Vamanashram

Infobox Hindu leader
name= Swami Vāmanāshram


birth-date=
birth-place= Mangalore,Karnataka
birth-name= Shukla Bhat(Family name)
death-date= 1839(9th day of the month of Kartik)
death-place= Mangalore
guru= Swami Keshavashram
philosophy= Shaivism
"Tyāga"(sacrifice material pleasures for moksha
Vedanta)
honors= SIXTH guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community
quote=
footnotes=

Swami Vāmanāshram (Devanagari: वामनाश्रम्, "IAST|Vā.ma.nā.śram") was the Sixth guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community(6th in the "Guru Parampara"). His period of reign was for 16 years from 1823 to 1839 [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Vamanashram Swami (Mangalore)|accessdate=2007-06-24] .

Swami Vāmanāshram had been under the tutelage of his guru Swami Keshavāshram for a period of 19 years. This helped him gain mastery over the Vedas, Upanishads and other Sanskrit scriptures. He was considered a "Bramha-jñāni"(All knowing one) [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=88|year=2002|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] . He attained "Mahā-samādhi"(died) in 1839 at Mangalore. He was succeeded by his "shishya"(disciple) Krishnashram. The "samādhi" of Swami "Vāmanāshram" is located at Mangalore [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Vamanashram Swami (Mangalore)|accessdate=2007-06-24] .

("Note: Henceforth in this article " Swamiji " will refer to Swami Vāmanāshram only)

Taking Charge

Swami Vāmanāshram was from the "Shukla Bhat" family from Mangalore. He had been ordained as the successor to Swami Keshavāshram in 1804. So under the tutelage of Swami "Keshavāshram" for 19 years, he could gain great knowledge on the Sanskrit scriptures of India [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=88|year=2002|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] . By the time he was the "Mathādhipati"(Head of the Chitrapur Math), he had gained mastery over it.

Swamiji was formally ordained as the Guru of the community after Swami "Keshavāshram" attained "Mahā-samādhi"(died) on the 9th day of "Mārgha" month in 1823 [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=87|year=2002|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] .

Swamiji was a man who was deeply involved in spiritual pursuits. So he could not concentrate on the administration affairs of the "matha" and affairs of the community in general. In order to reduce the burden, he gave total responsibility of the administration to the "Shukla Bhat" managers [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Vamanashram Swami (Mangalore)|accessdate=2007-06-24] . After giving charge to the Manager, he could pursue his spiritual conquests.

Shishya Sweekar

Upon the insistence of his devotees to accept a disciple to help him discharge the affairs of the community, Swamiji consented in accepting a "shishya"(disciple). The successor was found in the hamlet of "Vitthal" in Karnataka when Swamiji had come to visit. His name was Parameshwar Nagar who hailed from the Nagar family. The priest of the Shri "Vishweshwar Vitthal" temple had told swamiji about this young boy who radiated with energy and potential [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=89|year=2002|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] .

In the month of "Jyēshta" in 1836 [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=89|year=2002|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] , Swamiji formally ordained his "shishya" as Krishnāshram. Thus another link was added to the Guru Parampara on that day. Swamiji handed over the responsibilities of administration to "Krishnāshram" while he continued his never-ending quest for spiritual knowledge [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=88|year=2002|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] .

Tyāga: The Sacrifice

The administration of the "matha" and its treasury was materialistic pleasures that the Swamiji denounced. He relinquished the responsibilities over to his "shishya" and the "Shukla Bhats". He was an embodiment of compassion, forgiveness and austerity. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/ourmaths/mangalore/mangalore.htm|title=Mangalore Math|accessdate=2007-06-22]

Mahā-Samādhi

Swamiji went to visit his devotees in Mangalore in 1839. It was during this visit that he became seriously ill. His health was rapidly deteriorating [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/ourmaths/mangalore/mangalore.htm|title=Mangalore Math|accessdate=2007-06-22] .

On the 9th day of the month of "Kārtik" in 1839 [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=92|year=2002|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] , Swami Vāmanāshram attained "Mahā-samādhi"(died). The devotees of Swamiji, constructed his "samādhi"(shrine) and poured tender coconut water as Abhisheka. His samādhi is now the "matha" at Mangalore. Devotees offer "seva"(service) as "Shiyala Abhisheka". Tender coconut("Shiyala" in konkani) water is poured on the shrine as abhisheka. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/ourmaths/mangalore/mangalore.htm|title=Mangalore Math|accessdate=2007-06-22]

References

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

*cite book|title=Guruparampara Charita Saramrita(Devanagari)|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM

*cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/ourmaths/mangalore/mangalore.htm|title=Mangalore Math|accessdate=2007-06-22

Notes