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Acharya Bhagwan Sankara installed Mother Sharadambika on the banks of Tungabadra. He handed over Lord Chandramouleeswara gifted to Him by Lord Shiva Himself in the form of a Spatika Linga to the first pontiff of the peetam along with Lord Ratna Garba Ganapathi. The first pontiff of the Peetam was His Holiness Sri Sureshwara. Since the day, pujas are performed to this Spatika Linga by the pontiffs of Sringeri peeta. Mother Sharadambika is but the incarnation of Mother Saraswathi who came to Earth in the name of Mother Upaya Bharathi, representing the combined powers and grace of Lords Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva and Mothers Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi.

Baghwan Sankara belongs to the 8th century.  He was not simply a spiritual Guru but effected many reforms, too fighting against the odds that tried to diminish the glory of Vedic religion.  Shakti worship was of a crude type in those days.  Sri Bhagwat Pada worked hard to bring in acceptable ways of worship of Shakti in a decent manner showing that Mother is all-merciful and not furious as portrayed by the Kapalika sect by demanding the sacrifice of men and animals.  He even risked his own life in the battle.  With just four disciples to preach Advaita philosophy, Bhagwan Sankara established 4 Peetas in four parts of India, Sringeri (Dakshinamnaya) being the first.  Others are Dwaraka (Paschimamnaya), Badrinath (Uttaramnaya), and Puri (Purvamnaya).  Kalady in Kerala is His birthplace.  He ascended the Sarvajna Peeta in Shardi in the north and disappeared at Kedarnath.  He covered the whole of Bharath Varsha in his mission aimed to revitalize our Sanatana Dharma, establishing the four peetas.

During the centuries that followed, beginning with Sri Sureswara, 36 Peetadipathis had presided over Sringeri Sharada Peetam.  Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Swamigal is the present pontiff, all dedicated to the philosophy of Advaita.  His mutt is on the banks of Tungabadra near the temple. 

Durbar darshan is an important festival event of the temple during Navarathri.  During this darshan, Panchanga-almanac- would be read out with chanting of Vedas accompanied by Mangal Vadyas – auspicious music with Aarati to Devi Sharadambika.  Seated on a golden throne, wearing royal robes, crown, valuable ornaments on the chest, and diamond rings and holding a Rudraksha Mala in hand, the pontiff grants darshan to the devotees representing Mother Sharada.  This is known as Durbar darshan.

Sri Kala Bhairava, Sri Hanuman, Mother Kali, and Mother Durga are the guardian deities of the mutt in the east, west, north, and south, respectively. Mother Sharda Devi graces from a temple with a tall Raja gopura.  Sri Vidya Shankar graces from a stone temple nearby.  There are shrines for Baghwan Sankara, Janardana, Hanuman, Garuda, Shakti Ganapathi, Vakeeswari, Sri Rama, Hari Hara, Malayala Brahmma and Subramanya.  The temple's construction began in 1907, and the consecration was celebrated in 1916.