Fondled gently by the glittering crystal pure waters of the river Thunga in the spectacular range of the picturesque Western Ghats, lies a small town Sringeri.  Synonymous with sacredness and sparkling with spiritual splendour, this holy abode of Goddess Sharadamba reigns supreme in the hearts of millions.  

            Sringeri is frequented not just by the seekers of spiritual enlightenment, but also by a variety of other classes of people - nature lovers, ecologists, herb hunters and people desirous of puritanical life styles - from all over the world.  Indelible are the impressions that this breathtakingly beautiful seat of Transcendental Knowledge leaves in the hearts of one and all who visit it.  

            The hoary history of Sringeri has it that once upon a time, a great sage by the name Vibhandaka was residing in this serene region of supreme bliss.  By the act of God, the Sage was vested with the duty of rearing a mystical male child with a small growth identical to the Srunga (horn) of a deer on his head.  Hence the Sage named the boy Rishyasrunga.  Determined to distance the boy from the distractions of any material kind,  the sage brought the boy up in complete isolation with the sole motive of elevating the boy to the heights of spiritual excellence.  

            Kept away from any human contact, the boy knew, besides his father, only the animals, birds and plants of the region!  Though the presence of this divine land under the direct care of Sage Vibhandaka was known to the world outside, none dared to enter his hermitage for the fear of being cursed by the sage.  Brought up this way, the boy shone with absolute brahmacharya (celibacy) and astounding spiritual attainments.  The scenic hilly region blessed to have his presence came to be known as Rishyasrungagiri.  By the passage of time, it came to be called Srungagiri and Sringeri.

            Neighbouring the dense forest of Rishyasrungagiri was the country of king Romapada.  His kingdom was in the grip of severe drought for want of rains for many years.  “God’s ways are mysterious.”  So declare the scriptures.  The wise men of this kingdom advised the king that if the sacred feet of saint Rishyasrunga who was steeped in absolute brahmacharya graced the kingdom,  the deadly drought would vanish beyond a trace.  His hopes resurrected, the king consulted his ministers, and they devised an ingenious plan to bring the divine celibate to their kingdom.  Accordingly, a team of women skilled in distracting devout minds was sent to the forest to accomplish the mission.

            Fearing the wrath of Sage Vibhandaka, the team of charmers waited for the sage to leave the ashram for his daily ablutions.  Then they entered the ashram and met Rishyasrunga.  The celestial land, who had not seen any human other than his father until then, felt that the visitors must have been from a different world!  He seemed to derive an indescribable joy hearing their words and partaking of the delicious dish they served.  As Fate would have it, his innocent mind subsequently succumbed to their charms.  In a few days, he left with them to their country, without informing his loving father!

            The moment he stepped into the kingdom of Romanpada, it rained copiously.  His divine presence in the country, brought about a magnificent transformation.  The drought disappeared.  Peace and prosperity prevailed all over.  King Romapada offered the hand of his daughter Princess Shanta in marriage to Rishyasrunga.  Accepting her as his wife,  Rishyasrunga stayed back at the palace.  

            In the meantime, Sage Vibhandaka who had been in search of his beloved boy learnt what had come to pass.  Infuriated, he set off for the kingdom of Romapada.  However, the wise ministers acted appropriately to assuage the feelings of the irate sage.  Pleased by their respectful welcome and comforted by their pious submissions, the compassionate saint soon realised the hand of God in the happenings of the past.  He blessed the couple, returned to Srungagiri, and spent the rest of his life in deep meditation at a shrine of Lord Shiva on a picturesque hill.  Legend has it that when the end of his days arrived, the divine sage’s body was transformed into a bright light which disappeared into the sacred Lingam at the shrine.  This historic shrine namely ‘Sri Malahanikareshwara Temple’ is still present at Sringeri.  

            Informed of Sage Rishyasrunga’s presence in the kingdom of Romapada, Emperor Dasharata submitted his prayers to the divine sage to grace Ayodhya with his visit and officiate the Putrakameshti sacrifice that he was about to perform.  Rishyasrunga compassionately obliged. Immensely pleased with the sincere performance of the sacrifice presided over by Sage Rishyasrunga, the Gods blessed Emperor Dasharata with glorious children including Lord Sri Rama.  

            Days passed and the divine sage decided to leave for Srungagiri to spend the rest of his life in the contemplation of the Supreme.  Having blessed his family the subjects of the kingdom, the saint reached Srungagiri and started spending his life in the shrine of Lord Shiva at the base of a beautiful hill.  When the time came, he left his body and merged into the sacred Lingam in the form of a divine light.  Henceforth the temple was named after him as “Sri Rishyasrunga Temple”, and the mountainous terrain surrounding Sringeri is called Rishyasrunga Parvata (Rishyasrunga hills).

            The region where Sri Rishyasrunga temple is situated is now called Kigga, a small village about seven kilometers off Sringeri.  This temple enjoys a specific significance.  If rains fail any region in the country and the afflicted appeal to the Jagadguru of Sringeri, His Holiness gives directions for the performance of special pujas to Sri Rishyashringeshwara at this temple.  The said region is blessed with rains.