About Sridharashrama
Varadpur is located at a distance of 5 miles from Sagar in Shimoga district of Karnataka state. The area is part of the Sahyadri mountain range. Since this was the place of residence by the revered sage in the clan in which Swamiji was born, Sridhara swami chose this holy place for his stay and solitary confinement. Swamiji established an ashram and erected the Dharma Dhwaja. He also renovated the Durgamba Temple that was established by Vyas Rushi and is situated near the ashram. Despite the calm and quiet landscape, there was an immense scarcity of water at Varadpur. Realizing this, Sridhara Swami dug out a small hole from the ground with the thumb of his right leg. A small stream of water surfaced and began flowing down. This Stream, known as the Shridhar tirtha, flows with full force till date facilitating people with water supply in abundance.
“The Great Sage of Our Times”, who was renowned for his spiritual attainments and occult powers established the sacred hermitage in 1961. Bhagawan Sridharajee was a great philosopher and sacred Sage like Shankaracharya of amazing energy. He was a curious mixture of a philosopher and a scholar, an agnostic and a mystic, a poet and a sacred saint, and in addition to all this, a practical reformer and an able organizer. He had a large number of devotees all over India. Shri Y.B. Chavhan great leader of India is also such one of them. The place has now become a famous centre of pilgrimage in India and abroad.
Just on the right side of the above mentioned Shri Devi temple there is a Chandrashala and a Peetha from which the holey sage used to preach to the people. At the back of the temple, there are two ancient ponds known as Puja-tirtha and Ahnika-tirtha. Tehre is an ancient cave called Vyasaguha behind the Chandrashala. On the left side of the temple, there is a square pond called Devi-tirtha in which the pilgrims and devotees take a bath. At an elevated place, there are shrines dedicated to Kshetrapala, Sri Ramachandra and Sri Hanuman. There is an ancient ruined Mutt called Sri Rameshwara Matha which was of Shankara Sampradaya. Another ancient sacred pond named the Agastya-tirtha also called Rama-tirtha is behind the shrine of Shri Ramachandra.
While climbing the natural beautiful environmental here, one can see a group of three rooms called Vishrantikuteera (rest hermitage), where the great Sage used to take rest. A Gurukula called Shri Sridhara Sangha Veda Vidyalaya (Vedic and Sanskrit study centre as ancient forest Gurukula system) is also being run here for teaching Sanskrit and Vedas. At a little distance further on the right side there is a sacred pond called Shridhara tirtha. The water from Sridhara Tirtha flows down and joins the Tirthakunda. Sacred Vyasa Taposthana is a spot where the great Sage Sridhara Swamiji used to meditate. There is a small shrine here dedicated to Vyasa Ganapathi. About 50 steps further up there is Sridhara Kutira in which the great sage Sridhar Swami spent Charturmasya months. There is a cave known as Sridhara Guha Kurita in which the great sage Sridhar Swami did Ekantha Tapas (lonely solitary meditation). A glorious Dharma Dhwaja Sthambha (religious emblem pillar) was set by the sage close-by. At the bottom of it, there is a small room in which the Padukas (lotus feet) of the sage are kept and worshipped. A Goshala (cow shed) is now also maintained by the hermitage. The disciples of the Swamiji is now looking after the entire hermitage.
The sacred hermitage and ancient temple which are located in an environment friendly atmosphere have become a real abodes of peace.
An ancient unique Portuguese decorated (carvings) wooden panel existed in the temple is deposited in the office of the Archaeological Department, Mysore.
