Sodhe Sri Vadiraja Matha (Sonda) — Attraction in Karnataka

Basically, this Matha was constructed by Sri Vadiraja. Later on, it has been renovated and improved with new construction. At the entrance of Sode, a lake known as Hayagriva Samudra is seen. It is the spot where thousands of horses disappeared after defeating the enemy army of Arasappa Nayaka. The Matha is in three stages. In upper stage, there is Trivikrama temple. The Trivikrama temple consists of inner shrine, chariot, corridor with the stone Mantapa. In inner shrine, the idol of Trivikrama, brought by Bhutaraja from Urdhvabadari is found installed by Sri Vadiraja. In chariot portion, the statue of goddess Lakshmi is seen. The chariot has stone wheels. On the pillars of Mantapa, figures of many deities are beautifully carved. In the corridor, there is a well known as Akashaganga. Infront of the temple, there is a tall stone pillar, graced with the image of Vadirajaru seated on swan (Hamsarudha). This stone pillar is a stock sample and symbol proclaiming the unique greatness of Lord Trivikrama and Guru Vadirajaru. In north east direction, there is a holy and powerful presence of Sri Bhutaraja, known as Kshetrapalaka. Other than daily worship in the evening, special adoration is done on Phalguna month Shukla Chaturdashi every year. In the north west, historical stone inscription detailing the gifts donated by Arasappanayaka is seen. Carstreet for festivals, room accommodation in Trivikrama dhama and Rajadhama are also found in upper stage.

Parking and ATM facility are also available to devotees. In the middle, there is office wing, open Sabhamandira, Poojamandira, rooms, kitchen, wells, dining hall etc. The names of two wells are Antaraganga and Sheetalaganga. At lower stage, there is holy pond namely Dhavalatirtha. Around this, small temples of Chandra-mouleshwara, Veenapani Hanuman, Veeranjaneya, Venu-gopala Krishna and Santanagopala Krishna are situated. Back to Veeranjaneya temple, there are 'Yagashala' and 'Goshala' with required facilities. East to the holy pond, there is a big shrine. Inside the shrine, there are Pancha-Vrindavanas of Sri Vadiraja. On the top of middle Vrindavana, the image of Lord Hayagriva exists. Below that there is the figure of Sri Vadirajaru. In the south, there lies the image of Veenapani Hanuman. In the west, there dwells the figure of Gadapani Bheema. In the north, the image of Sri Madhva shines. In the case of other four Vrindavanas, the Dashavatara figures are well carved. The five Vrindavanas signify the holy presence of five forms of god Vayu and Sri Vadirajaru namely Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana and Samana. It hints at the fact of equality and parity between the god Vayu and Sri Vadiraja. Infront of Panchavrindavana, the statue of Vedavyasa is found. The pose of statue of Lord Vedavyasa is distinct and peculiar. In both the palms of right and left hands, there are characteristic marks of Chakra and Shankha. Right side, there is the holy Vrindavana of Sri Vedavedyatirtha. Besides that, the stone inscription of Anuvrindavanakhyana is seen. It is the summarised work of Vrindavanakhyana. It was compiled, got inscribed and installed by Sri Vedanidhitirtha. Around the construction there is a corridor for doing Pradakshina (circumambulation). The small shrine of Bhutaraja is found at the right side of corridor. In the east, there is Akhyanamand-ira. The entire sacred text Vrindavanakhyana is sto-ne inscribed in it. It was the unique and instructed Seva rendered by Sri Vishwottamatirtha. Right of it, there is a small pond called Papavimochana-tirtha. Further in the east, the presence of ten holy tombs of seers is seen. There are five Moola Vrindavanas and five...

Temple is located on a scenic place which is good for photography as well. God is known to be very powerful. It's not a usual temple visit you can do here, formalities to be followed. Before visiting main temple, you need to get coconuts in counter, wash your foot in kalyani (pond) and these coconuts to be rolled out inside bhutaraja temple. Then visit main temple (Brindavana). Note: You should consider one coconut per head. Additional 4 coconuts if you have gone there in 4 wheeler. E.g. if 3 people go in 4W, then you should buy 7 coconuts. Temple provides lunch and dinner which is very tasty. Food serving standards are also good. For breakfast, you just need to update temple previous day so that they prepare food based on head count. There are 2 small hotels near temple but no hygiene. Hotel Krishna can still be considered, as it's homely style food. Only temple provided accommodation is available. They charge rs.250 to 350 for ordinary rooms (on call booking available) which provides 1 cot without bed, 2 mats, no mobile phone charging in sockets and no hot water. They've rooms at rs.500 per day ( no on call booking) which will be filled most of the times. They've rs.1000 rooms which won't have any type of ventilation which creates suffocation and not worth at all even they provide 2 cot/beds, hot water. Room accomodation staffs are very rude and unprofessional in behaviour. They have their own rules. Car parking is free. Sugama and VRL buses ply from Bangalore to this place. By car, BANGALORE-HAVERI-SIRSI-SONDE is the easy route and road conditions are almost good as on MAY2019. There's no one to guide in this place to understand rituals and what to do in temple. Men can't enter temple with shirts/vests.

Overall, this temple mutt visit is more relevant for people those belong to this mutt or follow rituals rather than considering as tourist spot. HOPE TEMPLE / MUTT AUTHORITIES WILL EDUCATE ROOM BOOKING OFFICE STAFFS TO BEHAVE...

281 km north of Mangalore is a small village by the name of Sode. It is also known as Sodha, Sonda and Swadi. This village is special because it is the headquarters of the Sode Matha. The Sode Matha is part of the Ashta Mathas set up by Sri Madhvacharya. A lake known as the Hayagriva Samudra is located just outside the matha. To the west of the lake, visitors can see the Dhwaja Stamba with depictions of the Hamsa and Garuda in front of the Rama Thrivikrama temple. the first stage of the matha. Ahead of this, on the second stage, are the Rajangana and the matha offices. This is the main entrance to the matha. Two wells known as the Antaraganga and Sheetalaganga are on this level.

The Dhavala Ganga tank and Sheethala Ganga tank are set on the lowest stage. The Pancha Vrindavans is located to the east of these tanks. Four Vrindavans representing the presence of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Vayu form a perfect square with Sri Vadiraja Teertha’s Vrindavan in the center. A stone inscription of the Anuvrindavanakhyana can be seen beside Sri Vadiraja Teertha’s Vrindavan. The Sri Vedavyasa temple is located opposite this. In the north is Naga Vana and on the right is the Bhootharaja Temple. Further, towards the east, are tombs of ten holy seers.

Sode is the headquarters of the Sodhe Matha, one of the Ashta mathas established by Sri Madhvacharya, the famous Dvaita philosopher. The matha at Sodhe village was set up by Swami Sri Vishnu Tirtha.

The Brindavana of Swami Vadiraja Tirtha can be found at Sode. The main deities worshipped at the Sode matha are Lord Bhuvaraha and Lord Hayagriva. Sri Bhuta Raja is also worshipped here.

Other places to visit near sode include the Sri Trivikrama Temple, the Tapovana where Sri Vadiraja Swamy used to meditate, Swarnavalli Matha and Sahasralinga which has thousands of Shiva Lingas on the banks of the river Shalmala. Jain monasteries, (Swadhi jain matha) and Digambar Jain temples are also...