Sringeri VidyAshankara Temple

in the Light of Yoga

Viswa N Sharma, San Ramon, California
Introduction: VidyAshankara temple is a monument to
jagadguru VidyA TIrtha, who entered into lambika yoga sajIva samAdhi (consciously entering into meditation to cast
off the body) at the temple site. This fourteenth century
temple is hailed as poetry in stone. It is famously known
for its twelve zodiac pillars (rAshi stambhas) with a zodiac
month sign carved on each of them. The morning sunlight rays illumine the zodiac pillars in regular order of the
zodiac months, according to the temple sources1. The mechanics of this unique astronomical phenomenon is not
found in any of these sources. An astronomical study 2 was
undertaken to see whether the twelve rAashi stambhas
(zodiacal pillars) of VidyAshankara temple, Sringeri have
any astronomical significance; the study concluded that
sunlight rays do not illuminate the zodiac pillars of the
VidyAshankara temple at Sringeri, as claimed by the temple
sources, due to precession of equinoxes. After meticulous
observations, the astronomical study shows that there is
no correspondence between the date of illumination of a
pillar and the date of entry of the sun to a corresponding
rAshi or sign with the exception of two incorrectly marked
pillars on solstices. The study concludes fortuitous alignment of the two pillars can be used to demonstrate the
effect of precession on the Indian Siddhantic calendar.
This article examines the conclusions reached by the astronomical study, in the light of religious symbolism.
Late Shrinivasaraghava Aiyangar3 warns it would be imprudent to conclude that the ancient astronomical works
are incorrect, without being schooled in them, while discussing VarAha Mihiras magnum opus bRuhad jAtaka,
which is a highly acclaimed work on astrology. Aiyangar
illustrates that VarAha Mihira, a master of poetics, codifies
different topics of his work with different poetic meters
and he uses Sanskrit meter (pushpitAgra) to describe rAja
Yoga details in bRuhad jAtaka, along with astronomy and
astrology information. This method of narrating different
subjects with different poetic meters is not obvious and so
one may conclude that his astronomy or astrology is erroneous.
MAHARUDRAM 2012

Following Aiyangars logic, we can observe that word zodiac (rAshi) connotes astronomy and calendars and so it
may seem obvious that these pillars are related to calendars. Since these pillars are erected in a temple, it may also
seem obvious that they follow the siddhAntic calendar. To
properly interpret the data collected and tabulated by the
astronomical study, we need to supplement the data with
the symbolism associated with the temple construction.
We need to study the symbolism of zodiac pillars in a temple to verify that they indeed relate to siddhAntic calendar.
A critical review was undertaken to understand the astronomical study assumptions and its conclusions. This critical review establishes the purpose for erecting the zodiac
pillars in this temple. Once we understand the significance
of the zodiac pillars in the temple, we can then address the
issue of the sunlight rays illumining the zodiac pillars in
their regular order as claimed by the temple sources. A
representative model of the zodiac pillars is constructed
to test the religious symbolism hypothesis and it is shown
to work. First, we offer a critical review of the Astronomical
study.
Critical Review of the Astronomical Study Findings: The
astronomical study shows that the northerly and southerly transit of the sun, during a year, is similar to the motion
of a pendulum; they trace the same path, back and forth.
Therefore, sun light rays illumine only six of the twelve pillars (figure 2). The astronomical study shows that the sunlight rays from the front three doors cannot reach some of
the pillars and when the sunlight rays do reach the other
pillars, the zodiac symbols carved on them are wrong. It
shows further, that the temple faces true east; and the
south and the north doors are aligned to receive the winter and summer solstice sunlight rays; and, the sunlight
rays do enter the temple through these doors on solstices
and equinoxes. That is to say, the astronomical study establishes that the four seasonal markers at the temple site
are accurate.
Weakness of the Astronomical Study: We learn form the
study that the seasonal markers at the temple are accu59

Sringeri VidyAshankara Temple in the Light of Yoga

rate, and that the zodiac pillars are labeled incorrectly. We
also learn form vAstu shAstra and from the Birla Institute
of technology research report 5, that the temple architects
had the requisite knowledge to compute the path of the
sunlight rays precisely, on any day, at a given geographic
location. Therefore, it seems odd that the architects would
mislabel the pillars. Probing astronomical study data further, we can observe that the zodiac signs marked on pillars
appear as if they are oriented for a southern hemisphere
temple. In that case, the data gathered by the study are
accurate. However, the temple is situated in the northern
hemisphere. We need to review the data in the light of
religious symbolism to solve this hemisphere puzzle.
Symbolism of Hinduism: Allegorical art is used to perfection in Hinduism, to simplify comprehension of its abstract ideas and philosophical concepts. However, it is
well known that behind the symbolism there is a realm of
subtle meaning, which when perceived, point to a higher
plane of knowledge. The temple architecture is such an allegorical art. The architecture depicts Vedanta, enlightenment and lambika yoga thematically, as it is a monument
to a philosopher who entered into sajIva samAdhi in lambika yoga, to achieve enlightenment.
Sri Ranga, a great yogi, from Hedatale, Karnataka, studied VidyAshankara temple architecture, in nineteen fifties,
from a yoga perspective. In his exposition4, the temple
narrates enlightening essence of the Hindu philosophy
and spiritual practice using the time (kAla) symbolism. We
explore the significance of the zodiac pillars, following his
exposition.
Exterior Architecture Shape symbolism:

Figure-1 Temple Floor plan with sunlight rays

60

Figure-2 Northern & South Transits

The excellence of the architectural art of constructing the
temple monument for a jagadguru, who taught spiritual
illumination through lambika yoga, is evident in its shape.
In an aerial view, the temple shape resembles that of a tortoise (Figure 1). bhagavad gItA likens a yogis way of life
to that of a tortoise since, a yogi can withdraw from the
sensory world and enter into inner shell of inner world and
vice versa at will.
Hindu Genesis Symbolism: The sanctum sanctorum
(garbha gRuha) situated in the western half of the temple
houses an unusual four faced Icon. The four faced Icon
has vidyAshankara surrounded by brahma, viShNu and
maheshwara. In the eastern half section of the temple,
there is a circular stage around which the zodiac pillars are
housed (figure 1). Sri Ranga explains that this unique Icon
depicts the Hindu genesis, where the divine consciousness becomes the world of names and forms (vishva rUpi).
VidyAshankara represents the divine consciousness and
the trinity represents creation, sustenance and involution
aspects of the universe. In the context of time, VidyAshankara is beyond time (kAlAtIta) as he represents the unmanifested world and the world we live in is time bound.
According to scriptures, maheshwaras cosmic dance depicts the time bound world. The circular stage represents
the cosmic theater of maheshwara and the zodiac pillars
around the circular stage represent the time bound world.
Significance of Sunlight Rays on Zodiac Pillars: Attaining enlightenment in lambika yoga is the philosophical
foundation for the temple. khechari mudra is the core feature of lambika yoga. khechari means moving-about in the
celestial sphere (derived from kham-chara). As the planMAHARUDRAM 2012


ets orbit around in the celestial sphere, they pass trough
the constellation of stars or the zodiac. The zodiac pillars
represent these celestial spheres, of the time bound world.
The macrocosm (universe - brahmAnDa) and microcosm
(individual - pinDAnDa) are allegorically equivalent. In
this sense, human beings have to have an inner celestial
sphere similar to that of the external universe. The internal celestial sphere and the motions in that sphere are detailed in sUta-samhita and jAbAla Upanishad. The zodiac
pillars represent these celestial spheres.
In the Hindu scriptures, the six month northern transit,
and the six month southern transit of the sun, are the
mornings of Gods and night of the manes and night of the
God and morning of the manes, respectively,. These suns
transits also represent the inner world contemplation and
external world contemplations of a yogi. Therefore, an
allegorical morning represents the morning of Gods, the
night of manes and the object of internal contemplation
of a yogi. Similarly, the night of the allegorical day, represents the morning of manes, the night of Gods and the
object of external contemplation of a yogi.
Recall that the external sunlight can only illumine six pillars, due to the pendulum like motions of northern and
southern transits. Recall further that the order of these
six pillar illumination conforms to a southern hemisphere
temple. Therefore, the external sunlight rays represent
only one part of this allegorical day symbolism. The symbolic representation of other part of this allegorical day
has to be explained and the hemisphere puzzle, as discussed previously, has to be solved.
Solution to the Hemisphere Puzzle: We can observe
that if there was a light source from the western side, similar to the sunlight from the eastern side, it completes the
time symbolism to perfection. We can observe that the
door from the sanctum sanctorum facing the zodiac pillars
is symmetrical to the eastern front door (figure 1). If we
study the temple tower, we can locate a very unusual window in the front side. The sunlight from the tower window
can be reflected from the walls of sanctum sanctorum to
the zodiac pillars. We can observe that the reflected light
illumines the rest of the six pillars in the zodiacal order indicated by the signs carved on them. Thus, we can notice
that the reflected sunlight rays solve the hemisphere puzMAHARUDRAM 2012

Sringeri VidyAshankara Temple in the Light of Yoga

zle. We will examine the symbolism of this reflected light.
The Reflected Light Symbolism: The reflected sunlight
from the sanctum sanctorum represents the divine consciousness in the form of light (parama-jyOti) and highlights that Consciousness is Brahman (prajnyAnam brahma). The external sunlight represents the time bound
world. The reflected sunlight rays in uttarayaa and the
external sunlight rays in dakShiNayana illumine the pillars
in their zodiacal order. The reflected sunlight illumination
has to be verified at the temple. The external sunlight illumination can be verified by the data of the astronomical
study.
To observe the sunlight phenomena at the temple, we can
look at the different surfaces of the zodiac pillars, based on
the seasons. Alternatively, one of the two sources of light
can be selected by opening and closing the front door and
the tower window, depending on the season, which agree
with the festival aspects of uttarAyaNa and dakShiNAyana
and the yoga practice and brings the symbolism to perfection.
Conclusion: VidyAshankara temple is a picturesque poem
on the essence of lambika yoga and Vedanta, in stone
sculpture. The architects accent the time symbolism of
their allegorical narration with the sunlight rays. Morning
sunlight rays from the eastern front door and the reflected morning sunlight rays from the sanctum sanctorum
illumine the zodiac pillars in regular order of the zodiac
months.

References:
1. Greatness of shringeri, A publication of dakShiNAmnAya Shri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri (rev edtn, Oct
2001)
2. Zodiacal Pillars of Shringeri, Dr. B.S. Shylaja, Taralaya, Bengaluru, Current Science, Vol. 92, No. 6, 25, 2007

3. VarAha MihIra hOrashAstrram, A.N. Srinivasaraghava

Aiyangar, The Adyar Library, 1951, ISBN 0-8356-7417-7.
4. Amaravani, (v5, v10) aShtAnga Yoga vijnyAna Mandiram, 957 Sheshadri Iyer Road, Lakshmi Puram, Mysuru4
5. R.C Gupta, Solutions of the Astronomical Triangle as
found in Tantra Samgraha, Birla Institute of Technology.
61