Sringeri

Sringeri is the first of the four pithas established by Bhagavan Sri Sankaracharya. Sringeri is the modern rendering of Sringa Giri or the Mountain of Rishyasringa, a great rishi whose tomb is still preserved, and thousands of pilgrims brave the hard path and repair there worship at the holy shrine.

Sringeri was discovered by Sri Sankaracharya as a place where even natural animosities did not exist, as he saw a frog in labor protected from the scorching rays of the sun by a raised hood of a cobra. He installed at that place the Goddess of learning, Sri Sharada.

He also established a Matha for the propagation of Advaita philosophy, and his first sishya Sri Suresvaracharya was made the head of the Matha. From then onwards, Sringeri has become famous as a center of learning, philosophy and sublime spirituality. It is one of the holy places of India and it attracts many pilgrims.