Sonda (also called Sode or Sodhe) is a village near Sirsi in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka in India.[1]
Location
Sodhe is a village in the Malenadu region, surrounded by thick forests. It is 22 km from Sirsi and 13 km from Hulekal.
Prehistoric rock art
Prehistoric Rock art has been found near Sodhe.[2] [3] It comprises engravings and drawings dated to c. the first millennium BCE.[citation needed] In them, double sided squares with intersecting loops are engraved/ drawn. Such drawings have also been found at Hire Benakal, Gavali, Karnataka.[2] They have some resemblance to present day rangoli/ rangavalli.
History
Sodhe or Sonda has a long, recorded history. Sonda kingdom was established in 1555 by Arasappa Nayaka, a Jain chieftain (1555–1598). Sonda was ruled by Sonda Nayakas for more than two hundred years (1555–1763). Arasappa Nayaka remained vassal of the Vijayanagara Empire till the fall of Vijayanagara to the Adil Shahis 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.[4] The ruins of the fort which was protecting Sonda is covered with overgrowth of shrubs.[4] According to Imperial Gazetteer of India, five carved pillars, approximately 3 feet high are the remains of the Sonda palace.[4]
Temples
Jain temples
There are Jain monasteries, like Swadhi Jain matha and Digambar Jain temples situated at Sodhe.[4]
Sonda Mutt (Sodhe Vadiraja Matha)
The Sonda Mutt (also known as the Sodhe Vadiraja Matha) is a prominent Hindu monastery and one of the Ashta Mathas of Udupi established by Madhvacharya in the 13th century. While the lineage (parampara) of the Mutt originated in Udupi with Vishnu Tirtha (Madhvacharya’s brother) as its first pontiff, the monastery’s headquarters were shifted to its present location in Sonda by Vadiraja Tirtha in the 16th century.[5]
Sri Vadiraja Tirtha, the 20th swami in the lineage, established the Mutt in Sonda under the patronage of the local ruler, Arasappa Nayaka. He is credited with the spiritual and architectural development of the complex, which serves as the propagation center for the Dvaita school of philosophy.[6][1][7][8]
Spiritual Significance: The Mutt is the final resting place (Brindavana) of Sri Vadiraja Tirtha, a legendary figure in the Madhva tradition known for his scholarly works, social reforms, and spiritual powers. Unlike most saints whose Samadhis are single structures, the main Brindavana here is unique:[1]
The Five Brindavanas: Sri Vadiraja is believed to have entered his Brindavana alive (Sajeeva). His central Brindavana is surrounded by four others, forming a perfect square.[1]
Deities: The Mutt is dedicated to the worship of Lord Bhuvaraha, Lord Hayagriva, and Sri Bhutaraja.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e “Sonda Mutt”. Times of India. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ^ a b Dr. A, Sundara. “Pre historic art in Karnataka”. Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts(IGNCA). Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ kannada, classical.org. “Mural Paintings of Karnataka”. classicalkannada.org. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d “Sonda:Imperial Gazetteer of India, Vol.23, (1908)”. uchicago.edu. p. 82. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ Hebbar, B. N. (2004). The Viśiṣṭādvaita of Rāmānuja and the Dvaita of Madhva. Bhartiya Kala Prakashan. p. 152. ISBN 978-8180900495.
- ^ Kamath, Suryanath U. (1980). A Concise History of Karnataka. Bangalore: Archana Prakashana. pp. 278–280.
- ^ “The Eight Tulu Monasteries of Udupi”. Shivalli Brahmins. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ “Udupi Paryaya Utsava”. Karnataka Tourism. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
