Basrur

Basrur, once called Vasupura, is a historic port town on the banks of the Varahi river coast in Karnataka. For much of the sixteenth century and the first half of the seventeenth century, it was the rice port par excellence on that coast. The port was used by traders of several foreign countries mainly to cater to the needs of Keladi Samsthana, which was near Shimoga. The town had several streets, each specifically housing communities like traders, artisans, dancers, weavers, etc. It was also famous for communities who were experts in singing and dancing, the art which is forgotten and no longer exists. The town has become a small, obscure village, and the trade no longer exists.

The first Shaka Math of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan is at Basrur. It was established by H.H. Shrimad Keshavendra Thirtha Swamiji. The land and the Math at Hemmady were donated to the Samsthan during Swamiji’s tenure.

H.H. Shrimad Keshavendra Thirtha Swamiji

His Holiness Srimad Keshavendra Thirtha Swamiji succeeded the first Mathadipathi His Holiness Shrimad Yadavendra Thirtha Swamiji in 1608 and was the second Mathadipathi. His birth is reckoned as in 1583. On H.H. Shrimad Yadavendra Thirtha Swamiji attaining Mukthi, H.H. Shrimad Keshavendra Thirtha Swamiji became Mathadipathi and formally ascended the Peetha on Monday 8th July 1608-Shravana Shudha Dwitiya of Keelaka Samavatsara Sh. Sh. 1530. H.H. Swamiji had a long reign of over 62 years.

H.H. Shrimad Keshavendra Thirtha Swamiji was an exponent of the ‘Dwaitha’ stream of philosophy, and Parama Pujya Guruvarya’s mastery over the scriptures are recollected even today. H.H. Shrimad Keshavendra Thirtha Swamiji is adorned with all divinity by the G.S.B community. The supreme Lord Vedavyasa chose to manifest Himself to our beloved Swamiji, who was blessed with the idol of Lord Vedavyasa while His Holiness was taking a holy bath in the River Ganges at Pancha Ganga Ghat in Varanasi. Subsequent to this divine event, Lord Vedavyasa is worshiped at Shree Kashi Math Samsthan as one amongst the Presiding Deities along with Lord Ramachandra and Lord Narasimha.

In commemoration of H.H. Shrimad Keshavendra Thirtha Swamiji being blessed with Lord Vedavyasa at Varanasi, even now, whenever successor Swamiji’s camps at the Moola Math in Varanasi, it is customary for Swamiji to take a dip in the Ganga at Pancha Ganga Ghat with the idol of Lord Vedavyasa on the head. It is a beautiful idol –Chakra and sankha are embossed on the right and left shoulders, respectively. And there is Srivatsalahana on the right chest. There are earrings also. It is this Swamiji who gave the first Ajna Patrika-1620 Chattam for the Cochin Temple for the performance of the deity poojas, festivals, and other rituals and for the temple management allocating the work to the 22 families of priests (Vaidiks) and the management to the Grihastas. It is also said that Cochin was named Goshripura by H.H. Shrimad Keshavendra Thirtha Swamiji because of its prosperity and auspiciousness.

His Holiness initiated two disciples namely H.H. Shrimad Upendra Thirtha Swamiji and H.H. Shrimad Yadavendra Thirtha Swamiji (II). H.H. Shrimad Keshavendra Thirtha Swamiji attained Mukthi on Phalguna Bahula Thrithiya of Saumya Samvatsara Sh. Sh.1591-Sunday 27th February 1670.

H.H. Shrimad Keshavendra Thirtha Swamiji has been described as a tall figure with a wheat complexion, wide forehead, wide eyes and eyebrows, and high nose. H.H.  Swamiji was a pre-eminent scholar in all branches of knowledge – a Maha Pandita as also person of great austerity – a Maha Tapasvi. His Holiness was indeed a Mahatma, the recipient of God’s special grace.

H.H. Shrimad Bhuvanendra Thirtha Swamiji

H.H. Shrimad Bhuvanendra Thirtha Swamiji is the 17th Pontiff of Samsthan. Hailing from the Koundinya Gotra Kamath family of Palliport near Kochi, Narasimha Kamath (Poorvashrama name), Son of Sri Giri Kamath was born in 1837- Jesta Bahula Thrithiya of Hevilambi Samvatsara, Sh. Sh. 1759-21.06.1837. He was initiated into Sanyasa Ashrama at a young age by his guru H.H. Shrimad Sumateendra Thirtha Swamiji at the Tirumala Devaswom Alleppy in 1849.

H.H. Shrimad Bhuvanendra Thirtha Swamiji was a great tapasvi, a great scholar, and a great Vaidya-Ayurveda Pandit. He hailed from a family well versed in Ayurveda. Speaking about the Ayurveda, there is the incident of a Navayat (Muslim) child bitten by a snake and dead- being brought back to life. The grateful father donated a huge sum, which came in handy for renovating the old Math building in Bhatkal.

Many artists, sculptors, and scholars earned the grace of H.H. Shrimad Bhuvanendra Thirtha Swamiji and excelled in their chosen fields. The case of Sri Renjal Janardhan Shenoy of Karkal-who was in the service of H.H. Swamiji and the Math and who had no particular skills or education but, with H.H. Swamiji’s blessing, attained great expertise in Shilpa Shastra and became a renowned sculptor is an example. It is again, with Swamiji’s blessing, inspiration, and guidance, that the Canara High School was begun by Shri A Subba Rao Pai. Once H.H. Swamiji was sitting outside the temple at Mangalore when someone looking impressive and important drove by a horse coach. On enquiry, His Holiness was told that it was a Judge, and on further enquiring, it was mentioned that one needed to be educated in the modern system to attain such position. It was then that H.H. Swamiji inspired Sri Subba Rao Pai to start a school so that our people too could get educated and aspire for such positions. Though the Canara High School was founded after H.H. Shrimad Bhuvanendra Thirtha Swamiji’s regime, it owes its inspiration and origin to H.H. Swamiji.

H.H. Shrimad Bhuvanendra Thirtha Swamiji attained Mukti at Abhijit Muhurt (noon) on Margashira Shudha Pratipada of Vyaya Samvatsara Sh.Sh. 1808-Friday, 26th November 1886 at Basrur where their Vrindavan is situated facing that of the second Guru of Kashimath, H.H. Shrimad Keshavendra Thirtha Swamiji.