Chikkamagaluru: If Mysuru Dasara is the state festival, Sringeri Navratri is its spiritual twin — a 600-year-old Yati Parampara that has survived empires.Tucked in the Malnad stretch of the Sahyadri ranges, Sringeri is not just a temple town. It is a historic, religious and cultural hotspot, whose ties with the royal houses of Vijayanagara, Mysuru, Keladi, Hyderabad and Baroda are well documented.Of the four Amnaya Peethas established by Adi Shankaracharya in four directions of the country, the Sringeri Sharada Peetham is considered the first. The pontiffs here preserved ancient texts, rituals and traditions intact, even as kingdoms rose and fell.It was during the Vijayanagara Empire that Navratri celebrations began on a grand scale in Sringeri. When Vijayanagara fell, Mysuru Wadiyars continued the tradition. That legacy still continues — Sringeri still celebrates Navratri for nine days with royal pomp.In the nine-day celebration, Vijayadashami Vijayotsava festival starts from Mahalaya Amavasya with Maha Abhisheka to Goddess Sharada. For nine days, there are Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda Parayana, Devi Bhagavata, Shankara Vijaya pathana, Homa-Havana.On the first day of Navaratri, the Goddess is decorated in Rajarajeshwari Alankara and taken in a golden palanquin. Every evening for nine days, the utsava murthy of Sharadamba is taken out in the car street with Dindi and Deepa — the Rajabeedi Utsava.Navratri Durbar: Just like Mysuru, Sringeri also holds a Navratri Durbar. Jagadguru gives darshan in the afternoon, listens to Vedic chanting and blesses devotees.Grand Finale: On the final day — Maharathotsava, Addapallaki Utsava, Teppotsava on Tunga river and Maha Abhisheka mark the conclusion of Navratri.Vijayadashami is considered the victory of our land. That victory festival of Vijayanagara is celebrated as Sringeri’s Sharada Navratri, according to the priests in Sringeri.
