Krishnashram
Swami Krishnāshram (Devanagari: कृष्णाश्रम्, "") was the seventh guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community. He was the seventh "mathādhipati" (head of the community or guru), for 24 years from 1839 to 1863. He was an administrator and Sanskrit scholar. Under his reign several infrastructural developments were brought about which included construction of temples and the renovation of existing ones. He added several land assets to the Chitrapur Math. Under his regime the "Rathōtsav" ("Car Festival") was introduced. (See topic below.) Krishnāshram was succeeded by his disciple Pandurangāshram as the head of the community after he died in 1863. He  was considered the "Patron Saint" of the Shirali and its adjoining villages. His "samādhi" (shrine) is located at Shirali. Taking charge. Krishnāshram was born Paramēshwar Nāgar in the small hamlet of Vitthal in Karnataka. He became the seventh "Guru Parampara" after Swami Vāmanāshram died on the 9th day of the month of kartik in 1839. Krishnāshram was a scholar of Sanskrit. Devotees came from different parts of the country to hear his discourses, including some from Dvaita Vaishnava practices. After Vāmanāshram gave up the administration of the "matha" over to his "shukla bhat" managers (See ), the affairs of the "matha  were in disarray. The administration of the matha" was taken care of Krishnāshram who was an able administrator. With the help of his trusted assistant Lajmi Venkatarāmanayya, the affairs of the "matha" were set right. Many reforms regarding the collection of "vantiga" (donations), the allocation of funds for developmental projects etc. were introduced. Infrastructural development. Krishnāshram was keenly interested in establishing temples and mathas and renovating already existing ones. Under his leadership, the Shri Subramanyeshwar Temple at Nilekani (Sirsi) and the Shri Anantēshwar Temple at Vitthal were some of the temples that were renovated. The Umā-Maheshwar Temple at Mulki  was constructed after the residents of that panchayat requested Krishnāshram for a temple. Krishnāshram himself installed the "Umā-Maheshwar" deity in the temple. Rathōtsav ("Car Festival"). "See Rathotsav" Under Krishnāshram's auspices, the Chariot or Car Festival known as "Rathōtsav" was introduced, the first in 1862. In this week-long festival, Lord Bhavānishankara adorns the "ratha" (chariot) which hundreds of devotees pull around the entire village. The "mathādhipati" (head of the community or guru) sits on the "ratha". An integral part of the festival is the "pālki utsav" (Palanquin festival) where the Lord Bhavānishankara adorns the "pālki" (palanquin) and travels  a different route every day to "visit" his devotees. Devotees offer their prayers and seek blessings from the Lord on these days. Each day, the Lord takes a different route. The route taken is always marked by glowing lights and crackers to welcome the Lord. This festivity is marked by chanting of Vedic "mantrās" (hymns) along with "bhajans" (devotional songs). "Prasād bhojan" (food served as prasad) is served to each and every devotee. This food is prepared by the voluntary work of the devotees, including the cutting and chopping of vegetable to the serving of the food. Any small work  done towards the betterment of the festival is considered as "seva" (selfless service) to Lord Bhavānishankara. The "Rathōtsav" is the time when the entire community unites to take part in the festivity. Miracles. There are famous stories about miracles that Swami Krishnāshram has been attributed to. Un-earthing Umā-Maheshwar. Once Krishnāshram had a dream in which the Lord Bhavānishankara guided him to the jungles of Gersappe in Shimōga. There he was shown an idol of "Umā-Maheshwar" hidden in the deep jungle. Krishnāshram guided his followers to the place as shown in his dream. At exactly the same location  as in the dream, an exquisite sculpture of "Umā-Maheshwar" was unearthed. In the traditional way, this idol was installed near the shrine ("samādhi") of Ādi Parijñānāshram Swamiji at the Bhandikeri Math (Ādi Matha) in Gokarn. Fire at Shirali. One year during the "pāliki utsav" (Palanquin festival: "See Pālki Utsav") in the month of Kārtik at Shirali, the people ignored the festival. They did not light lamps nor offer flowers and "ārtis" to the Lord. They shunned and turned their backs onto Lord Bhavānishankara. Krishnāshram wanted the people to believe that whatever they offer to the Lord was not theirs  but belonged to the Lord in the first place. The good life that people enjoyed were because of the grace of the Lord and selfishness and ignorance does not play any role in success. So that night, as if by divine will, a devastating fire swept across Shirali that resulted in wanton destruction. How much ever the people tried, the fire would not extinguish. The people realized their folly and sought forgiveness at the Krishnāshram's feet. As if by divine intervention, the fire was extinguished and further losses were prevented. Shishya Sweekār. The devotees of Krishnāshram asked him to  accept a "shishya" (disciple) so as to continue the holy "Guru Parampara". Krishnāshram graciously accepted. So the search was on to find a suitable successor to Krishnāshram. The successor was found in Kālappa Shāntapayya, a smart and intelligent boy from Mangalore. So on the auspicious "Shuddha Poornima" day (15th day) of the month of Kārtik in 1857, Krishnāshram ordained his "shishya" and named him Pāndurangāshram. Thus another link was added to the Guru Parampara. Pāndurangāshram would go on to learn under his guru for a period of 6 years. Death. Swami Krishnāshram fell ill in 1863. On the "ashtami" (eighth  day) of the month of "mārghashīrsha" that year, Krishnāshram died, after being at the helm of the community for a dynamic period of 24 years where the community faced a lot of changes. His "shishya" "pandurangāshram" succeeded him as the next guru of the community. The "samādhi" (shrine) of Krishnāshram is located at the Chitrapur Math in Shirali between the "samādhis" of Swami Parijnanashram II and Swami Keshavashram.