Sodhe


Sodhe also called Sodha, Sonda or Swadi is a village near Sirsi in the Sirsi district of Karnataka in India.

Matha

Sodhe 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 Sodhe. The main deities worshipped at the Sodhe matha are Lord Bhuvaraha and Lord Hayagriva. Sri Bhuta Raja is also worshipped here.
Other places to visit near Sodhe 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, and Digambar Jain temples are also situated at Sodhe.

Parampara of Sodhe Matha

  1. Sri Madhvacharya
  2. Sri Vishnu Tirtha
  3. Sri Vyasa Teertha
  4. Sri Vedagarbha Teertha
  5. Sri Varesha Teertha
  6. Sri Vamana Teertha
  7. Sri Vasudeva Teertha
  8. Sri Vedavyasa Teertha
  9. Sri Varaha Teertha
  10. Sri Vedatma Teertha
  11. Sri Vishvavandya Teertha-I
  12. Sri Ratnagarbha Teertha
  13. Sri Vedanga Teertha
  14. Sri Vidyapati Teertha
  15. Sri Vishvavandya Teertha-II
  16. Sri Vishva Teertha
  17. Sri Vittala Teertha
  18. Sri Varadaraja Teertha-I
  19. Sri Vageesha Teertha
  20. Sri Vadiraja Tirtha
  21. Sri Vedavedya Teertha
  22. Sri Vidyanidhi Teertha
  23. Sri Vedanidhi Teertha
  24. Sri Varadaraja Teertha-II
  25. Sri Vishwadhiraja Teertha
  26. Sri Vadivandya Teertha
  27. Sri Vishwavandya Teertha-III
  28. Sri Vibhudavarya Teertha
  29. Sri Vishwadhishvara Teertha
  30. Sri Vishwesha Teertha
  31. Sri Vishwapriya Teertha
  32. Sri Vishwadheesha Teertha
  33. Sri Vishwendra Teertha
  34. Sri Vishwottama Teertha
  35. Sri Vishwavallabha Teertha

Location

Sodhe is part of the Malenadu region, and is surrounded by thick forests and greenery.

Prehistoric rock art

engraved during pre-historic times is found near Sodhe.
and these ancient drawings are dated to c. the first millennium BCE. In these drawings, double lined two squares with intersecting loops are engraved; such drawings can also be found at Hire Benakal, Gavali, Karnataka and such drawings have some resemblance to present day rangavalli.

History

Sodhe or Sonda has a long, recorded history. Sonda kingdom was established in 1555 by Arasappa Nayaka, a Jain chieftain. Sonda was ruled by Sonda Nayakas for more than two hundred years. Arasappa Nayaka as vassal of Vijayanagara Dynasty till the fall of Vijayanagara to Bahamanis in 1565. He continued as the subordinate ruler of Adil Shah till his death in 1598. Arasappa Nayaka established Vadiraj Matha in Sonda which is still in existence. Shivaji, the Maratha Emperor conquered Sonda during 1674 and gave it back to Sonda ruler, Sadashiva Nayaka. Hyder Ali, the Sultan of Mysore attacked Sonda in 1763 and totally destroyed it. The last chief of Sonda, Immodi Sadashivaraya escaped to Portuguese Goa. The ruins of the fort which was protecting Sonda is covered with overgrowth of shrubs. According to Imperial Gazetteer of India, five carved pillars, approximately 3 feet high are the remains of the Sonda palace.