Parijnanashram I

Infobox Hindu leader
name=Swami Parijnanashram I


birth-date= Unknown
birth-place=
birth-name=
death-date= 1720 (Krishna Chaturdashi day of Chaitra Month)
death-place= Gokarn
guru= Lord Bhavanishankar
philosophy= Shaivism,Dharma as path to Moksha
honors=First Guru of Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins
Established "Adi-matha" at Gokarn
quote=
footnotes=

Swami Parijnanashram I or Adi Parijnanashram(Devanāgarī: Unicode|आिद पिर्ज्ञानाश्रम ्, "IAST|Ādi Pari.jñān.āśram") was the first guru and "Mathadhipati"(Head of a community,that is, Head of a "matha" or community monastery) of the Chitrāpur Sāraswat Brahmins. He is supposed to have been ordained by Lord "Bhavanishankara(IAST|Bha.vā.ni.śan.kar)" to guide the Chitrāpur Sāraswat Community in 1708("See Ordination").

He was a "Sanyasi" who was a Kashmir Sāraswat Brahmin [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=Shrimat Parijananashram Swamiji -I (Gokarn)|accessdate=2007-06-18] . He was asked by Lord "Bhavanishankara" in a dream to come down to the banks of "Kotiteerth"(a water tank) in Gokarn to lead the Chitrāpur Sāraswat community. The community had been faced with an official decree from the King of "Nagar" which stated that unless the "saraswats" had shown him their guru, the community would have to face heavy penalties.("See Royal Decree")

He was a man of great spiritual grace and was a scholar in the Sanskrit scriptures and the Vedanta [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=40] .He established the first "matha" of the community at Gokarn. He was succeeded by his "shishya"(śi.śya) or disciple "Shankarashram(IAST|Śankar.āśram)".Swami "Parijnanashram "I attained "Maha-samadhi(IAST|Ma.ha Sa.mā.dhi)" (death) in 1720.("See Mahā-Samādhi") His "samadhi"(shrine) is located at "Bhandikere" in Gokarn, next to the "Uma Maheshwar(IAST|U.mã Ma.he.śwar)" temple. ("Bhandikere" means lane("keri") of carts("bhandi") )

Before Parijnanashram I

After their migration from the north,the "Saraswats" had occupied highly prestigious posts in administration in the kingdom of "Nagar"(parts of present day Kanara). They were more intelligent and more efficient than the other people of the region. This caused jealousy amongst the other people and they went and complained to the king that they did not have a guru and hence no "spiritual existence of their own". So the King issued them a decree stating that unless the community showed them their guru, heavy penalties would be imposed on them. This included evicting them from their present administrative posts. [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=29|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication]

The elders of the community,in despair, started praying to Lord "Mahabaleshwar(IAST|Ma.hā.ba.le.śwar)" at Gokarn. They had a dream that a "sanyasi" would appear at the banks of the "Kotiteerth", the temple tank, the following day. [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=30|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication]

Swamiji Arrives

On the given day and at the given hour, a "sanyasi" clad in saffron robes and with ash smeared on his forehead, appeared at the banks of "Kotiteerth". This saint was a Kashmiri Saraswat Brahmin who had had a dream about coming to the said location by Lord "Bhavanishankar" himself. He was carrying an idol of Lord "Bhavanishankar" in his cloth pouch.All the people in the community started rejoicing at the sight of this saint with the idol of their "Kula-devata(Ku.la De.va.ta)"(God of the community). [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=30|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication] [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=Shrimat Parijananashram Swamiji -I (Gokarn)|accessdate=2007-06-18]

He was formally ordained as Swami Parijnanashram at the Sri "Vishveshvar Vitthal(IAST|Vi.śve.śvar Vi.t.h.al)" Temple at Gokarn in 1708. [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=41|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication] This was the starting point of the "Guru Parampara" of the Chitrāpur Sāraswats. The people of the community wrote to the King of "Nagar" about their new guru.

The people of the "Chikarmane(IAST|Chi.kar.ma.ne)" clan(belonging to the Chitrāpur Sāraswat community) built a monument called the "Belli Mantap"("Belli Hall/Temple") at the exact spot where the community met Swami "Parijnanashram" at "Kotiteerth" in Gokarn. [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=44|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication]

Shringeri

The King of Nagar had his prejudices about the new guru. So he asked the Sāraswats to get their "Mathadhipati" consented by the "Jagadguru Shankaracharya" of Shringeri. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=Shrimat Parijananashram Swamiji -I (Gokarn)|accessdate=2007-06-18] This shocked the people since the followers of the "Shankaracharya" had been hostile towards their community. [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=37|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication]

Swami "Parijnanashram" was calm at the order and he made the trip from Gokarn to Shringeri to meet with the "Shankaracharya". The people of Shringeri had locked the doors of the temple of goddess "Sharadamba(IAST|Śa.ra.dām.ba)" when Swami "Parijnanashram" arrived at Shringeri. The swamiji stood there at the doorsteps and started praying.

The prayers of the swamiji were so intense that "Jagadguru Shankarācharya" vision where Goddess "Sharadāmba" was irked at the callousness of the temple officials. When "Shankarācharya" went to the temple, he saw that the idol had lost its lustre. [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=38-40|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication]

Immediately he called in Swami "Parijnanashram" into the temple. After discussions with him, "Jagadguru Shankarācharya" was amazed at the in-depth knowledge he possessed in the scriptures,his mysticism and his yogic abilities [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=40|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication] . He immediately gave consent by offering Swami "Parijnanashram" the "Adda Palaki(IAST|A.dd.a Pā.la.ki)"(a palanquin),"Birdu" and "Bavāli"(the usual symbols associated with a "Mathādhipati"). He offered Swami "Parijnanashram" his letter of consent and thus was officially declared as the Guru of the Sāraswats. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=Shrimat Parijananashram Swamiji -I (Gokarn)|accessdate=2007-06-18]

After the coronation, the king of "Nagar" was informed and he came rushing to greet Swami "Parijnanashram". He apologized profusely for having questioned his authority by falling at his feet [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=39|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication] . "Parijnanashramji" was honoured by the King. Even in all this fan-fare and festivity, the Swami is said to have maintained the same calm that he had while the community was in despair. [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=41|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication] After accepting their guru, the official decree was repealed and the Sāraswats could go back to their normal routines.

"Adi-matha"

Once the crisis over the community was over, Swamiji wanted to go back to his 'sannyasa'(life of an ascetic) [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=41] . But the devotees wanted him to remain. After much pleading from the community members he graciously consented. The Sri "Vishveshvar Vitthal" Temple at Gokarn became the abode of the swamiji. Swamiji performed his "Anushthān"(ceremony of foundation) there. This became known as the "Adi-matha"("first community monastery") of the Chitrāpur Sāraswat Community. [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=41] [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=Shrimat Parijananashram Swamiji -I (Gokarn)(1708 - 1720)|accessdate=2007-06-11]

Shishya Sweekar("Accepting a Disciple")

The devotees wanted the "Guru parampara" to continue. So they requested the ageing Swami "Parijnanashram" to accept a "shishya(IAST|śi.śya)" or disciple(who will succeed him as the new "Mathādhipati"). The Guruji graciously alleviated their concerns by accepting a "shishya".

The son of Krishna Kulkarni of the "Haritekār" family was "the chosen one". His "shishya sweekar" ceremony was performed on the "Shudha Poornima(Śu.dha Pūr.ni.ma)" day in the month of "Chaitra" in the year 1720.Swami Parijnanashram ordained his new "shishya" as "Shankarashram("IAST|Śankar.āśram")" [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=45] .

Mahā-Samādhi

As the years rolled by, Swami Parijnanashram's health was deteriorating.The news of the failing health attracted devotees from far and wide to seek his "Darshan"(seeing the Swami) and his blessings. He attained "Mahā-samādhi"(passed away) only 14 days after accepting "Shankarashram" as his disciple. So on the "Krishna Chaturdashi" day of the month of "Chaitra", Param Poojya Swami Parijnanashram's mortal form bid adieu to the world [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=41] [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=Shrimat Parijananashram Swamiji -I (Gokarn)(1708 - 1720)|accessdate=2007-06-11] .

His last words to "Shankarāshram" were(translated to English from [Konkani_language|Konkani):"Lead the devotees on the spiritual path and unto the Lord's grace. Lord Bhavānishankar will always protect you when you face obstacles" [cite book|title=Anugraha-A saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=47] . Thus "Param Poojya Swami Shankarashram I" was ordained as the next "Mathādhipati".

References

*cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=Shrimat Parijananashram Swamiji -I|accessdate=2007-06-11

*cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of cascading grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|year=2002|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM|publisher=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication

*cite book|title=Guruparampara Charita Saramrita (in Devnagari)|year=2002|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM|publisher=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication

Notes