: वामनाश्रम्) was the Sixth 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(6th in the Guru Parampara

Chitrapur 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...

). His period of reign was for 16 years from 1823 to 1839.

Swami Vāmanāshram had been under the tutelage of his guru Swami Keshavāshram

Keshavashram

His Holiness Swami Keshavashram was the fifth guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community,that is, the Fifth Mathādhipati of the community. His reign was from 1785 to 1823, a period of 38 years...

 for a period of 19 years. This helped him gain mastery over the Vedas

Vedas

The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....

, Upanishads and other 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. He was considered a Bramha-jñāni(All knowing one). He attained Mahā-samādhi(died) in 1839 at Mangalore

Mangalore

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...

. He was succeeded by his shishya(disciple) Krishnashram

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....

. The samādhi of Swami Vāmanāshram is located at Mangalore

Mangalore

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...

.

(Note: Henceforth in this article Swamiji will refer to Swami Vāmanāshram only)

Taking Charge

Swami Vāmanāshram was from the Shukla Bhat family from Mangalore. He had been ordained as the successor to Swami Keshavāshram

Keshavashram

His Holiness Swami Keshavashram was the fifth guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community,that is, the Fifth Mathādhipati of the community. His reign was from 1785 to 1823, a period of 38 years...

 in 1804. So under the tutelage of Swami Keshavāshram for 19 years, he could gain great knowledge on the Sanskrit scriptures of India. By the time he was the Mathādhipati(Head 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 had gained mastery over it.

Swamiji was formally ordained as the Guru of the community after Swami Keshavāshram attained Mahā-samādhi(died) on the 9th day of Mārgha month in 1823.

Swamiji was a man who was deeply involved in spiritual pursuits. So he could not concentrate on the administration affairs of the matha and affairs of the community in general. In order to reduce the burden, he gave total responsibility of the administration to the Shukla Bhat managers. After giving charge to the Manager, he could pursue his spiritual conquests.

Shishya Sweekar

Upon the insistence of his devotees to accept a disciple to help him discharge the affairs of the community, Swamiji consented in accepting a shishya(disciple). The successor was found in the hamlet of Vitthal in Karnataka when Swamiji had come to visit. His name was Parameshwar Nagar who hailed from the Nagar family. The priest of the Shri Vishweshwar Vitthal temple had told swamiji about this young boy who radiated with energy and potential.

In the month of Jyēshta

Jyeshta

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 1836, Swamiji formally ordained his shishya as Krishnāshram. Thus another link was added to the Guru Parampara

Chitrapur 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...

 on that day. Swamiji handed over the responsibilities of administration to Krishnāshram while he continued his never-ending quest for spiritual knowledge.

Tyāga: The Sacrifice

The administration of the matha and its treasury was materialistic pleasures that the Swamiji denounced. He relinquished the responsibilities over to his shishya and the Shukla Bhats. He was an embodiment of compassion, forgiveness and austerity.

Mahā-Samādhi

Swamiji went to visit his devotees in Mangalore in 1839. It was during this visit that he became seriously ill. His health was rapidly deteriorating.

On the 9th day of the month of Kārtik in 1839, Swami Vāmanāshram attained Mahā-samādhi(died). The devotees of Swamiji, constructed his samādhi(shrine) and poured tender coconut water as Abhisheka

Abhisheka

Abhisheka is a Sanskrit term comparable to puja, yagya and arati that denotes: a devotional activity; an enacted prayer, rite of passage and/or religious rite or ritual...

. His samādhi is now the matha at Mangalore. Devotees offer seva(service) as Shiyala Abhisheka. Tender coconut("Shiyala" in konkani) water is poured on the shrine as abhisheka

Abhisheka

Abhisheka is a Sanskrit term comparable to puja, yagya and arati that denotes: a devotional activity; an enacted prayer, rite of passage and/or religious rite or ritual...

.