The Chandramouleeshwara Linga

The Linga of Sri Chandramoulishwara crystal linga, radiant like the moon, representing Jnana and bliss, is the principal idol of worship not only in Sringeri but also in the other three Amnaya Peethams - Badri, Dwaraka and Puri. Legend has it that this Sphatika linga, along with those of the other three Amnaya Peethams aswell, was handed over by Sri Adi Shankaracharya to his four disciples. Sri Adi Shankaracharya himself received the four lingas from Lord Shiva. Since then, the Lingas have been propitiated by the various Acharyas who have adorned the Peethams.

Today, the Chandramouleeshwara linga is propitiated thrice a day, morning and evening with "Shodasha-Upachara" as ordained in the scriptures.

Devotees also get the rare previlage of having a darshan of the Jagadguru worshipping the Chandramouleeshwara Linga in the night. The Jagadguru propiatiates Lord Chandramouleeshwara as the vedas are chanted admidst rituals through the pooja.

Along with the Chandramouleeshwara Linga, also present is the Sri Chakra, or the mystic sybol denoting Shakti. Special Sri Chakra Pooja is offered by Jagadguru on Fridays, immidiately after the Chandramouleeshwara Pooja. Devotees can also have darshan of this event.

Apart from the Chandramouleeshwara Linga and Sri Chakra, idols of other deities can be aswell seen. These include the linga of the famous Appaya Deekshita, Sri Ratna Garbha Ganapati, Lord Subrahmanya Swami, and others.

It is noteworthy that the Jagadguru Shankaracharya, distributes teertham of Lord Chandramouleeshwara to devotees with his holy hands in the morning just after the morning pooja conculdes.