that Mother is all merciful and not furious as portrayed by the Kapalika sect by demanding sacrifice of men and animals.  He even risked his own life in the battle.  With just 4 disciples to preach Advaita philosophy, Bhagwan Sankara established 4 Peetas in four parts of India, Sringeri (Dakshinamnaya) being the first.  Others are Dwaraka (Paschimamnaya), Badrinath (Uttaramnaya) and Puri (Purvamnaya).  Kalady in Kerala is His birth place.  He ascended the Sarvajna Peeta in Shardi in north and disappeared at Kedarnath.  He covered the whole of Bharath Varsha in his mission aimed to revitalize our Sanatana Dharma, establishing the four peetas.

During the centuries that followed, beginning with Sri Sureswara, 36 Peetadipathis had presided over Sringeri Sharada Peetam.  Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Swamigal is the present pontiff, all dedicated to the philosophy of Advaita.  His mutt is on the banks of Tungabadra near the temple. Durbar darshan is an important festival event of the temple during Navarathri.  During this darshan, Panchanga-almanac- would be read out with chanting of Vedas accompanied by Mangal Vadyas – auspicious music with Aarati to Devi Sharadambika.  Seated on a golden throne, wearing royal robes, crown, valuable ornaments on the chest and diamond rings and holding a Rudraksha Mala in hand, the pontiff grants darshan to the devotees representing Mother Sharada.  This is known as Durbar darshan.

Sri Kala Bhairava, Sri Hanuman, Mother Kali and Mother Durga are the guardian deities of the mutt in east, west, north and south respectively. Mother Sharda Devi graces from a temple with a tall Rajagopura.  Sri Vidya Shankar graces from a stone temple nearby.  There are shrines for Baghwan Sankara, Janardana, Hanuman, Garuda, Shakti Ganapathi, Vakeeswari, Sri Rama, Hari Hara, Malayala Brahmma and Subramanya.  The construction of the temple began in the year 1907 and the consecration was celebrated in the year 1916.  Public feeding is a daily routine in the temple from 12.00 a.m. to 3.00 and again from 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

Devotees are blessed with all prosperity by Mother.  People pray mainly for knowledge, wisdom and high educational achievements.  Parents pray here before admitting children to school.

Sringeri – Shrunka Giri has a glorious history.  Sage Rishya Sringar, illustrious son of Sage Vipandaka was the priest presiding over the Putrakameshti Yajna performed by Emperor Dasaratha seeking child boon.  Rishya Shrunga means one having horns of deer on the head.  The region is named after the Rishi.

Holy River Tungabadra a confluence of Tunga and Badra rivers flows here.  They are sisters. Tunga starts at the Varaha hills in North Karnataka and joins Badra after flowing 16 kms. The peetas established by Baghwan Sankara has a special significance.  The total area of India covers 1,960 sq. miles.  Dividing it by four, each covering 490 sq, miles, the four peetas were established in the four directions of the country.  Shri Sharada Peetam in Sringeri is formed under the Yajur Veda rules.

Lord Malahanikareswarar temple is 10 km far from Sringeri.  Lord Vinayaka  graces from a pillar here.  Pujas are performed to Vinayaka for rain and prevention of natural calamities.  It is believed that this Vinayaka is growing.  Lord Malahanikareswarar and Mother Bhavani grace the devotees.

Vedas are of two parts – Gnana Kanda and Karma Kanda.  There was a noted scholar on Karmakanda also known as Mimamsa named Mandanamisra.  His scholarship was such that none could win him in debate.  However, a debate was organized between the two with Upaya Bharathi, who was but the very incarnation of Mother Saraswathi the Goddess of wisdom, wife of Mandanamisra as the judge who was well qualified and competent to decide the issue.

Upaya Bharathi laid down a condition.  Shankara should marry and enter the family order if he loses the debate and Mandanamisra should take to asceticism if he loses.  She placed two garlands on both before the commencement of the debate and said the one whose garland faded would be the loser.  The debate lasted 17 days.  Mandanamisra’s garland faded and he gracefully accepted the defeat and began to prepare himself for embracing asceticism.

But, Upaya Bharathi intervened and demanded Sankara to debate with Her on issues concerning marital life and should win her too.  Mere fading of Mandanamisra’s garland alone cannot confirm his winning.  As a Brahmmachari, Sankara could not accept the challenge immediately and sought a month’s time from Her. Sankara entered into the body of a dead king Amarukan through his Yoga Shakti (Parakaya Pravesanam) and learnt the family science.  Till Sankara’s return, His disciple Padmapada was taking care of Sankara’s original body.  Sankara came back to Upaya Bharathi, debated with Her and won the contest.  Mandanamishra was allowed to take to asceticism and became disciple of Shankara.

Baghwan Sankara begged Upaya Bharathi a boon that She must come with him to places he goes.  Mother Upaya Bharathi granted the boon on condition that he should not turn back to ensure Her following him and that she would stop at a place where the promise went missed. With Vishwarupa-Mandanamishra, Sankara now had four disciples.  He continued his mission.  Mother Upaya Bharathi was following with the sound of Her anklets.

On reaching a region in western ghats, Sankara saw a snake and frog in friendly relationships.  Cow and tiger were playing together.  The Acharya thought that it was an ideal place for Yogis to stay.  Meantime, the musical sound of the anklets of Mother Upaya Bharathi stopped, Sankara turned back.  Sankara immediately installed the Sri Chakra on a rock there and installed Devi with the name Sharada.  Mother appeared before Sankara and said that this would be known as Sharada Peetam and that Her power would be with the pontiffs of the Peetam to grace the devotees.  Mandanamishra, now Sureshwara became the first pontiff of Srigeri Sharada Peetam.