Why did Maratha soldiers pillage Sringeri Mutt along with other temples in Karnataka?
Research and author : Ameen Ahmed The centuries' old Sri Vidyashankar Temple at Sringeri town. The Sringeri Mutt, among Hinduism's holiest sites, was ransacked by Peshwa Maratha soldiers in mid-1791 CE. By Irrigator at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57547533 Background In 1791 CE, the world of Hinduism trembled in horror. A bunch of horse riding ruffians pillaged Sringeri, in south-western India. The town is home to Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, popular as Sringeri Mutt, one of the four education sites originally established in 8th century CE by Adi Shankaracharya to spread the faith (1). A mid-20th century Hindu nationalist historian described this attack as ‘ an affront to Hindu religion by a brother Hindu, the sad memory of which long remained fresh in Maratha memory ’ (2). On Jul. 6, 1791, Tipu Sultan, wrote a letter to Sri Sachidananda Bharati Swamy, the head of this institution, condemning this attack by the Maratha cav...