Swami Ānandāshram (Devanagari: आनंदाश्रम्, ) was the ninth guru and the Head of the community of the Chitrapur Saraswats. He succeeded his guru Swami Pandurangashram in 1915. He remained the Head of the community for a period of 51 years until he died in 1966.
Swami Ānandāshram had to work on his own to attain mastery over the Sanskrit scriptures, as he had been initiated just 9 days after his ordination as a shishya (disciple). Thus he had no time to learn under the tutelage of a guru. His learning was taken care of mostly by the priests of Chitrapur Math along with special tutors.
His regime was characterised by progress and prosperity of the community after initial periods of financial instability. Swami Ānandāshram regularly visited the various centres of the community all over the country without restricting himself to the Kanara districts. Under his regime the strict social norms enforced by his predecessor, Swami Pāndurangāshram were made more lenient.
He died in 1966 and was succeeded by his shishya (disciple) Swami Parijñānāshram III. His samādhi (shrine) is located at Shirali within the premises of the Chitrapur Math.
(NOTE: Henceforth in this article, Swamiji will refer to Swami Ānandāshram)
Initial period
Swami Ānandāshram was born Shāntamūrti Haridās Bhat to one of the priests in the Chitrapur Math by name Haridas Rāmchandra Bhat and his wife Jānakidevi on 29 June 1902. Swami Pāndurangāshram had accepted Shāntamoorthy as his shishya (disciple) on 5 June 1915 just nine days before he attained Mahā-samādhi (died). Swami Ānandāshram was ordained as the head of the community on 14 June 1915 at the age of 13. Thus he had the sole sovereignty over the community with no time to learn, among other things: Sanskrit Scriptures, administrative responsibilities, etc. under the tutelage of a guru.
Swami Pāndurangāshram had foreseen the difficulty his disciple might have to face and so ordered that the administrative duties of the matha and the community should not be given to him until he had received due education and necessary training. Until then, the administrative responsibilities would be taken care of by the Shukla Bhats of the matha (See Shukla Bhats). The community would continue to worship the pāduka (wooden slippers worn by Hindu saints) of Swami Pāndurangāshram till Swami Ānandāshram attained the required training.
The general education of Swamiji was taken care of by the priests in the Chitrapur Matha. Special tutors were arranged for teaching specific scriptures. However, Swamiji had to teach himself many of the previously mentioned qualities. Twice he was overcome with frustration and he left the premises of the matha without anyone's knowledge, to take up life of a sanyasi (ascetic) and to quench his thirst for knowledge. Both times he returned upon the urgent requests of his devotees who promised him that things at the matha would be fine.
In 1927, Swamiji set out for Rishikesh, located at the foothills of the Himalayas, to the ashram (Hermitage) of Swami Krishnāchārya Saraswati under whom he studied for many days. Under him, Swamiji learnt the Brahma sūtras and other texts. Swami Krishnāchārya later visited Shirali and continued to teach him.
Financial Crisis
During the initial period of Swamiji's reign, the Chitrapur Math faced acute financial constraints. The income for the matha was steadily decreasing. The matha faced a huge debt of 80,000 Rupees with the interests alone absorbing 5,000 Rupees (a considerable amount in the early 1930s). The severe financial restrictions were possibly due to: The advent of World War II Severe drought conditions in the Kanara districts (and the country in general) Financial burden due to the last period of India's Freedom struggle.
Tackling this financial situation was given a top priority by Swamiji. The measures included Suspension of the Rathōtsav (Car Festival), Introduction of Sādhana Saptāhas and the framing of a new constitution.
Suspension of the Rathōtsav
This time of financial shortcomings forced Swamiji to suspend the annual car festival (Rathōtsav) indefinitely. The Rathōtsav, despite being a celebration that united the community, would always guzzle a large portion of the matha's funds. Suspension of the festival seemed to him the only logical solution to the rapidly deteriorating financial situation.
Instead a Sādhana Saptāha (week of prayer) was introduced. This event was held during a week in December every year (Usually 24 December to 30 December). This event took place every year at Shirali, Bangalore or Bombay: wherever Swamiji happened to be present.