Krishnashram

Infobox Hindu leader
name= Swami Krishnāshram


birth-date=
birth-place= Vitthal,Karnataka
birth-name= Paramēshwar Nāgar
death-date= 1863(8th day of the month of "Mārgashīrsha")
death-place= Shirali, Karnataka
guru= Swami Vāmanāshram
philosophy= Shaivism
Vedanta
honors= *SEVENTH guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community
*Established temples across Kanara Districts
*Started the "Rathōtsav"("Car Festival")
quote=
footnotes=

His Holiness Swami Krishnāshram( Devanagari: कृष्णाश्रम्, "IAST|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. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali)|accessdate=2007-06-24]

He was an able administrator and a learned Sanskrit scholar. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali)|accessdate=2007-06-24] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali)|accessdate=2007-06-24] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali)|accessdate=2007-06-24] His "samādhi"(Shrine) is located at Shirali.

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

Taking Charge

Swami "Krishnāshram" was born Paramēshwar Nāgar [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=89|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|year=2002|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] 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. [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=92|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|year=2002|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] Thus he became the seventh in the "Guru Parampara".

He was a learned Sanskrit scholar [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali)|accessdate=2007-06-24] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali)|accessdate=2007-06-24]

After Swami Vāmanāshram gave up the administration of the "matha" over to his "Shukla Bhat" managers(See ), the affairs of the matha were in disarray. [cite book|title=Guruparampara Charita Saramrita(Devanagari)|year=2002|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali)|accessdate=2007-06-24] Many reforms regarding the collection of "Vantiga"(Donations), the allocation of funds for developmental projects etc were introduced. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali)|accessdate=2007-06-24]

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. [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=96-98|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|year=2002|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM]

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. [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=98|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|year=2002|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM]

Rathōtsav("Car Festival")

"See Rathotsav"

[cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=98|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|year=2002|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM]

Under Swamiji's auspices, the Charriot or Car festival known as "Rathōtsav" was introduced. The first "Rathōtsav" was introduced in 1862. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/rathotsava/teru.htm|title=Shirali Teru|accessdate=2007-06-24] 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.

Miracles

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

Un-earthing Umā-Maheshwar

[cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=103|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|year=2002|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM]

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.

Fire at Shirali

[cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=98|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|year=2002|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM]

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.

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. [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=104|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|year=2002|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] So on the auspicious "Shuddha Poornima" day(15th day) of the month of Kārtik in 1857, [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=104|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|year=2002|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] 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.

Mahā-Samādhi

Swami Krishnāshram fell ill in 1863. On the "Ashtami"(eighth day) of the month of "Mārghashīrsha" that year, [cite book|title=Anugraha-A Saga of Cascading Grace|last=Divgi|first=Jyothi|pages=117|publishers=Shri Chitrapur Math Publication|year=2002|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/books/BOOKS.HTM] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali)|accessdate=2007-06-24]

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 web|url=http://www.chitrapurmath.net/parampara/guru_parampara.htm|title=H. H. Shrimat Krishnashram Swami (Shirali)|accessdate=2007-06-24

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

Notes