Sodhe

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

Matha

The place is the headquarters of the Sodhe Matha, one of the eight Ashta mathas established by Sri Madhvacharya, the famous Dvaita philosopher. The matha at Sodhe village was set up by Swami Sri Vadirajatirtha.

The Brindavana of Swami Vadiraja Thirtha can be found at Sodhe. The main deities worshiped at the Sodhe matha are Lord Bhuvaraha and Lord Hayagriva. Sri Bhuta Raja is also worshiped there.

Other places to visit near Sodhe include the Sri Trivikrama Temple, Tapovana where Sri Vadiraja Swamy used to meditate, Swarnavalli Matha and Sahasralinga where one can find hundreds of Shiva Lingas on the banks of the river Shalmala. Jain monasteries, (Swadhi jain matha) and Digambar Jain temples are also at this place.

Location

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

Prehistoric rock art

Rock art engraved during pre-historic times is found near Sonda, Uttarakannada district 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.