LIFE SKETCH OF H.H ANANDASHRAM SWAMIJI

A STAR IS BORN-


In the summer of 1902,a star was born to brahmin couple Haridas Ramchandra and janakidevi at shirali.He was named "shantamurti".This name didnt last for long as at a very young age of thirteen HH Pandurangashram swamiji chose him as his shishya and named him"ANANDASHRAM".

1915-1924-

In 1915,HH Pandurangashram were very weak and had ill-health.He sudden had an divine command to chose a shishya and Haridas Shantamurti was chosen by HH swamiji as a right shishya.The shishya sweekar ceremony took place at shirali on 5th june 191.But HH Pandurangashram swamiji attained mahasamadhi just 9 days after "ordination" and thus very young shishya became the "GURU" of chitrapur saraswat samaj.
The young gurus contact with his "guru" was very less.Spiritually an orphan,the young swami pined for spiritual guidance.The prayers were answered when he came in contact with a holy man Swami Krishnacharya saraswati.
during this period the young swami concentrated on studies,upanishads ,travelled little and spoke less.during this period HH Anandashram were truly a hidden god.


THE SAINT-
during 1925-1934 the math was in huge debt.The buildings were in bad shape and estates were in neglected condition.The gap between the devotees and the math had widened.The guru realised that it was time to act fast to improve the conditions.
He emerged from self imposed isolation and silenceand took a major tour to the north india.At all places he visited he generated awakenening among the laity.At rishikesh he met Swami krishnacharya saraswati and gained spiritual guidance from him ,this period was of growing contact and sympathetic understanding between the guru and the community and also attempts to imrove the condition of math.


TOIL (1934-1944)
These were year of cooperation and solid improvement.The foundations of which were well laid by first representative of mahasabha of 1932.important stepping stone was the collection of one lakh rupees for improvement of math buildings and to repay old debts,Also the annual rathotsav was cancelled due to lack of funds,restarting of pathshalas and launching of funds like vantiga capital fund,Religious instruction fund and priests funds.
During these years HH Anandashram swamiji met other mathadipatis to bring sub sects of saraswats together and unite the entire saraswat samaj.
In 1940 silver jubliee of shishya sweekar of HH Anandashram swamiji was celebrated and the occasion was commemorated by "SADHANA SAPTAHA",founding of" SOCIAL AMELIORATION FUND".
on the whole the progress achieved in this decade is a record in the history of shri chitrapur math.Ths standing commitee worked very hard with HH swamijis blessings to bring about improvement in the society.This was indeed a decade of TOIL.

1945-1954


This decade was the reward for what HH Swamiji and the standing commitee did in earlier years.By 1954 ,the annual vantiga receipts rose to nearly Rs 40000,contributions to vantiga capital fund totaled to 466 lakhs and math finances were further stabilized .
another landmark was the holding of first vaidik conference in 1945.The first issue of chitrapur sunbeam was also published during this period ie 1954.
HH Anandashram swamijis 50 th birthday was celebrated on 15 june 1952 and was celebrated in a very simple way by chanting of"Bhagwad gita"

1955-1964





The "GURUS" grace hovered over this decade.HH Swamiji had a divine command to adopt a shishya to continue the GURUPARAMPARA founded by "AADI HH Parijnanashram swamiji"
The glorious and most memorable event took place at bombay on 1st march 1959 at shivaji park.The shivaji park was full of amchis.About 10000 people were present for this historic event.HH Anandashram initiated 12 year old Ravindra Shankarnarayan Shukla in to "sanyasa" ,Adopted as shishya and bestowed on him the name"PARIJNANASHRAM ".Swamiji with shishya swamiji toured different parts of india.He filled laity's heart with love .He also rejoiced company of other sanyasis who were verily messangers of god.
Anandashram swamiji introduced his shishya with upanishads,gita ,sanskrit language and also our holy guruparampara.Swamiji arranged for special teachers from varanasi,benares so that shishya swami gets introduced to music,rituals etc.

Mahasamadhi

On 16 september HH Anandashram swamiji breathed His last...He left his human form by saying"OM" aloud three times.HH Anandashram swamiji were a symbol of simplicity,compassion and was avataar of lord krishna.
When he visited calcutta ashram od ramkrishna paramhamsa.the disciples of Ramkrishna paramhamsa welcomed HH Anandashram swamiji with full honour and they regarded him as avtaar of Ramkrishna paramhamsa.
when HH Parijnanashram swamiji opened His Guruswami's personal diary,he was surprised and happy to find that HH Anandashram swamiji supported nearly 300 chitrapur families with the Padkanika which swamiji would get.Truly a saint who always supported his devotees and always cared for betterment of chitrapur saraswat samaj.