Parijnanashram III
Encyclopedia
Swami Parijnanashram III (Devanagari
: पिरञानाश्रम्)(June 15, 1947-August 29, 1991) was the tenth guru
of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community. He succeeded his teacher Swami Ānandāshram
in 1966 after the latter died.
Swami Parijñānāshram III was one who had a keen thirst for knowledge-be it Vedic
or technical. His progressive outlook resulted in large scale development which gave the community and its head matha
(Monastery) - The Chitrāpur Matha
the financial stability it needed. He aimed at making the Chitrapur village a self-sustaining viable township with an agricultural, industrial and commercial life of its own with an underlying spiritual base.
His progressive outlook also included compassion. Under his regime, several health-care facilities were developed. He was an animal lover and constructed deer parks, top quality cow-sheds and regularly visited and cared for the animals there.
He was a person who was highly interested in technical spheres of knowledge. He possessed a first grade Ham Radio
license(Probably the first religious saint to possess such a license in India). Under His regime, a wireless station and an observatory post were established near Shirali
. He kept a keen interest in archaeology and established an Archeology museum at Chitrapur. His sense of compassion was well known by people both within and outside the community. He would visit devotees in hospitals regularly irrespective of status or wealth.
This development oriented mindset was something that was usually never anticipated from a religious figure. This progressive outlook did not go well with certain orthodox members of society. Swami Parijñānāshram felt restrained by the lack of acceptance from certain sections of society and which finally resulted in His abdication of the post of the Head of Chitrapur Math
(Mathādhipati) in 1979. He relinquished the title of the Head of the Community fully by 1981. After this, He travelled all across India and even went abroad(The first guru
of the community to do so), before He settled down in a matha constructed under his regime, at Karla
. He continued His service for the welfare of the people even though He was not Mathādhipati of the community. This allowed Him to extend His welfare programs to the down-trodden people irrespective of community, caste, creed or status.
Swami Parijñānāshram attained Mahā-samādhi on August 29, 1991 while He was staying at Bangalore. His body was later flown to Karla
where his samādhi is situated(at the Karla Math). He had not accepted a shishya(Disciple) to succeed Him as the Head of the community.
(NOTE: In this article henceforth Swamiji will refer to Swami Parijñānāshram III)
in Karnataka
. He was named Ravīndra Shankarnārāyan Shukla(Bhat). He did His primary schooling till the age of 6 at Shirali, under the watchful eyes of the incumbent Head of the community Swami Ānandāshram
. Even before He was born, His mother Shāntabai claims to have known that her offspring was Divine, even while she was pregnant. Claims include she having dreams like the Vision of a 7 hooded serpent, the impulse to offer her offspring to Lord Bhavānishankar during the aarti
and so on.
In 1953, Shankarnārāyan Shukla(Bhat) and his family shifted to Mumbai
where the education of young Ravīndra was done at Poddar High School, Santa Cruz
in Mumbai. He studied there till He was ordained to be the shishya of Anandashram Swami
. As a child He was an avid collector of stamps and coins- a hobby He pursued even after becoming the Head of the Community.
At the age of 12, Parijnanashram was chosen by the incumbent guru
Anandashram Swami
to be his shishya(disciple). He was ordained as the successor to Swami Ānandāshram in a grand ceremony of initiation as a disciple at Shivaji Park, Mumbai
on March 1, 1959. At this ceremony, he was christened Parijñānāshram. This ceremony was attended by over 10,000 devotees. The religious heads of other Saraswat matha
s were present at the ceremony and they blessed Him too.
He studied under His guru
for a long period of 7 years until Swami Ānandāshram attained Mahā-samādhi on September 16, 1966. After the Mahā-samādhi, He took over as the sovereign head of the community of Sāraswats. This long period of tutelage under His guru
allowed Parijñānāshram to attain a great command over the Sanskrit scriptures. He toured along with His guru everywhere and thus could attain hands-on experience in the matters of spirituality as well as administration.
Ānandāshraya provided these "orphaned" elders a place to stay and enjoy the last days of their lives with love, dignity and self-respect. They could attend all the activities at the Chitrapur Math
which helped quell their spiritual desires.
This was a unique project pursued by Swamiji after His abdication. This institute was a revolutionary project completed in conjecture with the State and Central Government on October 31, 1985. It is an actively functioning institution which runs on funds from the Government and large number of charitable institutions/individuals. It can now accommodate 302 children who are given training in life skills by 56 professionally trained teachers.
See their webpage here
Swamiji personally supervised in the construction of an ashram
by name Jñānānand in the town of Kārla
in Maharashtra. He used this as a retreat while touring in Maharashtra and eventually as His abode after His abdication. He also constructed a temple for goddess Durga
called the Sri Durga Paramēshwari Mata Madir. The samādhi(Shrine) of Swamiji is also located at Karla.
This was a project that aimed at making Chitrapur Village a self-sufficient viable township with a blend of agricultural, commercial and industrial life with an underlying base of spirituality. This project aimed at utilising the land around the Chitrapur Math
for socio-economic development. The various sub-projects that resulted from this Scheme are:
Once on His visit to the Panchavati Hills near Shirali, the weather became very cyclonic. He noticed 2 fishermen trying to battle the cyclonic conditions in the Arabian Sea but they failed after their boat capsized and they drowned. This incident deeply hurt Swamiji as He was helpless and could not help the fishermen. Thus came the idea of starting a wireless station at Pachavati that could be used for communication in times of emergency.
A Wireless transmitter-receiver station was established with the help of people like Badakere Dutt, Kallianpur Ramanand etc. An Observatory post was also established which was manned all throughout the day and night, to guide ships and boats through the jagged rocks that adorn the coastline of Shirali
, especially at night. Swamiji also studied and obtained a first grade amateur radio
license within a period of 3 months of applying for it, a task that is difficult by normal standards. He was probably the first sanyasi to obtain such a license. He was also an active user of the amateur radio.
Tired of all the opposition and accusations he had to face, Swamiji graciously relinquished the title of Mathādhipati or Head of the matha and community by 1981. Certain aspects that caused the criticism and opposition are mentioned as follows:
Swamiji was tired of the constant opposition He faced. So as an act of grace, He did the ultimate sacrifice(Tyāga) of relinquishing the title of Head of the community and the matha by 1981. This was reminiscent of the Tyāga made by Swami Vāmanāshram.
Later the Mahasabha reached the conclusion that the guru parampara
would be continued by that person whom Swamiji had accepted as a shishya(disciple) and that any other person anointed as the head of the community would not be part of the original Guru Parampara that started in 1708.
Given below are parts of the āshirvachan(spiritual discourse) Swamiji gave to the Mahasabha. The statements in parentheses are not part of the original lecture but added to give more information to the reader.
The Mahasabha then recorded a resolution :
Despite these decisions, the Kshamāyāchana(Letter of forgiveness) by members of the Karla Math(People who were strong supporters of Swamiji) to the present head of the Chitrapur Math, Swami Sadyojāt Shankarāshram in 2005, led to the mending of relations between the two sections of the community. Moreover, Swami Sadyojāt Shankarāshram accepted Swami Parijnānāshram III as his guru.(See Mending of relationships)
He had constructed in the town of Karla
in Maharashtra. He continued His pursuits of welfare, but with the freedom of extending it to all people irrespective of creed, caste or status. The Vocational Centre at Virar
and the Shāntisukhada are proof in that respect.
On August 27, 1991 Swamiji, suddenly left for Bangalore to be at the Chitrapur Math there, the place where His Guru
Swami Ānandāshram
had died. 2 days later, on August 29, 1991 Swami Parijñānāshram III died unexpectedly at the young age of 44.
He had not accepted a shishya(disciple) to succeed Him as the head of the community and continue the Guru Parampara
as a result of the discontentment some people in the community had against him. He felt that any shishya adopted by Him might not be accepted by those same people. The samādhi of Swami Parijñānāshram III is located next to the Durga Parameshwari Temple at Karla
.
Devanagari
Devanagari |deva]]" and "nāgarī" ), also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal...
: पिरञानाश्रम्)(June 15, 1947-August 29, 1991) was the tenth 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. He succeeded his teacher Swami 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...
in 1966 after the latter died.
Swami Parijñānāshram III was one who had a keen thirst for knowledge-be it Vedic
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....
or technical. His progressive outlook resulted in large scale development which gave the community and its head matha
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
(Monastery) - The Chitrāpur Matha
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...
the financial stability it needed. He aimed at making the Chitrapur village a self-sustaining viable township with an agricultural, industrial and commercial life of its own with an underlying spiritual base.
His progressive outlook also included compassion. Under his regime, several health-care facilities were developed. He was an animal lover and constructed deer parks, top quality cow-sheds and regularly visited and cared for the animals there.
He was a person who was highly interested in technical spheres of knowledge. He possessed a first grade Ham Radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
license(Probably the first religious saint to possess such a license in India). Under His regime, a wireless station and an observatory post were established near 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...
. He kept a keen interest in archaeology and established an Archeology museum at Chitrapur. His sense of compassion was well known by people both within and outside the community. He would visit devotees in hospitals regularly irrespective of status or wealth.
This development oriented mindset was something that was usually never anticipated from a religious figure. This progressive outlook did not go well with certain orthodox members of society. Swami Parijñānāshram felt restrained by the lack of acceptance from certain sections of society and which finally resulted in His abdication of the post of the Head of 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...
(Mathādhipati) in 1979. He relinquished the title of the Head of the Community fully by 1981. After this, He travelled all across India and even went abroad(The first 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 community to do so), before He settled down in a matha constructed under his regime, at Karla
Karli
Karli is a town on the highway between Pune and Mumbai in southern Maharashtra in India. It is on a major trade route that runs from the Arabian Sea eastward, into the Deccan...
. He continued His service for the welfare of the people even though He was not Mathādhipati of the community. This allowed Him to extend His welfare programs to the down-trodden people irrespective of community, caste, creed or status.
Swami Parijñānāshram attained Mahā-samādhi on August 29, 1991 while He was staying at Bangalore. His body was later flown to Karla
Karli
Karli is a town on the highway between Pune and Mumbai in southern Maharashtra in India. It is on a major trade route that runs from the Arabian Sea eastward, into the Deccan...
where his samādhi is situated(at the Karla Math). He had not accepted a shishya(Disciple) to succeed Him as the Head of the community.
(NOTE: In this article henceforth Swamiji will refer to Swami Parijñānāshram III)
Early days
Swami Parijñānāshram was born to Shantābai and Shankarnārāyan Laxman Shukla (Bhat) on June 15, 1947 at ShiraliShirali
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...
in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. He was named Ravīndra Shankarnārāyan Shukla(Bhat). He did His primary schooling till the age of 6 at Shirali, under the watchful eyes of the incumbent Head of the community Swami 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...
. Even before He was born, His mother Shāntabai claims to have known that her offspring was Divine, even while she was pregnant. Claims include she having dreams like the Vision of a 7 hooded serpent, the impulse to offer her offspring to Lord Bhavānishankar during the aarti
Aarti
Aarti , also spelled arathi, aarthi is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a form of puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee or camphor is offered to one or more deities...
and so on.
In 1953, Shankarnārāyan Shukla(Bhat) and his family shifted to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
where the education of young Ravīndra was done at Poddar High School, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz (Mumbai)
Santacruz or Santa Cruz is a section of the municipality of Mumbai. The Santacruz railway station on the Mumbai Suburban Railway, the Domestic Terminal of the Mumbai Airport and one campus of the University of Mumbai are all located in Santacruz....
in Mumbai. He studied there till He was ordained to be the shishya of Anandashram Swami
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...
. As a child He was an avid collector of stamps and coins- a hobby He pursued even after becoming the Head of the Community.
Ordination
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...
Anandashram Swami
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...
to be his shishya(disciple). He was ordained as the successor to Swami Ānandāshram in a grand ceremony of initiation as a disciple at Shivaji Park, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
on March 1, 1959. At this ceremony, he was christened Parijñānāshram. This ceremony was attended by over 10,000 devotees. The religious heads of other Saraswat matha
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
s were present at the ceremony and they blessed Him too.
He studied under 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...
for a long period of 7 years until Swami Ānandāshram attained Mahā-samādhi on September 16, 1966. After the Mahā-samādhi, He took over as the sovereign head of the community of Sāraswats. This long period of tutelage under 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...
allowed Parijñānāshram to attain a great command over the Sanskrit scriptures. He toured along with His guru everywhere and thus could attain hands-on experience in the matters of spirituality as well as administration.
Developmental activities
Swamiji took charge of the finances of the matha and used it for large scale developmental projects. These projects were not just aimed at social development but also technical improvements. His eagerness to make the various institutions under the community self-sufficient was His ultimate aim. So that way, even if the generosity of the community waned, the institutions would not suffer.Social Development Schemes
There were a number of social development schemes executed under the aegis of Swamiji. He was responsible for the restarting of the Rathōtsav("Car Festival") in 1973 which had been suspended for 35 years due to financial insecurity. Other ventures included the construction of housing societies, starting an institution for the physically and mentally challenged children as well as construction of temples and a matha.- Reviving the Rathōtsav:
The Rathōtsav or Car Festival was a gala celebration which united the entire community. This was suspended indefinitely by Swami ĀnandāshramAnandashram SwamiSwami Ānandāshram was the ninth guru and the Head of the community of the Chitrapur Saraswats. He succeeded his guru Swami Pandurangashram in 1915...
due to the financial situation that had crippled the community.
Under Swamiji's reign, the Rathōtsav was revived in 1973 as the financial position of the matha was strong. Over 2000 people attended the Rathōtsav of 1973.
- Ānandāshraya:
This was a shelter for the aged built at ShiraliShiraliShirali 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...
close to 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...
. It was completed on March 30, 1980 and could house around 40 couples. This was a promise that Swamiji had given to his guruGuruA 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...
. The cost of its construction was initially put by Swamiji through His personal funds. The remainder was from money collected from the philanthropic members of the community.
Ānandāshraya provided these "orphaned" elders a place to stay and enjoy the last days of their lives with love, dignity and self-respect. They could attend all the activities 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...
which helped quell their spiritual desires.
- Swami Parijnanashram Educational and Vocational Centre for the Handicapped:
This institute was a vocational training cum school for children who were physically and mentally challenged. This was established in Bolinj, in the suburb of Virār, MumbaiVirarVirar is a name of a suburb of Northern Mumbai. Virar is a city and a part of Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation in Thane district in the Indian state of Maharashtra....
. It initially provided vocational training for 60 children(Aged between 3-18) under 5 different departments viz.: The Deaf and Mute; The Mute/Speech Impaired; The Physically Challenged; The blind; The Mentally Challenged.
This was a unique project pursued by Swamiji after His abdication. This institute was a revolutionary project completed in conjecture with the State and Central Government on October 31, 1985. It is an actively functioning institution which runs on funds from the Government and large number of charitable institutions/individuals. It can now accommodate 302 children who are given training in life skills by 56 professionally trained teachers.
See their webpage here
- Development at KarlaKarliKarli is a town on the highway between Pune and Mumbai in southern Maharashtra in India. It is on a major trade route that runs from the Arabian Sea eastward, into the Deccan...
:
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
by name Jñānānand in the town of Kārla
Karli
Karli is a town on the highway between Pune and Mumbai in southern Maharashtra in India. It is on a major trade route that runs from the Arabian Sea eastward, into the Deccan...
in Maharashtra. He used this as a retreat while touring in Maharashtra and eventually as His abode after His abdication. He also constructed a temple for goddess Durga
Durga
For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
called the Sri Durga Paramēshwari Mata Madir. The samādhi(Shrine) of Swamiji is also located at Karla.
- Shāntisukhada:
Shāntisukhada was an organization founded under the aegis of Swamiji that was aimed at woman empowerment. Poor and destitute women of the village of Malavali in Mahrashtra were provided with free sewing machines and imparted with training in tailoring so as to make them financially self-sufficient.
- Parijñānāshraya:
This was a housing colony of cottages built by the Kanara Saraswat Association(See here) at the Panchavati hills nearby. It gave the members of the community a place to stay in amidst serene surroundings. This housing scheme was built on the lines of the houses at the TirupatiTirumala - TirupatiTirupati is a major pilgrimage city located in the Chittoor district and seventh biggest city of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at the foothills of the Eastern Ghats at a distance of south of Hyderabad, the capital of the state, east of Bangalore, and north of Chennai.Tirupati is famous...
(Tirumala) hills.
- Renovation of Panchavati temple:
The temple constructed by Swami PāndurangāshramPandurangashramHis Holiness Swami Pāndurangāshram was the EIGHTH guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community. He was the guru for a period of 52 years from 1863 to 1915...
on the Panchavati hills near ShiraliShiraliShirali 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...
by the name Panchavati Dhyān Mandir was renovated. Besides the renovation of the main structure, gardens blooming with roses and cacti were laid around the temple.
- Establishment of Deer park at Govardhan Hillock:
Swamiji, being an animal lover, supervised the establishment of a deer park atop the Govardhan hillock which is close to ShiraliShiraliShirali 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...
. This deer park is now a tourist attraction. Moreover the trees planted in the deer park have become home to several species of birds and can be a haven for bird watchers too.
Other developmental projects
The other projects undertaken during the regime of Swamiji were aimed at commercial, industrial and technical progress. The main project was the Chitrapur Gram Vikas Yojna(Chitrapur village development scheme). Other projects have been mentioned below:- Chitrāpur Gram Vikās Yojana (Chitrapur Village Development Scheme):
This was a project that aimed at making Chitrapur Village a self-sufficient viable township with a blend of agricultural, commercial and industrial life with an underlying base of spirituality. This project aimed at utilising the land around 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...
for socio-economic development. The various sub-projects that resulted from this Scheme are:
-
- Development of cottage industries: Cottage industries like Printing press, Handlooms, Power looms, Small-scale mills etc. were started. Funds were allocated for the establishment of new industries as well as for upgrading of existing ones. These cottage industries provided a regular source of employment for the people and the profits from these industries produced a constant source of income for the matha as well.
- Encouragement of agriculture: The Gram Vikas Scheme regularly allocated funds for improving agriculture in the regions owned by the matha. Use of better fertilizers, improving quality of grains sowed etc. were parts of this agenda. The property at Kembre and Bengre farms were utilized which resulted in the matha attaining self-sufficiency in terms of rice, vegetables and coconuts.
- Improvement in Dairy farming: The cowsheds under the matha were modernized. The sheds were made larger, more roomy and airy for the cattle. Investments were made to purchase better Gujarati Surti cattle which provided more milk. The quality of feed given was also improved.
- Archaeology Museum at Shirali:
Swamiji had a keen interest in archaeology and history. He personally created a museum of Archaeology with many rare artifacts and idols that He had collected. This museum was opened in 1974 and provided the people a glimpse into the world of archaeology.
- Wireless Station and Observatory Post at Panchavati Hills:
Once on His visit to the Panchavati Hills near Shirali, the weather became very cyclonic. He noticed 2 fishermen trying to battle the cyclonic conditions in the Arabian Sea but they failed after their boat capsized and they drowned. This incident deeply hurt Swamiji as He was helpless and could not help the fishermen. Thus came the idea of starting a wireless station at Pachavati that could be used for communication in times of emergency.
A Wireless transmitter-receiver station was established with the help of people like Badakere Dutt, Kallianpur Ramanand etc. An Observatory post was also established which was manned all throughout the day and night, to guide ships and boats through the jagged rocks that adorn the coastline of 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...
, especially at night. Swamiji also studied and obtained a first grade amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
license within a period of 3 months of applying for it, a task that is difficult by normal standards. He was probably the first sanyasi to obtain such a license. He was also an active user of the amateur radio.
- Commercial complex in Bangalore:
A large tract of land around the Chitrapur Math, Bangalore was being under-utilized. Swamiji established a project that would result in the construction of a residential and commercial complex. Once the project was completed, it provided the matha an income to the tune of Rupees 8 lakh (Rs.800,000). This amount, which has multiplied over the years, is still a source of good income.
- Updating Library:
The library in 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...
was refurnished and updated. It acquired many rare Sanskrit books regarding a variety of religious subjects. Many new books too were acquired. The whole library was properly catalogued and books maintained in an orderly manner with proper connotations and captions.
- Travel abroad:
Swamiji and His retinue of priests travelled to the US and UK to show the members of the community settled there, the rituals and culture of the community. He carried along with him an idol of Lord Bhavānishankara, the principle deity of the community. This brought the community abroad closer to the matha.
Opposition and Abdication
Swami Parijñānāshram's regime was filled with lots of opposition from many quarters. His dynamic and progressive outlook was something that was never expected from a sanyasi like Him. The large scale industrial, commercial and technical development did not go well with certain orthodox sections of the society, especially certain people within the Chitrapur Math. This group tried to mobilise support against Swamiji and thus created a rift within the community. 2 sections emerged - those supporting Swamiji and those against. TTired of all the opposition and accusations he had to face, Swamiji graciously relinquished the title of Mathādhipati or Head of the matha and community by 1981. Certain aspects that caused the criticism and opposition are mentioned as follows:
- Constant court cases against Him: Swamiji had to face many court cases filed against him. The basis of these cases was the Chitrapur Math Trust deed, which was very weak in the sense that He was the sole trustee. This meant that anybody could find any small fault in the execution of developmental programs under the trust and the blame would fall on him. Swamiji came clean in all these court cases. The fact that a guru of a community had to go through trial in court cases, resulted in a character assassination of sorts.
- Total control over finances: It came to the notice of Swamiji that some members, who were part of the matha, were involved in swindling the money generated from various activities of the matha. In order to prevent such financial misgivings, he took total charge over the finances of the matha. Moreover, He stopped certain rituals like Pādukapooja(pooja of the wooden sandals of the Guru) to prevent the money offered by devotees from being kept by the priests for their own needs.
- Restriction of Trusts and schemes: Swamiji was a person who wanted to help people of every community and not just the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin Community. Most schemes for welfare development were bound by trusts and schemes that allowed the benefit to go only to the members of that community alone. He wanted to be a true JagadguruJagadguruJagadguru , literally meaning the Guru of the world, is a title used in Sanatana Dharma. Traditionally, it has been bestowed upon or used for acharyas belonging to the Vedānta school who have written Sanskrit commentaries on the Prasthānatrayī - the Brahma Sutra Jagadguru (Sanskrit जगद्गुरु),...
(Jagad = World + guruGuruA 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...
= Teacher). Thus He found discontentment in these projects and is cited as His chief reason to relinquish the title.
- Starting Archeology Museum: Swamiji had a very keen acumen regarding archeology and hence wanted the people at Shirali and rest of the community to understand the beauty of archeology. For that purpose He planned to start an archeology museum at Shirali. Certain members of the community opposed this plan citing reasons like Idols of Gods(that were displayed at the museum) should not be used for purposes of entertainment and public display. Moreover, the funds used for that project could be used for other purposes. Swamiji was adamant with His decision which resulted in the museum being completed in 1974. This caused tensions within the administration of the matha.
- Restarting of Rathōtsav during times of drought: The Rathōtsav was restarted under Swamiji's wishes in 1973. There was a difference in opinion about the time of restarting of the Car festival or Rathōtsav. The region was facing droughts and this festival will mean thousands of people turning up and staying at Shirali for 3–4 days at a stretch. But Swamiji's ardent desire prevailed and thus the festival was restarted. During the Sādhana Saptāha (Week of SadhanaSadhanaSādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
- See Sādhana Saptāha) in Bombay in 1972 He told the community that the reasons for starting the festival was not much because of the improved financial condition of the matha nor the large number of people wanting it restarted. The principle objective was, Swamiji stressed, that the lore of the rites, rituals and essential forms of the Rathōtsav ceremonies was within full knowledge of only a limited number of priests, and with disuse, this knowledge would dwindle, leading possibly to ultimate extinction. He even hinted that He had plans to restart the festival in 1969 but could not because of certain pressures.
Swamiji was tired of the constant opposition He faced. So as an act of grace, He did the ultimate sacrifice(Tyāga) of relinquishing the title of Head of the community and the matha by 1981. This was reminiscent of the Tyāga made by Swami Vāmanāshram.
The Mahasabha of 1989
On December 24, 1989 the Mahasabha(Grand gathering/meeting) of the Sāraswats took place at Mumbai where Swamiji made His position regarding becoming the mathādhipati very clear to the community. He wanted the community to be one and the divisions to be mended. Swamiji had received several letters asking him to go back to become the head of the community. This was so that the Guru parampara could be continued if He accepted a shishya(disciple). He stated that some people still considered Him as an excommunicated guru and any disciple of His too would be considered as excommunicated.Later the Mahasabha reached the conclusion that 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...
would be continued by that person whom Swamiji had accepted as a shishya(disciple) and that any other person anointed as the head of the community would not be part of the original Guru Parampara that started in 1708.
Given below are parts of the āshirvachan(spiritual discourse) Swamiji gave to the Mahasabha. The statements in parentheses are not part of the original lecture but added to give more information to the reader.
The Mahasabha then recorded a resolution :
RESOLVED that the only way to continue the present parampara founded by Adi Parijnanashram Swamiji is to install H.H.Parijnanashram Swamiji III as the Mathadhipati and accept a Shishya initiated by Him.
Further RESOLVED that as per tradition, custom and usage, Chitrapur Saraswat community has accepted only that Shishya who has been initiated by our own Guru and in view of this tradition, it is our resolve that no other Shishya who is initiated by any other Sanyasi will be acceptable to the community.
Despite these decisions, the Kshamāyāchana(Letter of forgiveness) by members of the Karla Math(People who were strong supporters of Swamiji) to the present head of the Chitrapur Math, Swami Sadyojāt Shankarāshram in 2005, led to the mending of relations between the two sections of the community. Moreover, Swami Sadyojāt Shankarāshram accepted Swami Parijnānāshram III as his guru.(See Mending of relationships)
Death
After abdication, Swamiji settled down at the Jnānānand, an ashramAshram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
He had constructed in the town of Karla
Karli
Karli is a town on the highway between Pune and Mumbai in southern Maharashtra in India. It is on a major trade route that runs from the Arabian Sea eastward, into the Deccan...
in Maharashtra. He continued His pursuits of welfare, but with the freedom of extending it to all people irrespective of creed, caste or status. The Vocational Centre at Virar
Virar
Virar is a name of a suburb of Northern Mumbai. Virar is a city and a part of Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation in Thane district in the Indian state of Maharashtra....
and the Shāntisukhada are proof in that respect.
On August 27, 1991 Swamiji, suddenly left for Bangalore to be at the Chitrapur Math there, the place where 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...
Swami 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...
had died. 2 days later, on August 29, 1991 Swami Parijñānāshram III died unexpectedly at the young age of 44.
He had not accepted a shishya(disciple) to succeed Him as the head of the community and continue 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...
as a result of the discontentment some people in the community had against him. He felt that any shishya adopted by Him might not be accepted by those same people. The samādhi of Swami Parijñānāshram III is located next to the Durga Parameshwari Temple at Karla
Karli
Karli is a town on the highway between Pune and Mumbai in southern Maharashtra in India. It is on a major trade route that runs from the Arabian Sea eastward, into the Deccan...
.
Miracles
Two miracles have been observed at the temple at Karla after Swamiji's death. They are listed below:- Opening of the samādhi(shrine) during renovation:
Swamiji's samādhi(Shrine) is situated near the Durga Parameshawari Temple at Karla. But for the shrine to be completed, a Shiv-lingaLingamThe Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....
was to be installed. So during February/March 1993 the samādhi slab was removed. To the surprise of everyone, the MarigoldTagetesTagetes is a genus of 56 species of annual and perennial mostly herbaceous plants in the sunflower family . The genus is native to North and South America, but some species have become naturalized around the world. One species, T...
flowers and the tulsiTulsiOcimum tenuiflorum Ocimum tenuiflorum Ocimum tenuiflorum (also tulsi, tulasī, or Holy Basil is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae which is native throughout the Old World tropics and widespread as a cultivated plant and an escaped weed. It is an erect, much branched subshrub 30–60 cm...
leaves that had been placed over the body of Swamiji was still very fresh. Swamiji's scalp and hair was intact as well despite being interred for nearly 18 months.
- Goddess Durga and Lord Shankara appearing in flames:
Many devotees have claimed to have witnessed the image of Goddess Durga along with Lord Shankar in the flames of the HomamHoma (ritual)Homa is a Sanskrit word which refers to any ritual in which making offerings into a consecrated fire is the primary action...
(Ritual where offerings are placed into fire, usually offerings to lord AgniAgniAgni is a Hindu deity, one of the most important of the Vedic gods. He is the god of fire and the acceptor of sacrifices. The sacrifices made to Agni go to the deities because Agni is a messenger from and to the other gods...
. The picture of the Gods appearing in the flame can be seen here. This photograph was taken on 28 January 2001.