Krishnashram

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Swami Krishnāshram
Place of birth Vitthal,Karnataka
Birth name Paramēshwar Nāgar
Date of death 1863(8th day of the month of Mārgashīrsha)
Place of death Shirali, Karnataka
Guru/Teacher Swami Vāmanāshram
Philosophy Shaivism
Vedanta
Titles/Honors *SEVENTH guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community
*Established temples across Kanara Districts
*Started the Rathōtsav("Car Festival")
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His Holiness Swami Krishnāshram( Devanagari: कृष्णाश्रम्, Kṛ.sh.nā.śram ) was the SEVENTH Guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community. He was the seventh Mathādhipati and head of the community. His reign lasted for 24 years from 1839 to 1863.[1]

He was an able administrator and a learned Sanskrit scholar.[2] Under his reign several infrastructural developments were brought about which included construction of temples and the renovation of existing ones. He added several land assets to the Chitrapur Math.[3]It was under his regime that the Rathōtsav("Car Festival") was introduced.(See topic below)

Swami Krishnāshram was succeeded by his disciple Pandurangāshram as the head of the community after he attained Mahā-samādhi(died) in 1863. He was considered as the "Patron saint" of the of Shirali and its adjoining villages.[4] His samādhi(Shrine) is located at Shirali.

(NOTE: Henceforth in this article Swamiji will refer to Swami Krishnāshram)

Contents

[edit] Taking Charge

Swami Krishnāshram was born Paramēshwar Nāgar[5] in the tiny hamlet of Vitthal in Karnataka. He took charge of the affairs of the community after his guru Swami Vāmanāshram attained Mahā-Samādhi(died) on the 9th day of the month of Kartik in 1839.[6] Thus he became the seventh in the Guru Parampara.

He was a learned Sanskrit scholar[7] who had gained mastery over the scriptures while under his guru. Devotees flocked from different parts of the country to hear the Āshirvachans(Spiritual Discourses) of Swamiji. He was able to bring around many devotees from their Dvaita Vaishnava practises.[8]

After Swami Vāmanāshram gave up the administration of the matha over to his Shukla Bhat managers(See Relinquishing responsibilities), the affairs of the matha were in disarray.[9]The administration of the matha was taken care of Swamiji who was an able administrator. With the help of his trusted assistant Lajmi Venkatarāmanayya, the affairs of the matha were set right.[10] Many reforms regarding the collection of Vantiga(Donations), the allocation of funds for developmental projects etc were introduced.[11]

[edit] Infrastructural Development

Swamiji was keenly interested in establishing temples and mathas and renovating already existing ones. Under his leadership, the Shri Subramanyeshwar Temple at Nilekani(Sirsi) and the Shri Anantēshwar Temple at Vitthal were some of the temples that were renovated.[12]

The Umā-Maheshwar Temple at Mulki was constructed after the residents of that panchayat requested Swamiji for a temple. Swamiji himself installed the Umā-Maheshwar deity in the temple.[13]

[edit] Rathōtsav("Car Festival")

See Rathotsav

[14]

Under Swamiji's auspices, the Charriot or Car festival known as Rathōtsav was introduced. The first Rathōtsav was introduced in 1862.[15] In this week-long festival, Lord Bhavanishankar adorns the ratha(Charriot) which hundreds of devotees pull around the entire village. The Mathādhipati(Head of the community or Guru) sits on the ratha. An integral part of the festival is the Pālki Utsav(Palanquin festival) where the Lord Bhavānishankara adorns the pālki(palanquin) and travels a different route every day to "visit" his devotees. Devotees offer their prayers and seek blessings from the Lord on these days. Each day, the Lord takes a different route. The route taken is always marked by glowing lights and crackers to welcome the Lord.

This festivity is marked by chanting of'Vedic mantrās(hymns) along with Bhajans(devotional songs). Prasād bhojan(food served as prasad) is served to each and every devotee. This food is prepared by the voluntary work of the devotees, including the cutting and chopping of vegetable to the serving of the food. Any small work done towards the betterment of the festival is considered as Seva(Selfless Service) to Lord Bhavanishankara. The Rathōtsav is the time when the entire community unites to take part in the festivity.

[edit] Miracles

There are famous stories about miracles that Swami Krishnāshram has been attributed to.

[edit] Un-earthing Umā-Maheshwar

[16]

Once Swamiji had a dream in which the Lord Bhavānishankar guided him to the jungles of Gersappe in Shimōga. There he was shown an idol of Umā-Maheshwar hidden in the deep jungle. Swamiji guided his followers to the place as shown in his dream. At the exact same location as in the dream, an exquisite sculpture of Umā-Maheshwar was unearthed.

In the traditional way, this idol was installed near the shrine(Samādhi) of Ādi Parijñānāshram Swamiji at the Bhandikeri Math(Ādi Matha) in Gokarn.

[edit] Fire at Shirali

[17]

One year during the Pāliki Utsav(Palanquin festival: See Pālki Utsav) in the month of Kārtik at Shirali, the people ignored the festival. They did not light lamps nor offer flowers and Ārtis to the Lord. They shunned and turned their backs onto Lord Bhavānishankara.

Swamiji wanted the people to believe that whatever they offer to the Lord was not theirs but belonged to the Lord in the first place. The good life that people enjoyed were because of the grace of the Lord and selfishness and ignorance does not play any role in success. So that night, as if by divine will, a devastating fire swept across Shirali that resulted in wanton destruction. How much ever the people tried, the fire would not extinguish. The people realized their folly and sought forgiveness at the Swamiji's feet. As if by divine intervention, the fire was extinguished and further losses were prevented.

[edit] Shishya Sweekār

The devotees of Swamiji asked him to accept a shishya(Disciple) so as to continue the holy Guru Parampara. Swamiji graciously accepted. So the search was on to find a suitable successor to Swamiji.

The successor was found in Kālappa Shāntapayya, a smart and intelligent boy from Mangalore.[18] So on the auspicious Shuddha Poornima day(15th day) of the month of Kārtik in 1857,[19] Swami Krishnāshram ordained his shishya and named him Pāndurangāshram. Thus another link was added to the Guru Parampara. Pāndurangāshram would go on to learn under his guru for a period of 6 years.

[edit] Mahā-Samādhi

Swami Krishnāshram fell ill in 1863. On the Ashtami(eighth day) of the month of Mārghashīrsha that year,[20] His Holiness Swami Krishnāshram attained Mahā-samādhi(died). After being at the helm of the community for a dynamic period of 24 years where the community faced a lot of changes, the mortal remains of Swamiji bid adieu to the world. His shishya Pandurangāshram succeeded him as the next guru of the community. The samādhi(Shrine) of Swami Krishnāshram is located at the Chitrapur Math in Shirali between the samādhis of Swami Parijnanashram II and Swami Keshavashram.[21]

Preceded by
Swami Vāmanāshram		 Guru of Sāraswats
1839 – 1863		 Succeeded by
Swami Pāndurangāshram

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  2. ^ H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  3. ^ H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  4. ^ H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  5. ^ Divgi, Jyothi (2002). Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace, 89. 
  6. ^ Divgi, Jyothi (2002). Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace, 92. 
  7. ^ H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  8. ^ H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  9. ^ (2002) Guruparampara Charita Saramrita(Devanagari). 
  10. ^ H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  11. ^ H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  12. ^ Divgi, Jyothi (2002). Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace, 96-98. 
  13. ^ Divgi, Jyothi (2002). Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace, 98. 
  14. ^ Divgi, Jyothi (2002). Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace, 98. 
  15. ^ Shirali Teru. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  16. ^ Divgi, Jyothi (2002). Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace, 103. 
  17. ^ Divgi, Jyothi (2002). Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace, 98. 
  18. ^ Divgi, Jyothi (2002). Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace, 104. 
  19. ^ Divgi, Jyothi (2002). Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace, 104. 
  20. ^ Divgi, Jyothi (2002). Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace, 117. 
  21. ^ H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.