It is recorded as the history of our community by late Shri S.N. Koppikar, in his articles in Kanara Saraswat published in 1920s and 1930s and by late Smt. Umabai Arur in the Chitrapur Guruparampara Charitra that in early 18th century, some political incidents in the then Nagar State (in Karnataka) forced our ancestors to seek a Guru for the community. In the year 1708 we were blessed by Providence with the first Guru in the august Parampara, viz. Swami Parijnanashram-I. This was possible because of the penance undertaken by the leaders of our community at the Feet of Gokarn Mahabaleshwar.Though Gokarn is the place where we found our first Guru and His Samadhi is at Bhandikeri, the village Chitrapur in Shirali has been the seat of the Spiritual Head of our community since 1757. The Math at Shirali has also Samadhis of six of our Gurus, the other four being located at Gokarn, Mallapur and Mangalore (in Karnataka) and at Karla (in Maharashtra).
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Lord Bhavanishankar is the deity installed at each of the principal Samadhis.
In Shirali, the principal Samadhi, or the Hodi Samadhi, at it is known is of Shri Shankarashram Swamiji-I (No. 1 in the diagram). Shri Shankarashram Swami belonged to the family of Haritekars. He was adopted and ordained by Shri Parijnanashram Swami in 1720 (Sharvari Chaitra Sh-15). He was a learned saint and a great Sanskrit scholar, having had the good fortune of long training under His Guru. A solemn promise was made to Him by our people in writing that they would be faithful to Him and would follow all His religious observances. In His advanced age, H.H. Shankarashram Swamiji was on His way from Udupi to Gokarn and while in Shirali, at the residence of Nagarkattikars, He fell seriously ill and attained Samadhi in 1757 (Ananda, Phalgun Sh-5). Eventually, when the question of location of His Samadhi came up, the Nagarkattikars readily offered their house for the Samadhi and the temple.
Shri Shankarashram-I having attained Samadhi suddenly, without adopting any shishya, caused anxiety among the followers. The local authorities threatened to attach all the assets belonging to the Math. At this juncture some elders recalled that a saintly person from Pandit family, who had earlier been ordained by the Swamiji was in Kollur, practising Yoga and would be a worthy successor. When approached and earnestly prayed, He graciously agreed to succeed to the Peetha. He was Shri Parijnanashram-II. He however did not like to wield the power. He therefore adopted a shishya from Shukla family with the yogapatta of Shri Shankarashram-II, and spend greater part of His life in Kollur, though He often visited Shri Chitrapur Math. Samadhi of Shri Parijnanashram-II is located at the right side of the Hodi Samadhi (No. 2 in the diagram).
The Samadhi of Swami Shankarashram-II is located in Mallapur.He was a great scholar, a yogi and was regarded and revered as an avataar of Shri Dattatreya.
The shishya adopted by Him was from Talgeri family and was given the yogapatta of Shri Keshavashram. Being an able administrator, Shri Keshavashram began acquiring landed properties for the Math and later He attained Mukti in 1823 and His Samadhi is located on the right hand corner of the line of Samadhis (No. 3 in the diagram).
Before attaining Samadhi, Swami Keshavashram ordained a young shishya from Shukla family under the name Shri Vamanashram. He was very simple and quiet, and because of His intense leaning towards spirituality He entrusted all the affairs of the Math to the Shukla Bhats who were the managers. He attained Samadhi in Mangalore. He had adopted shishya from Nagarkar family. As a boy named Parameshwar, He was found to possess some rajachinhas on his face. Shri Vamanashram ordained him as a shishya under the title of Shri Krishnashram.
It was during the regime of Shri Krishnashram that the affairs of the Math were set right with the help of the then paripatyagar. Most of the disciples were brought round from Vaishnava practices, fresh landed properties and assets were added and many reforms were brought into force. The car festival was started during His long and glorious regime, at the instance of His shishya. He was a great Sanskrit scholar and was regarded as patron saint of people in Shirali and adjoining villages and towns. His shishya was Shri Pandurangashram. Samadhi of Shri Krishnashram is between the Samadhi of Shri Parijnanashram-II and Shri Keshavashram Swamis. (No.4 in the diagram).
The eighth Swami, Shri Pandurangashram also came from the Nagarkar family. Even in His tender age, He was intelligent, quick-witted and strong willed. He was ordained at the age of 12 and had the benefit of training and guidance under the tutelage of His able Guruswami for 5 years, and His reign as Mathadhipati was among the longest. During His period, the greater part of the Math was rebuilt and all the Samadhis of His predecessors were reconstructed with tamrashashan. A big tank, Shiv-Ganga Sarovar near the Math was dug and 'Panchavati', a tall building on the Govardhan Hill was constructed. Chitrapur village was almost planned and built with schools for the children, Post Office with the quarters for the Postmaster, market etc. Credit for starting the Rathotsava primarily goes to Him. He was a great Sanskrit scholar and a jyotishi too. He attained Samadhi in 1915 (Rakshasa Jyeshtha Sh-2) and the Samadhi is located on the left of the Hodi Samadhi, near the Ganapati shrine (No. 5 in the diagram).
His successor, Shri Anandashram Swamiji was ordained hardly 8 days prior to the Mahasamadhi of Shri Pandurangashram Swamiji. Having been ordained at very young age, he did not have the benefit of the guidance of His Guruswami. Yet being exceptionally brilliant, He Himself sought knowledge from every source possible. With His pleasing personality and brilliant and learned discourses, He won the hearts of the community. During the earlier period of His reign, the financial position of the Math dwindled, and then the elders of the community under the leadership of late Shri H. Shankar Rau formed a new Constitution for the Math administration and strengthened the financial position of the Math. During the long period of His reign, Shri Anandashram Swamiji travelled widely and thus the members of the community were attracted towards the Math. He attained Samadhi in Bangalore in 1966 (Prabhava Bha. Sh-3) and His Samadhi stands in Shirali next to that of His Guru (No.6 in the diagram).
In 1959, Shri Anandashram adopted a shishya from Shukla family and named Him Shri Parijnanashram-III. He was very intelligent, had progressive outlook and keen thirst for knowledge - Vedic as well as technical. He restarted Rathotsava, which was earlier discontinued for economic reasons. Swami Parijnanashram installed a wireless station and Observatory near Panchavati and also collected antiques and artifacts to set up a Museum. As the Spiritual Head of Shree Trust, He started a school for the handicapped in Bolinj at Virar near Mumbai, which is regarded as a unique institution of its kind. Swami Parijnanashram-III attained Samadhi in Bangalore in 1991 (Prajapati Shravana Kr-4 ) and His Samadhi is located at Karla near Lonavla in Maharashtra.
The Mahaganapati Shrine is to the left of the Hodi Samadhi, in line with the Samadhis of Shri Anandashram and Shri Pandurangashram Swamijis. (Marked 'G' in the diagram).