Sonda Mutt

Also called Sodhe or Sodha, this is a small village near Sirsi in Uttara Kannada. Famous for ‘Sodhe Matta’ or ‘Mutt’ located here; this place lies in the interior Malnad region and is surrounded by forests all around. The Matta houses the ‘Brindavana’ or Samadhi of Swami Vadiraja Thirtha, and is one of the prominent places of worship and a significant pilgrimage centre for Madhava sect of Brahmins. The Mutt in Sonda is dedicated to the deities of Lord Bhuvaraha, Lord Hayagriva and Sri Bhuta Raja.
As you approach the mutt, there is a lake known as the ‘Hayagriva Samudra’. There are two other holy tanks, namely ‘Dhavala Ganga’ and ‘Sheethala Ganga’. According to a belief, waters of these tanks is actually confluence of all the holy rivers of India. The main ‘Brindavana’ is surrounded by 4 others in a pattern that is a perfect square.

The mutt itself is a place of high religious significance and is visited by thousands each year. Rolling coconuts is a tradition here and followed by many. The small ‘Trivikrama temple’ in the premises and ‘Tapovana’ where Sri Vadiraja Swamy used to meditate are the other places of interest in Sodhe.