Sri Adi Shankaracharya Sri Sharada Lakshminarasimha Peeta

Sreemath, Hariharapura, Koppa Taluk, Chickmagalur Dist., Karnataka, India.

Hariharapura, the holy land, located on the banks of River Tunga is where the Lord Daksha Prajapathi performed his great Yajna (Sacrifice), according to Skanda Purana (Sahyadri Kaanda). Lord Parama Shiva appeared from the ‘Yajna Kunda’ as Dakshahara Someshwara and blessed all. There is a ‘Swayambhoo Someshwara Temple’ here and hence it is considered as Yaga Bhoomi and sacred, auspicious and effective for performing homa, havana and yajnas.

This “Yaga Bhoomi’ became a ‘Tapo Bhoomi’ later, when Sage Agasthya stayed here and did penance (Tapas). The Lakshminarasimha Saligrama, worshipped by Sage Agasthya is in the main shrine at Hariharapura even today.

Later, this holy land of sacrifice and tapas turned into a land of wisdom/knowledge (Jnana Bhoomi) when Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya installed Sri Chakra Yantra and consecrated the idol of Sharada Paramesheari, the Goddess of knowledge and gave ‘mantra diksha’ to Sri Sri Swayamprakasha Krishna Yogendra Saraswathi Mahaswamiji, the first Guru of this Peetam.

This yaga, Tapo and Jnana bhoomi having closeness to Lord Shiva was earlier known as ‘Kapaalam’. About 600 years ago, the Emperor of Vijayanagar Empire, Harihara Raya constructed an Agrahara here and gifted several villages to the Peetadhipathi Sri Sri Ramachandra Saraswathi Mahaswamiji. Hence this place came to be known as Hariharapura. So far 25 Gurus have adorned this Peetam and have been upholding, protecting and propagating (Dharma Samrakshana, Paripaalana and Prachara) the ancient ‘Sanathana Hindu Dharma’ in spite of many adverse situations, ups and downs in the country, socially, politically and spiritually with the strength of ‘tapas’ of the successive Gurus.

With the blessings of Goddess Jaganmatha, the present Guru, Parama Poojya Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Swayamprakasha Sachidananda Saraswathi Mahaswamiji has made a ‘Sankalpa’ to renovate and build this ancient temple to its grand glory with all necessary stone structures. Reputed Sthapathis have created the design of the proposed temple and it is estimated to cost about Rupees Ten Crores. God resides in the hearts of his devotees and those who realize this are closer to his most. Such of the dedicated devotees joining hands and extending support to Sri Swami’s Sankalpa in the noble cause of the temple reconstruction are highly virtuous. This ‘Kshetra’, Hariharapura a triangle of Yaga Bhoomi, Tapo Bhoomi and Jnana Bhoomi is destined to have this grand and majestic temple with shrine of Kailaseshwara, Lakshiminarasimha, Sharada Parameshwari and His Holiness has directed that all earnest and sincere devotees should come up with great support to this noble cause. Appeal is made to devotees are welcome to contribute for the stones for the construction, each stone costing Rs. 5001 and thereby share in the eternal structure and be recipient of the blessings of God and Guru.

In addition to continuing the traditional Pujas, Utsavas etc. His Holiness Sri Swamiji is also very much involved in ‘reaching out’ to various people for Dharma Prachara and goes on Yatra frequently. Towards carrying out these activities, Sri Swamiji has created the following organizations.

All are welcome to visit Hariharapura, the holy land, have Dharshan of Goddess Sharada Paramesheari, Lord Lakshminarasimha and Sadguru and receive the blessings.

Divya Kshetra