Lambika Yoga Samadhi, Vidyashankara Temple in Sringeri!

A beautiful Painting. Vidyashankara temple is seen in the background. Tunga river is flowing in the foreground.

Idol of Sri Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji at Simhagiri in Sringeri. Also seen flanking Him
are His two foremost disciples – Sri Bharati Tirtha and Sri Vidyaranya Mahaswamigal. Picture courtesy Sringeri.net

The Majestic Vidyashankara temple.

The Vidyashankara temple in Sringeri Mutt has a dome resting on twelve pillars in a circular form; huge monoliths carrying large figures and carrying heavy projecting corbels on top. These twelve pillars are marked by the twelve signs of the zodiac in their regular order, and arranged in such a manner that the rays of the sun fall on each of them in the order of the twelve solar months — and ONLY on that Rasi pillar. 

On the floor is a large circle, marked with converging lines to indicate the direction of the shadows. Windows and doors along the temple walls are arranged such that equinoxes sunrise views reach the deity. The northern and southern gates enable the sunrise view from the hall during solstices. 

The sanctum sanctorum of Vidyashankara temple houses the black Shiva Lingam. The other deities in the temple are Lord Ganesha and Goddess Durga. The Vidya Shankara temple is located on top of an underground cave in which Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamigal (the 10th Pontiff 1229 -1333) remains eternally immersed in Lambika Yoga Samadhi.

A bridge across the Tunga river leads to Narasimhavan, the abode of the Jagadguru and the burial shrines of the previous Pontiffs.

*****

Narrated beautifully by Shri R. Satish in TripAdvisor.

What is a Lambika Yoga Samadhi?
Practice of Khechari Mudra is Lambika Yoga. The technique of the Mudra is explained below. He who practises this Mudra will have neither hunger nor thirst. He can walk in the sky. This Yoga is beset with difficulties. This is a very difficult Yoga. It has to be learnt under a developed Yogi Guru who has practised this Yoga for a long time and attained full success.

It is kept secret by Yogis. It confers great Siddhis or powers. It is a great help to control the mind. 
He who has attained success in this Mudra, will have neither hunger nor thirst. He can control his Prana quite easily.

Khechari Mudra, Yoni Mudra or Shanmukhi Mudra, Sambhavi Mudra, Asvini Mudra, Maha Mudra and Yoga Mudra are the important Mudras. Among these Mudras, Khechari Mudra is the foremost. It is the king of the Mudras. Mudra means a seal. It puts a seal to the mind and Prana. Mind and Prana come under the control of a Yogi.

Khechari Mudra consists of two important Kriyas viz., Chhedan and Dohan.

The lower part of the front portion of the tongue, the frenum lingua, is cut to the extent of a hair’s breadth with a sharp knife once in a week. Afterwards powder of turmeric is dusted over it. This is continued for some months. This is Chhedan.

Afterwards the Yogic student applies butter to the tongue and lengthens it daily. He draws the tongue in such a way that it is similar to the process of milking the udder of a cow. This is Dohan.

When the tongue is sufficiently long (it should touch the tip of the nose) the student folds it, takes it back and closes the posterior portion of the nostrils. Now he sits and meditates. The breath stops completely. For some the cutting and the lengthening of the tongue is not necessary. They are born with a long tongue.

He who has attained perfection in this Mudra becomes a walker in the sky. Queen Chudala had this Siddhi or power. He who has purity and other divine virtues, who is free from desire, greed and lust, who is endowed with dispassion, discrimination and strong aspiration or longing for liberation will be benefited by the practice of this Mudra.

The Mudra helps the Yogi to get himself buried underneath the ground.

Source of the above: yoga-age.com

Wow.

Shankara.