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Sri Kamakshi Sharada Temple, Hebbur |
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The greatest and perhaps the oldest civilization
known to mankind, India, the virtuous land that it is, is acknowledged as the 'Cradle
of Knowledge' where Vedas have originated from.
In the eons gone by, each and every small village
and town of this holy land has seen prosperity in both materialistic and spiritual walks
of life. Among the very many holy places, a few have survived the onslaught of invasion,
natural calamities as well as human decadence in terms of absence of thirst for
Knowledge.
One such holy place to have
survived is the Sri Kodandashrama Math of Hebbur, a small place near the town of
Kunigal in the state of Karnataka. |
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| How to reach ? |
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Hebbur is situated at about 23 kms. from Tumkur on the Tumkur-Kunigal road. From Bangalore, it is about 85 kms. and has to be reached via Kunigal on NH-47 (Bangalore-Mangalore road). Kunigal, being a Taluk, is connected by good, all-season motarable road from Bangalore. Local transportation is available from Kunigal to Hebbur at a fairly good frequency.
Facilities are available for comfortable stay of devotees who may wish to spend a day or two. The nearest airport is Bangalore from where barely 2 hours journey by road takes you to Hebbur, either via
Kunigal or via Tumkur. |
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Brief history of the Math |
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Legend has it that seer Sri Kodandaramashrama Swamy, who moved around atop a tiger and took only sugarcane for food was once caught and lynched by the farmer owning those sugarcane fields. The seer's greatness was such that the inflammation as a result of this lynching was found on the bodies of his family members.
Realizing his folly, the farmer donated his sugarcane fields to the Swamiji and thus the place of Hulikal became a part of today's well-known Math.
The Math, which has a history of more than 300 years, was blessed by Sri Kodandaramashrama Swamy who is said to have solved the problems of the then Mysore Rulers, who in turn dutifully got an Ashram built and also donated lands for the Math.
It is believed that the place had a considerable population of tigers and hence came to be known as Hebbur. Some palm leaf writings have recorded this place as Ghanapuri (equivalent to the Kannada word Hebbur). This place is supposed to have been donated during the time of Gangas to one Nripakama, for which proof is available. Hoysala king Ramanatha then took this place under his rule. Then Hebbur formed a part of the famous Vijayanagara Kingdom and its subsidiary rulers.
It is said that the Sri Chakra, which has a special presence at the Math, was found in a well in the olden days by a devotee and was handed over to Sri Kodandaramashrama Swamiji, who got a temple constructed for the Sri Chakra. From then on, the various Swamijis have maintained the revered status of the Math by conducting Homas, Utsavas at regular intervals at the Math. |
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The Land of Temples |
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After the decline of Vijayanagara Kingdom, Hebbur came under the rule of Mohammadans, the Chieftain of Chikkanayakanahalli, Kempegowda and Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar in due course of time and was established as a business centre.
As said, Hebbur was a land doted with temples of Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti and other local deities, among which many have disappeared over a period of time. The few famous ones to have remained include temples of Lord Anjaneya (Hanuman), Gopalakrishna, Veerabhadraswamy, Shani, Venkataramana, Kerelinga, Byataraya, Bisilu and Neralu Maramma, Thirumala, Varadarajaswamy, Thiruppalamma, Kollapuradamma, Ganapathi and a few others. Many of these have been renovated in recent years thanks to the benevolence of devotees.
The graduation of Hebbur from being just a place of temples to an Advaitha centre is worth mentioning here, earning the appreciation, among others, from the Mahasamsthanam of Sringeri Math itself. Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Dakshinamnaya Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetha performed the Kumbhabhishekam and the consecration of the Sri Kamakshi Sharadamba idol in May 1994, thus firming-up the bond further with Hebbur Ashrama.
Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Thirtha Mahaswamiji again visited the Hebbur Math in May 1999 and was all praise for the significant all-round developments that have taken place under the esteem patronage,
farsighted efforts of Sri Sri Narayanashrama Swamiji who left no stone unturned to make the Sri Kamakshi Sharadamba what it is today. |
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Sri Kamakshi Sharadamba Temple |
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Apart from the temples mentioned above is of course the famous Kamakshi Sharadamba temple in the premises of Sri Kodandashrama Math, named so after its Founder Guru (Swamiji). In the entrance to the sanctum sanctoram one can see Bhairava, Vana Durga, Kumara Swami and Ganapathi with Dwara Palas (guards) in the East, West and South sectors besides Dattathreya, Hayagreeva and Medha Dakshinamurthy idols.
The icon of Devi Kamakshi Sharada is a beautiful stone vigraha (idol) with intricate sculpture. Kamakshi Sharada with her four hands holds Pasha, Ankusha, Pustaka and Akshamala (clockwise). In the book held by Devi, we find the Upanishadic tenet Jivo Brahmaiva Naparah. This is one of the sepcial characteristics of the icon. This main deity is installed on a stone Sri Chakra Peetham on a square block consisting Pancha Pretasana or Pancha Brahma Manchasana (Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Eswara and Sadashiva).
In front of the sanctum sanctorum a spacious prayer hall is built. This is built on 16 pillars to represent Shodashakshara. Also, Navavarana Devathas are installed around the shodashastambha mantapa. Whenever the Swamiji is in headquarters, he conducts discourses for the benefit of the devotees.
Free distribution of Mahaprasada (lunch) is being provided daily for the devotees since last seven years, which is a great achievement in itself. |
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Chronology of Seers |
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His Holiness Sri Sri Narayanashrama Swamiji
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Hebbur Math has so far had the following seers :
Sri Kodandaramashrama (Founder Acharya)
Sri Satchidanandashrama
Sri Raamanandashrama
Sri Brahmanandashrama
Sri Narayana Satchidanandashrama
Sri Ramabrahmanandashrama
Sri Shridharanandashrama
Sri Satchidanandashrama
Among them, Sri Shridharanandashrama brought the Math
to limelight by virtue of his deeds as well as by traveling to different places with a
mission to reach out to more people. It was during his tenure that Sri Shankaracharya's idol
was installed at the Math. Sri Shankara Jayanthi was organized to be performed systematically
during his time. He was a Tapasvi and was held in very high esteem by the Sringeri Peetha
(Math).
The present Swamiji of Hebbur Math, Sri Narayanashrama
Swamiji, has contributed in a great way for the all round betterment of the Knowledge of
public by starting a Veda - Sanskrit school. He has also renovated the Kamakshi Sharadamba
Temple. Swamiji performs the Lalitha Sahasranama and poojas thrice everyday (Trikala) by
himself. He is thus striving to maintain the high standard set by the peers of the Math.
He is an erudite scholar in Vedas, Agama, Sanskrit and Jyothisya.
With the benign blessings of His Holiness Sri Shankaracharya Sri Dakshinamanaya Sri Sharada
Peethadheeswara Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Thirtha Mahaswami of Sringeri, the present
Peethadhipathi of Sri Kodandashrama Math, Hebbur Sri Sri Narayanashrama Swami Granted Sanyasa
Deeksha to viraktha Brahmachari Sri B.V. Narayana Sharma, son of Late
Vidwan B. Venkatarama Bhatta of Bommalapura, Koppa Taluk Chickmagalur Dist. on Monday,
29th January 2001 and taken him as his Uttaradhikari Sishya with the Yoga Patta of
Sri Sri Sadashivashrama Swamiji. |
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'SRI CHAKRA' shaped Temple |
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The ancient Sri Kamakshi Sharadamba Temple was slightly renovated during the years 1939-43 by the then Peetadhipathi Sri Sri Sridharanandashrama Swamiji. Again after about 5 decades, need for complete renovation was felt.
Realizing this, devotees approached the present Peetadhipathi of the Math, Sri Sri Narayanashrama Swamiji, who, even before becoming the Peethadhipathi in July 1994 (with the gracious blessings of Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharathi Thirtha Mahaswamiji of Sringeri Mahasamsthana) decided to construct a sanctum sanctorum in the unique shape of SRI CHAKRA which is worshipped therein. |
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About Sri Chakra |
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Sri Chakra is known as the abode of Adi Parashakthi and is of three types :
1. The platen type called Bhooprasthara.
2. The convex one is called as Kailasa Prasthara.
3. The conical structure is known as Meru Prasthara.
The Hebbur shrine has Sri Chakra of Maha Meru type made in Pancha loha (a mixture of five metals). This Sri Chakra, believed to be more than 300 years old, is unique in structure as compared to other general ones and knowledgeable scholars on the subject have identified this Sri Chakra as Chidambara Sri Yanthra.
This Sri Chakra sits on a Kurma Peetha (Kurma, in Sanskrit means Tortoise). On the Peetha is a Bhoopura. There are eight elephants in a standing posture as through carrying the entire pyramidical structure of the Chakra. A Dignaga (serpent) and eight Sakthi Devathas can be found between the two elephants. Above these icons, there are two more Bhoopuras, which form the platform for the upper structure. On the Bhoopura, we find Lotuses one above the other. The first Lotus contains 35 petals, the second one 25 petals, followed by Lotusses with 22, 18, 12, 8 and 5 petals respectively.
Attention should be drawn here to the fact that the number of petals in this Sri Chakra does not match with any commonly known ones. On this there is a circle. Above this circle, circles of triangles are formed. 14 equilateral triangles can be seen in the lowermost round. Thereafter, two rounds of 10 triangles, then circle of 8 and 3 triangles. The peak point is known as Bindu, which is in the form of Shiva Lingam, signifying the Shiva Shakthi.
Realizing the need for reconditioning of the entire Sri Chakra, the present Peethadhipathi Sri Sri Narayanashrama Swamiji arranged for anointing the outer surface entirely with about 250 grams of pure Gold with the donations of devotees in 1998. |
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The sanctum sanctorum is built on a tortoise (Koorma Peetha). On the Koorma Peetha Bhoopura is laid. The Vimana Gopura looks like the Sri Chakra here. Seven Avaranas of lotuses consist of 35, 25, 22, 18, 12, 8 and 5 petals respectively strictly conforming to the ones in the Sri Chakra. Again, five Avaranas of equilateral triangles consist of 14, 10, 10, 8 & 3 and the Bindu (abode of Shiva Shakthi) at the centre is the Suvarna Kalasha - the peak. Apart from the structural beauty of the Garbha Gruha (sanctum
sanctorum) the Vimana encompasses sculptured works and some rare types of icons. At the bottom, 8 elephants (Ashta Diggajas) and 8 Nagas (hooded serpents) are carved.
This Vimana contains nominally Sri Chakra Avarana Devatas namely, Dasa siddhis,
Ashta Mathrikas, Dasa Mudra Devatas with Nava Chakreswaris, Bala, Mahathripurasundari
and Bhuvaneswari. |
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SRI NARAYANA VANA |
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About an acre of land around the Adhistana Mandira of Founder Swamiji of Sri Kodandashrama
Math Viz. Sri Sri Kodandashrama Swamiji and the Adhistana Mandira of Sri Sri Sachidanandashrama
Swamiji, Sri Narayana Vana in honour of the present Peethadhipathi Sri Sri Narayanashrama
who has been greatly responsible for the all-round development of the Math.
Different species of flowery plants, coconut trees, teakwood plants are planted.
A significant aspect of this Vana is Sri Bharathi Thirtha Pushkarani- a pond which is filled
with mud/earth - has been thoroughly cleaned and the stone steps reset with cement pointing
with a parapet all round. The pond is named so to commemorate the visit of Dakshinamnaya
Sringeri Sharada Peetha Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Thirtha Mahaswamiji to Hebbur on
6.5.1999 when the Jagadguru received 'ABHIVANDANA PATHRA' and delivered Anugraha Ashirvachana,
at this place.
A goshala to accommodate about 30 cows, a cottage for stay of Swamiji whenever he visits
the Vana, a building to house Medical Centre are put up. |
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General Information |
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Choultry of Sri Kamakshi Sharadamba Temple Trust |
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Shashwatha Pooja scheme:
Shashwatha Pooja scheme has been introduced during the last couple of years under which devotees could conveniently participate by offering Rs.501/- which will be kept in deposit and the interest proceeds will be utilised for conducting pooja in the name of the donor or his/her nominee on a day specied by the nominee-say birthdays,wedding aniversaries,in memory of parents etc.Payment is to be made to Sri Kodandashrama Math's name.
Sri Kamakshi Sharadamba Trust:
Sri Kamakshi Sharadamba Trust is a public charitable trust founded by the Swamiji which is managing the free distribution of MAHAPRASADA (Lunch) to the devotees visiting the shrine daily between 12 noon to 1.30 PM without distinction of caste,creed etc. To achieve this noble objective, the Trust has opened 'Nithya Anna Dana' fund.
Contributions to this fund are covered by Sec 80G
of IT Act.
The Managing Trustee is Smt. Usha Devi. She can
be contacted between 7 to 8.30am and 6 to 8.30pm on week days at the following address:
Smt Usha Devi
No.406/A, 7th Main,II Block,
Jayanagar Bangalore - 560 011.
Phone : 91-80-26565402
The details of contributions payable for permanent
offering of Mahaprasadam (Lunch) :
For a Month in a Year Rs.25,001
For a Fortnight in a Year Rs.12,001
For a Week in a Year Rs. 6,001
For a Day in a Year Rs. 1,001 |
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Calender of Special Events |
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Gurunivasa of Sri Kamakshi Sharadamba
Temple |
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1. Chandramana Ugadi-Panchanga
Shravana-Chaitra Shukla Pratipat.
2. Aradhana Of Sri Sri Sridharanadashrama Swamiji - On Chaitra Shukla
Panchami.
3. Aradhana of Math's Founder Guru Sri Sri Kodandaramashrama Swamiji -
Chaitra Shukla Saptami
4. Aradhana Of Sri Sri Ramabrahmanandashrama Swamiji - Chaitra Krishna
Dwadashi.
5. Sri Shankara Jayanthi - Vaishaka Shukla Panchami.
6. Sri Vyasa Pooja - Chaturmasya Sankalpa - Ashada Shukla Poornima.
7. Sri Gowri and Ganesha Festival - Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.
8. Mahabhisheka to Goddess Sri Kamakshi Sharadamba - Mahalaya Amavasya.
9. Sharannavarathra Celebrations (Navarathri)-Aswayuja Shukla-9days.
10. Aniversary Celebrations of installation and Prathista Kumbhabisheka
of Sri Kamakshi Sharadamba, Sri Ganesha, Sri Satyanarayana and Sri Shankara
Bhagavatpada - Chaitra Bahula Sapthami.
11. Aradhana of Sri Sri Sachidanandashrama Swamiji - Magha Krishna
Ekadasi. |
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Advaitha Vidya Prathistana |
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Academy of Advaitha Studies started on19.11.1998
with the blessings of Dakshinaamnaya Sringeri Sharada PeethaJagadguru Shankaracharya Sri
Sri Sri Bharathi Thirtha Mahaswamiji, has taken up publication of books on Sri Shankara's
teachings in Kannada so as to enable common people understand the tenets of Advaitha
philosophy. The prathishtana has already brought out five useful books.
Donations to the Advaitha Vidya Prathishtana
are eligible for exemption under Sec. 80G of IT Act.
The books published by the Academy with the funds provided by
Sri Sri Narayanashrama Swamiji and donations from the philanthropic public are :
1. PARAMARTHA
- A commemorative Souvenir containing articles from eminent Scholars
2. SHANKARASOOKTHI MANDHARA
- by Vidwan.N.Ranganatha Sharma
3. SRIVISHNU PADADI KESHANTHA STOTHRA
- by Vidwan Gargeshwari Venkatasubbaiah
4. DEVISTOTHRAMALA
- With translation in Kannada by Vidwan N. Ranganatha Sharma.
5. SRISHANKARACHARITAMRUTHAM
- by Vidwan N. Ranganatha Sharma
6. SHANKARACHARYARUMATHU ADHYATMA SHASTRADA PUNARUNNATHI
- Translated from English to Kannada by Dr. T.S. Krishna Murthy
7. SRISHANKARACHARITAMRUTHAM
- Text in Devanagari & Commentary in English. Authored by Vid. N. Ranganatha Sharma |
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| Contact Information |
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Ghanapuri Samsthana Sri Kamakshi Sharada Peetha
Sri Kodandashrama Math, Hebbur - 572120
Tumkur District. Karnataka, India.
Phone : +91-816-31032 |
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