Swami Krishnashram (Devanagari: à ¤Âà ¥Âà ¤·à ¥Âà ¤£à ¤¾à ¤¶à ¥Âà ¤°à ¤®à ¥Â, ') was the seventh Mathadhipati (head of the community or guru) of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community from 1839 to 1863.
Krishnashram was considered to be the patron saint of Shirali and its adjoining villages. The samÃÂdhi (shrine) of KrishnÃÂshram is located at the Chitrapur Math in Shirali between the samÃÂdhis of Swami Parijnanashram II and Swami Keshavashram.
KrishnÃÂshram was born ParamÃÂshwar NÃÂgar in the small hamlet of Vitthal in Karnataka. He became the seventh Guru Parampara after Swami VÃÂmanÃÂshram died on the 9th day of the month of Kartik in 1839.
KrishnÃÂshram was an administrator and a scholar of Sanskrit. Devotees came from different parts of the country to hear his discourses, including some from Dvaita Vaishnava practices.
He added several land assets to the Chitrapur Math.
On the 15th day of the month of KÃÂrtik in 1857, KrishnÃÂshram ordained KÃÂlappa ShÃÂntapayya, a boy from Mangalore, as his shishya (disciple or successor) and named him PÃÂndurangÃÂshram. PÃÂndurangÃÂshram studied under KrishnÃÂshram for six years.
KrishnÃÂshram fell ill in 1863 and died on the eighth day of the month of MÃÂrghashërsha. PandurangÃÂshram succeeded him as the next guru of the community.
KrishnÃÂshram was keenly interested in establishing temples and mathas and renovating already existing ones. Under his leadership, the Shri Subramanyeshwar Temple at Sirsi and the Shri AnantÃÂshwar Temple at Vitthal were renovated.
The UmÃÂ-Maheshwar Temple at Mulki was constructed after the residents of that panchayat requested KrishnÃÂshram for a temple. KrishnÃÂshram himself installed the UmÃÂ-Maheshwar deity in the temple.
Under KrishnÃÂshram's auspices, the Chariot or Car Festival known as Rathà Âtsav was introduced in 1862. In this week-long festival, Lord BhavÃÂnishankara adorns the Ratha, which hundreds of devotees pull around the village. The MathÃÂdhipati sits on the ratha. An integral part of the festival is the pÃÂlki utsav (Palanquin festival) where the Lord BhavÃÂnishankara adorns the pÃÂlki (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. The route taken is always marked by glowing lights and crackers.
This festivity is marked by the chanting of Vedic mantrÃÂs (hymns) along with bhajans (devotional songs). PrasÃÂd bhojan is served to the devotees. This food is prepared by volunteers. Any small work done towards the betterment of the festival is considered seva (selfless service) to Lord BhavÃÂnishankara. The Rathà Âtsav is the time when the entire community unites to take part in the festivity.
Several miracles have been attributed to Swami KrishnÃÂshram.
KrishnÃÂshram had a dream in which the Lord BhavÃÂnishankara guided him to the jungles of Gersappe in Shimà Âga. There, he was shown an idol of UmÃÂ-Maheshwar hidden in the deep jungle. KrishnÃÂshram guided his followers to the place as shown in his dream, where a sculpture of UmÃÂ-Maheshwar was unearthed.
This idol was installed near the shrine (samÃÂdhi) of ÃÂdi ParijñÃÂnÃÂshram Swamiji at the Bhandikeri Math (ÃÂdi Matha) in Gokarn.
One year, during the pÃÂliki utsav in the month of KÃÂrtik at Shirali, the people ignored the festival. They did not light lamps nor offer flowers or ÃÂrtis to the Lord.
KrishnÃÂshram wanted the people to believe that whatever they offered to the Lord was not theirs but belonged to the Lord in the first place. That night, a devastating fire which could not be put out swept across Shirali. The people realized their folly and sought forgiveness at KrishnÃÂshram's feet. As if by divine intervention, the fire was extinguished.