Pandurangashram
Encyclopedia
His Holiness Swami Pāndurangāshram( Devanagari
: पाण्डुरङगाश्रम् , ) was the EIGHTH guru
of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community(Head of the community). He was the guru for a period of 52 years from 1863 to 1915(The longest on record so far). He had succeeded his teacher Swami Krishnāshram
after the latter attained Mahā-Samādhi(died) in 1857.
Swami Pāndurangāshram was a Sanskrit scholar, a Yogi
and was a Jyothishi(Astrologer) as well. He believed in the Dharma
(the correct way to live one's life) and was trained in the Sanskrit
Scriptures under Swami Raghunāth Shāstri and 8 other special scholars from Kashmir.
Under his administration, several infrastructural changes were brought about in Chitrapur Village in Shirali and it was made as a "model village" with aspects of town-planning. Moreover all the samādhis(Shrines) of the previous Mathādhipatis(or Gurus) were reconstructed.
He brought about many social changes in the community. He was a firm believer in Dharma
and reprimanded those who did not follow it. He imposed a ban on foreign visits and excommunicated anyone who went abroad.
Swami Pāndurangāshram attained Mahā-Samādhi in 1915 and was succeeded by his shishya(disciple) Ānandāshram
. His samādhi(Shrine) is located within the premises of the Chitrapur Math
in Shirali
.
in 1847. He was named Nāgar Kālappa. As a child he had enlisted among the students of the Chitrapur Math
. He was a bright,intelligent and handsome young boy. His quick perception, superior intelligence and strong willed nature made him a favourite with the incumbent head of the community, Swami Krishnāshram
.
He was ordained as the shishya(disciple) of the incumbent Mathādhipati(Head of the community) Swami Krishnāshram
at the age of 10 in 1857. For 5 years he received guidance under the tutelage of his guru
. He was formally crowned the Mathādhipati after Swami Krishnāshram
attained Mahā-Samādhi on the 8th day of the month of Mārghshīrsha in 1863(See Months of the Hindu Calendar).
Even as a shishya, Swamiji showed his flair for administration. It was he who had mooted the idea of organizing the Rathōtsav(See Rathōtsav). He played an important role in the smooth execution of the first Rathōtsav.
Planned construction of Chitrāpur Village
Development of the Chitrapur Math
Renovation of Temples and mathas(Monasteries)
was an important part of Swamiji's agenda of development. All the samādhis had so far been built with thatched roofs. Under the renovation drive, the thatched roofs were replaced by proper tiled roofs. The samadhi of each guru was reconstructed such that the guru was made seated in the Lotus position
(Padmāsana or Tāmarashāsan).
.
were in a bad state. Under Swamiji's supervision, mathas were renovated.The temples that were in a dilapidated condition, were renovated. Temple renovation was done by the people in the respective villages(in a decentralized manner) where the temple existed. Trusts were established where people contributed to and this money was used by the trust to renovate that particular temple.
. He wanted all his devotees to strictly adhere to curtailing ones senses and not falling to temptations. He would reprimand those people who would disobey to follow the Dharma
. He reasoned that ultimately it was Dharma
that could help one attain the ultimate aim of Moksha
.
and Madras
during the British Rule that helped them gain important posts. This meant that people had to go abroad on duties. Swamiji excommunicated anyone who would travel abroad.
Swamiji believed that foreign visits would expose a man to temptations of other cultures which would blatantly oppose Dharma
. A person's life would be filled with gross materialism and a new culture of forgetting ones roots and even neglecting aged parents, would creep into society. A person would readily forget his spiritualism for the sake of financial benefits.
This was something that the Swamiji just could not stand and so he would readily excommunicate anyone who went abroad. If anyone associated with a person excommunicated, then that person too would be excommunicated. This strong stance from Swamiji was a subject of great criticism.
by name Kulkarni. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Dattatreya
. He had once visited Swamiji at the Chitrapur Math
when Swamiji had given him a mantra
to recite everyday(Called the Gurumantrōpadesh or the mantrōpadesh(advise to recite a mantra
) of the guru
). Kulkarni would recite the mantra
as well as read all the Sanskrit scriptures on a regular basis. He had this ardent desire to have a darshan(have a sight) of Lord Dattatreya
and to capture the essence of the Trinity
.
To seek the darshan of the Lord, he went to Gangapur
which was one of the places Lord Dattātreya is said to have travelled to(See Lord Dattatreya's travels). He spent many days intently praying to have a vision of the Lord but alas this could not happen. He then went to Narsoba(another place where the Lord is said to have travelled to) and prayed intently there too. Here too he was met with failure.
In an act of desperation, Kulkarni took a vow that he would not eat nor drink unless and until he had a darshan(vision) of Lord Dattatreya. On the eighth day of his penance, Kulkarni had a dream of Swami Pandurangāshram beckoning him to come and meet him at Shirali
. Though thoroughly exhausted, the devotee reached Swamiji and fell at his feet. When Swamiji placed his hand on Kulkarni's head, he had a grand vision of Lord Dattatreya "glowing resplendently like the sun".
whose son was dying from an illness that seemed to have no cure. Abject poverty prevented the boy from gaining access to top quality medical care. Usually when Swamiji would visit a place, the devotees would light up the streets with diyas
and flowers. But this family could not afford this either.
When Swamiji visited their household, he gave them sandalwood paste(Gāndh) which was smeared on the head of the boy. He also gave the dying child teerth(holy or blessed water) which he drank.Miraculously, the boy recovered immediately.
came to him to create a document regarding property. Manjunāthaiya created the document and got it registered by Rām Rao. But without the knowledge of Manjunāthaiya, a forged document was placed at his table which was then registered. A case of forgery was later discovered. The two of them were called to the Sessions Court at Mangalore facing trail for forgery of important property documents. They were helpless as all the evidence pointed against them.
Rām Rao went and fell at the feet of Swami Pāndurangāshram, who happened to be in Mangalore at that time. He pleaded to Swamiji to pray for justice to take place. Swamiji went to the samādhi(Shrine) of Swami Vāmanāshram
at the Mangalore matha(monastery) and prayed intensely for justice to Lord Bhavānishankara.
This case had created quite a stir in Karnataka and soon the trial was nearing an end with the Sessions court judge having the opinion that the accused were guilty. It was days before judgement that the Judge was suddenly transferred. When the successor arrived, the heard the entire case and then, to the amazement of all the people, pronounced Kallē Manjunathaiya and Rām Rao innocent.
A description of the other court cases can be obtained. here(July 1954 edition of Sunbeam under title "H.H.Shrimat Pandurangashram Swamiji")
and asked Swamiji to accept a shishya(disciple) who would succeed him as the Head of the community. Swamiji remained silent to all their pleas.
Swamiji was greatly perturbed by the disobedience of community members under his reign: The people who firmly abided by the Dharma
and maintained the tradition of the ancestors, were few in number. The large number of excommunications that the Swamiji was forced to do also played its part in his silence. The devotees had pleaded him to accept a disciple Eight times and all the eight times he had remained silent. He would always pray to Lord Bhavānishankar(The community deity) to give him strength to hold firm in his decision.
But the Lord had ordained otherwise. In the month of Vaiśākha(around time of June) in 1915, Swamiji made a decision to accept a shishya. The son of a priest named Haridās Rāmchandra Bhat was the one anointed. His name was Shantamoorthy. He was ordained as Ānandāshram
during the Shishya Sweekār ceremony(A ceremony where the guru
accepts his disciple).
His period of reign of 52 years was the longest ever on record. His samādhi(Shrine) is located inside the Chitrapur Math
premises and to the left to the samādhi of Swami Shankarāshram I
.
Devanagari
Devanagari |deva]]" and "nāgarī" ), also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal...
: पाण्डुरङगाश्रम् , ) was the EIGHTH guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community(Head of the community). He was the guru for a period of 52 years from 1863 to 1915(The longest on record so far). He had succeeded his teacher Swami Krishnāshram
Krishnashram
His Holiness Swami Krishnāshram was the seventh guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community. He was the seventh mathādhipati . His reign lasted for 24 years from 1839 to 1863....
after the latter attained Mahā-Samādhi(died) in 1857.
Swami Pāndurangāshram was a Sanskrit scholar, a Yogi
Yogi
A Yogi is a practitioner of Yoga. The word is also used to refer to ascetic practitioners of meditation in a number of South Asian Religions including Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.-Etymology:...
and was a Jyothishi(Astrologer) as well. He believed in the Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
(the correct way to live one's life) and was trained in the Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
Scriptures under Swami Raghunāth Shāstri and 8 other special scholars from Kashmir.
Under his administration, several infrastructural changes were brought about in Chitrapur Village in Shirali and it was made as a "model village" with aspects of town-planning. Moreover all the samādhis(Shrines) of the previous Mathādhipatis(or Gurus) were reconstructed.
He brought about many social changes in the community. He was a firm believer in Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
and reprimanded those who did not follow it. He imposed a ban on foreign visits and excommunicated anyone who went abroad.
Swami Pāndurangāshram attained Mahā-Samādhi in 1915 and was succeeded by his shishya(disciple) Ānandāshram
Anandashram Swami
Swami Ānandāshram was the ninth guru and the Head of the community of the Chitrapur Saraswats. He succeeded his guru Swami Pandurangashram in 1915...
. His samādhi(Shrine) is located within the premises of the Chitrapur Math
Chitrapur Math
Chitrapur Math is the central Math for the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin sect. This Math is located in Shirali in North Kanara area of Karnataka and has been there since 1757. The other Maths of this community are located in Gokarn, Karla, Mangalore and Mallapur...
in Shirali
Shirali
Shirali is a village in the located in the Bhatkal subdistrict of Uttara Kannada district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Shirali is home to two prominent temples: the Chitrapur Matt and the Maha Ganapathi Mahammaya Temple...
.
Taking Charge
Swami Pāndurangāshram was born to Nāgar Shāntapayya and his wife on the 6th day of the month of JyēshtaJyeshta
Jyeshta is a month of the Hindu calendar, also known as Jeth or Iethe. In India's national civil calendar, Jyestha is the third month of the year, beginning on 21 May and ending on 22 June...
in 1847. He was named Nāgar Kālappa. As a child he had enlisted among the students of the Chitrapur Math
Chitrapur Math
Chitrapur Math is the central Math for the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin sect. This Math is located in Shirali in North Kanara area of Karnataka and has been there since 1757. The other Maths of this community are located in Gokarn, Karla, Mangalore and Mallapur...
. He was a bright,intelligent and handsome young boy. His quick perception, superior intelligence and strong willed nature made him a favourite with the incumbent head of the community, Swami Krishnāshram
Krishnashram
His Holiness Swami Krishnāshram was the seventh guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community. He was the seventh mathādhipati . His reign lasted for 24 years from 1839 to 1863....
.
He was ordained as the shishya(disciple) of the incumbent Mathādhipati(Head of the community) Swami Krishnāshram
Krishnashram
His Holiness Swami Krishnāshram was the seventh guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community. He was the seventh mathādhipati . His reign lasted for 24 years from 1839 to 1863....
at the age of 10 in 1857. For 5 years he received guidance under the tutelage of his guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
. He was formally crowned the Mathādhipati after Swami Krishnāshram
Krishnashram
His Holiness Swami Krishnāshram was the seventh guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community. He was the seventh mathādhipati . His reign lasted for 24 years from 1839 to 1863....
attained Mahā-Samādhi on the 8th day of the month of Mārghshīrsha in 1863(See Months of the Hindu Calendar).
Even as a shishya, Swamiji showed his flair for administration. It was he who had mooted the idea of organizing the Rathōtsav(See Rathōtsav). He played an important role in the smooth execution of the first Rathōtsav.
Infrastructure Development
Swamiji was proactive in collecting vanitga(Donations) from devotees and used it for developmental activities of the matha and the community in general. After becoming the Head of the community, Swamiji started to begin his plan of development. The plan of action was 4 fold.- Reconstruction/Renovation of
Chitrapur Math
Chitrapur Math is the central Math for the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin sect. This Math is located in Shirali in North Kanara area of Karnataka and has been there since 1757. The other Maths of this community are located in Gokarn, Karla, Mangalore and Mallapur...
Reconstruction/Renovation of Samādhis
Renovation of the samādhis(Shrines) of the previous Swamijis of the Guru ParamparaChitrapur Guru Parampara
The Chitrapur Guru Parampara or Guru Heritage of the Chitrāpur Sāraswat Brahmins is the lineage of spiritual teachers , also known as Mathadhipatis who have led the community throughout its history.These teachers are viewed as the torch-bearers of the rich culture and heritage that the community has...
was an important part of Swamiji's agenda of development. All the samādhis had so far been built with thatched roofs. Under the renovation drive, the thatched roofs were replaced by proper tiled roofs. The samadhi of each guru was reconstructed such that the guru was made seated in the Lotus position
Lotus position
The Lotus Position is a cross-legged sitting posture originating in meditative practices of ancient India, in which the feet are placed on the opposing thighs. It is an established posture, commonly used for meditation, in the Hindu Yoga and Buddhist contemplative traditions...
(Padmāsana or Tāmarashāsan).
Chitrapur Village Development
Swamiji had wanted Chitrapur village to be a model village. Its infrastructure was vastly imroved.- A road was constructed from the main road up to the entrance of the Chitrapur MathChitrapur MathChitrapur Math is the central Math for the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin sect. This Math is located in Shirali in North Kanara area of Karnataka and has been there since 1757. The other Maths of this community are located in Gokarn, Karla, Mangalore and Mallapur...
which had street lights on either sides.
- Houses were built in files on the side of the roads. Gardens were made on either side of the central road. The roads were swept clean everyday.
- Schools were constructed for the children.
A Post Office was built with all facilities including staying quarters for the Post Master.
Separate market was constructed with stalls for selling commodities. This allowed people to go only to one place to do their shopping.
Chitrapur Math Development
The stable financial state allowed several changes to be brought about in and around the Chitrapur MathChitrapur Math
Chitrapur Math is the central Math for the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin sect. This Math is located in Shirali in North Kanara area of Karnataka and has been there since 1757. The other Maths of this community are located in Gokarn, Karla, Mangalore and Mallapur...
.
- A tank (Shiv-Ganga Sarōvar) was dug near the math premises.
- A bhojan shālā(Kitchen and eating place) was constructed.
- New living quarters were built at the premises where devotees who visited could stay for free.
- At the Govardhan Hill nearby, a building by name "Panchavati" was constructed.
Renovation of Temples and Mathas
The mathas(Monasteries) at Mallāpur, Gokarn and MangaloreMangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
were in a bad state. Under Swamiji's supervision, mathas were renovated.The temples that were in a dilapidated condition, were renovated. Temple renovation was done by the people in the respective villages(in a decentralized manner) where the temple existed. Trusts were established where people contributed to and this money was used by the trust to renovate that particular temple.
Social Reforms and controversy
Swami Pāndurangāshram brought about social changes to society. These changes were to reinforce the values the ancestors of the community.Dharma: The way of life
Swamiji was a person who believed in strict obedience to DharmaDharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
. He wanted all his devotees to strictly adhere to curtailing ones senses and not falling to temptations. He would reprimand those people who would disobey to follow the Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
. He reasoned that ultimately it was Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
that could help one attain the ultimate aim of Moksha
Moksha
Within Indian religions, moksha or mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara and the concomitant suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of repeated death and reincarnation or rebirth.-Origins:It is highly probable that the concept of moksha was first developed in...
.
Ban on Foreign Visits
The most important reform of his that caused a lot of tension within the community was Ban on foreign visits. The community members had migrated to greener pastures in BombayBombay Presidency
The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...
and Madras
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
during the British Rule that helped them gain important posts. This meant that people had to go abroad on duties. Swamiji excommunicated anyone who would travel abroad.
Swamiji believed that foreign visits would expose a man to temptations of other cultures which would blatantly oppose Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
. A person's life would be filled with gross materialism and a new culture of forgetting ones roots and even neglecting aged parents, would creep into society. A person would readily forget his spiritualism for the sake of financial benefits.
This was something that the Swamiji just could not stand and so he would readily excommunicate anyone who went abroad. If anyone associated with a person excommunicated, then that person too would be excommunicated. This strong stance from Swamiji was a subject of great criticism.
Miracles
Swamiji is attributed to many a miracle. Many people have experienced that when devotees are in dire distress, his grace would redress the problems they faced.Kulkarni sees Lord Dattātreya
In the town of Sirsi there once lived a pious brahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
by name Kulkarni. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Dattatreya
Dattatreya
Dattatreya or Datta is a Hindu deity encompassing the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, collectively known as Trimurti. The name Dattatreya can be divided into two words - "Datta" and "Atreya" referring to the sage Atri, his physical father.Various Hindu sects worship him differently...
. He had once visited Swamiji at the Chitrapur Math
Chitrapur Math
Chitrapur Math is the central Math for the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin sect. This Math is located in Shirali in North Kanara area of Karnataka and has been there since 1757. The other Maths of this community are located in Gokarn, Karla, Mangalore and Mallapur...
when Swamiji had given him a mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
to recite everyday(Called the Gurumantrōpadesh or the mantrōpadesh(advise to recite a mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
) of the guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
). Kulkarni would recite the mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
as well as read all the Sanskrit scriptures on a regular basis. He had this ardent desire to have a darshan(have a sight) of Lord Dattatreya
Dattatreya
Dattatreya or Datta is a Hindu deity encompassing the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, collectively known as Trimurti. The name Dattatreya can be divided into two words - "Datta" and "Atreya" referring to the sage Atri, his physical father.Various Hindu sects worship him differently...
and to capture the essence of the Trinity
Trimurti
The Trimurti is a concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahmā the creator, Vishnu the maintainer or preserver, and Śhiva the destroyer or transformer," These three deities have been called "the Hindu triad" or...
.
To seek the darshan of the Lord, he went to Gangapur
Gangapur, Maharashtra
Gangapur is a city and a municipal council in Aurangabad district in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Geography:Gangapur is located on west side of Aurangabad-Ahmednagar Highway, 38 km from Aurangabad. Gangapur is Taluka place in Historical District Aurangabad...
which was one of the places Lord Dattātreya is said to have travelled to(See Lord Dattatreya's travels). He spent many days intently praying to have a vision of the Lord but alas this could not happen. He then went to Narsoba(another place where the Lord is said to have travelled to) and prayed intently there too. Here too he was met with failure.
In an act of desperation, Kulkarni took a vow that he would not eat nor drink unless and until he had a darshan(vision) of Lord Dattatreya. On the eighth day of his penance, Kulkarni had a dream of Swami Pandurangāshram beckoning him to come and meet him at Shirali
Shirali
Shirali is a village in the located in the Bhatkal subdistrict of Uttara Kannada district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Shirali is home to two prominent temples: the Chitrapur Matt and the Maha Ganapathi Mahammaya Temple...
. Though thoroughly exhausted, the devotee reached Swamiji and fell at his feet. When Swamiji placed his hand on Kulkarni's head, he had a grand vision of Lord Dattatreya "glowing resplendently like the sun".
The Sick boy from Mangalore
There once lived a poor devotee in MangaloreMangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
whose son was dying from an illness that seemed to have no cure. Abject poverty prevented the boy from gaining access to top quality medical care. Usually when Swamiji would visit a place, the devotees would light up the streets with diyas
Diya (light)
A Diya, divaa, deepam, or deepak is an oil lamp usually made from clay, with a cotton wick dipped in ghee or vegetable oils....
and flowers. But this family could not afford this either.
When Swamiji visited their household, he gave them sandalwood paste(Gāndh) which was smeared on the head of the boy. He also gave the dying child teerth(holy or blessed water) which he drank.Miraculously, the boy recovered immediately.
Legal Cases
Swami Pāndurangāshram is said to have acted as the agency of Lord Bhavānishankara in helping devotees entangled in unfair legal cases to be freed from conviction by his sincere prayers. There are many cases that occurred some of which created a great sensation. The most notable was the forgery case of Kallē Manjunāthaiya.Forgery Case of Mr.Kallē Manjunāthaya & Mr.Rām Rao
In the town on Bantwāl, there lived a Document write by the name of Kallē Manjunāthaiya who worked under the then Sub-Registrar Mr. Rām Rao. One day a brahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
came to him to create a document regarding property. Manjunāthaiya created the document and got it registered by Rām Rao. But without the knowledge of Manjunāthaiya, a forged document was placed at his table which was then registered. A case of forgery was later discovered. The two of them were called to the Sessions Court at Mangalore facing trail for forgery of important property documents. They were helpless as all the evidence pointed against them.
Rām Rao went and fell at the feet of Swami Pāndurangāshram, who happened to be in Mangalore at that time. He pleaded to Swamiji to pray for justice to take place. Swamiji went to the samādhi(Shrine) of Swami Vāmanāshram
Vamanashram
Swami Vāmanāshram was the Sixth guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community. His period of reign was for 16 years from 1823 to 1839....
at the Mangalore matha(monastery) and prayed intensely for justice to Lord Bhavānishankara.
This case had created quite a stir in Karnataka and soon the trial was nearing an end with the Sessions court judge having the opinion that the accused were guilty. It was days before judgement that the Judge was suddenly transferred. When the successor arrived, the heard the entire case and then, to the amazement of all the people, pronounced Kallē Manjunathaiya and Rām Rao innocent.
A description of the other court cases can be obtained. here(July 1954 edition of Sunbeam under title "H.H.Shrimat Pandurangashram Swamiji")
Shishya Sweekar
As time passed by, the devotees got anxious about the continuation of the Guru ParamparaChitrapur Guru Parampara
The Chitrapur Guru Parampara or Guru Heritage of the Chitrāpur Sāraswat Brahmins is the lineage of spiritual teachers , also known as Mathadhipatis who have led the community throughout its history.These teachers are viewed as the torch-bearers of the rich culture and heritage that the community has...
and asked Swamiji to accept a shishya(disciple) who would succeed him as the Head of the community. Swamiji remained silent to all their pleas.
Swamiji was greatly perturbed by the disobedience of community members under his reign: The people who firmly abided by the Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
and maintained the tradition of the ancestors, were few in number. The large number of excommunications that the Swamiji was forced to do also played its part in his silence. The devotees had pleaded him to accept a disciple Eight times and all the eight times he had remained silent. He would always pray to Lord Bhavānishankar(The community deity) to give him strength to hold firm in his decision.
But the Lord had ordained otherwise. In the month of Vaiśākha(around time of June) in 1915, Swamiji made a decision to accept a shishya. The son of a priest named Haridās Rāmchandra Bhat was the one anointed. His name was Shantamoorthy. He was ordained as Ānandāshram
Anandashram Swami
Swami Ānandāshram was the ninth guru and the Head of the community of the Chitrapur Saraswats. He succeeded his guru Swami Pandurangashram in 1915...
during the Shishya Sweekār ceremony(A ceremony where the guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
accepts his disciple).
Mahā-Samādhi
Just Eight days after the Shishya Sweekār of Ānandāshram, Swami Pāndurangāshram's health deteriorated and he attained Mahā-Samādhi(died) on that day(2nd day of the month of Jyeshtha). He was 68.His period of reign of 52 years was the longest ever on record. His samādhi(Shrine) is located inside the Chitrapur Math
Chitrapur Math
Chitrapur Math is the central Math for the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin sect. This Math is located in Shirali in North Kanara area of Karnataka and has been there since 1757. The other Maths of this community are located in Gokarn, Karla, Mangalore and Mallapur...
premises and to the left to the samādhi of Swami Shankarāshram I
Shankarashram I
Swami Shankarashram I was the second guru and Mathādhipati of the Chitrāpur Sāraswats. He was ordained as the Mathādhipati in 1720 and served as the head till his Mahā-samādhi in 1757...
.