Shrimat Parijananashram Swamiji -I (Gokarn)
(1708 - 1720)

The History of Shri Chitrapur Math goes back to the halcyon days of Hindu rule of Kanara by the chiefs of Nagar in Mysore (1560 - 1768). The Smartha Saraswats were holding high positions in the services of this kingdom on account of their loyalty, integrity and intelligence. As a result they became victims of envy of other groups in the court and were decried and discredited in the eyes of the Chief as Brahmins without a Guru or a spiritual head. It so transpired that the Guru of Shenvis at Kavle Math had left Goa for Banaras during this troublous period and when the Chief asked the representatives of our Community as to where their Guru was, they stated that He was in Northern India. The Chief, however was not convinced by this answer and our Community was in a quandary. An appeal was thereupon made to the elders of our community at Gokarn which was its head-quarters in those days.

They took 'dharan' at the temple of Mahabaleshwar and prayed for light and guidance. The God Mahabaleshwar in His mercy appeared to them in a dream and assured them that a Sanyasi would arrive at Kotitirtha from the north on the following day and that He would be their Guru. The dream came as a great relief to them and the next day, they found Him at the very spot and hour indicated in the dream.

The Sanyasi, who was a Kashmir Saraswat Brahmin in His Purvashram, disclosed that He had a similar mandate from the merciful God, Bhavanishankar. Our people accepted HIM as a veritable god-send and immediately wrote to Nagar that our Guru had arrived.

This was our Shrimat Parijnanashrama I, the first Guru, who thus came to establish in 1708 the glorious line in which our present beloved Swamiji is the 11th in succession.

The Chief, however had still his prejudices and would not be satisfied unless he had a personal interview with the Swamiji and the Jagatguru Shankaracharya of Shringeri accepted Him as a Swamiji of our Community. Swamiji, therefore travelled from Gokarn to Nagar where He was received by our people with great pomp and rejoicings. The Chief was satisfied with Swamiji who thereafter proceeded to Shringeri. There the Jagatguru was so much struck with His learning, piety and yoga that He readily acknowledged Him  as the religious head of our Community and bestowed upon Him the usual paraphernalia (Birdu, Bavali and Addapalanki). On His return to Nagar, Swamiji was formally acknowledged by the Chief and thence He came back to Gokarn where a Math was established. His regime lasted till 1720. HIS samadhi and the temple of Shri Umamaheshwar are to be found side by side in Bhandikeri, Gokarn, today.

Back