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The very utterance of the name Sringeri brings to the mind the image of Sankaracharya
and the temple of Sarada Devi. "I constantly worship my Mother, Saradamba - Goddess of Learning - who is soft with compassion in her glances, who carries the
jnana mudra in her hand, who is full-blown or expanded in all the digits of knowledge, who is blessed in her long flowing hair, who is the walking and watch presiding deity and in front of whom flows the river Tungabhadra,' sang Sri
Sankaracharya.
 Situated about 107 km. from Mangalore, about 95 miles west of Birur in Kadur district of Mysore, Sringeri is well-connected by road and a number of buses ply from all these points. The Sringeri hills are situated about 15 km. from this place. The name Sringeri is derived from 'Sringa' and 'giri.' The name 'Sringa' denotes the great sage Rishyasringa, the sage with an antelope-like horn grown from his forehead, who was brought up by his father Vibhandaka in total seclusion and in total isolation to such an extent he was not aware of the fact that he was not at all aware of the existence of females in the world.
Sringeri is the birth place of Rishyasringa. It was here in these hills that Vibhandaka was pursuing his path of wisdom and stayed with his son who was not at all aware of anyone excepting himself and his dear father. The story of Rishyasringa is narrated in the Bala Kanda of Ramayana and in the Vana Parva of
Mahabaratha.
The sage who didn't know of females
 It so happened that in the country of King Romapada, rains failed for long number of years and he was advised to bring Rishyasringa to his country. "Fetch here by all possible means the sage Rishyasringa (son of sage Vibhandaka) O King! Causing Rishyasringa, Vibhandaka's son a Brahmana well-versed in the Vedas, to be brought with due reverence (to your capital) O ruler of the earth, give away (to him in marriage) your daughter, Santha, according to the scriptural ordinance with devout and unquestioning mind, O monarch!" (Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda, Canto IX, Sloka 12-13)
Santha in fact was the daughter of King Dasaratha, who was given by adoption to King Romapada. The king sent a number of women to the forest who tricked him away in the absence of Vibhandaka and brought him to the country of Romapada. It was Rishyasringa, who conducted the sacrificial fire for Dasaratha that led to the birth of Sri Rama and his brothers.
Temple
The temple of Saradamba was consecrated by Adi Sankaracharya, with a
yantra carved on a rock and with an image of the Goddess carved out of sandalwood. Most of the Sankara Vijayams testify to the fact that the origin of Saradamba is traced to Bharati, who was the wife of Mandana Misra. Bharati challenged Adi Sankaracharya to a debate and Sankara answered all the questions raised by Bharati, who is considered to be an incarnation of
Sarasvati.
At the end of the debate, Bharati granted Adi Sankaracharya a boon, assuring that she would stay on forever in Sringeri. It was in Sringeri that Sankara established his first monastery and a humble wooden structure with a thatched roof was erected. This was worshipped for a long time and during the time of Swami Bharati Tirtha (I) and Swami Vidyaranya, a golden image of Saradamba was installed. It was during the time of Sri Sacchidananda Sivabinava Narasima Bharati Mahaswamigal that the present temple was constructed and the Kumbabishekam was performed in 1916.
 The temple is constructed in the Dravidian tradition with a
gopuram and prakarams. The image of the Goddess is installed in such a way that it can be seen right from the entrance. The Mother of Wisdom is installed on a golden throne in the sanctum sanctorum. There is a large hall in front of the sanctum sanctorum supported by pillars with carvings that exhibit excellent craftsmanship.
The throne of wisdom
The Vyakhyana Simhasanam representing
sarvajna-pitha
or the seat of omniscience is kept inside the temple and is adorned by the Acharyas, when assuming charge of the Math - that is when they are initiated into Sanyasa. They ascend the
Simhasanam during ceremonial occasions like Navaratri festival.
Respected by Muslim emperors
Hyder Ali has written to the Sringeri Math thrice and in one of the letters he announces that 'Nabab Hyder Ali Khan Bahadur sanctions 10½ thousand rupees for journey expenses of the Swami, an elephant, five horses, a palanquin and five camels, gold cloth for the Goddess, five silk pieces and a pair of shawls' for the then Swami to visit his place.
Tippu Sultan had great reverence for the deity. (Tippu has installed a maragadha-lingam in Nanjangode Temple in Mysore as well.) There are 30 communications from Tippu to the Math. In one of his letters he expresses great joy at the Sahasra Chandi Japa performed under the guidance of the Swami, for the welfare of the country.
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