Introduction

Sri Shankaralinga Bhagavan Saraswathi Paramahamsa is a confluence of three Gurupanthas of South India: Chidambara, Dattatreya and Ramdas.

He uplifted innumerable Samsariakas, showed them how to live well in this world and made them tread the one and the only path to salvation. Hallowed be His sacred name! May He always protect us from the evil. Let Him grant us the supreme boon of remembering Him always.

GURU PARAMPARAS

1. Sri Guru lifts the veil of ignorance and enlightens His disciples. Ignorance is defined as not knowing who one is. Upanishads declare 'one who has Guru knows' 'one who has got parabhakthi in parabrahma and Guru can understand the Supreme truth'. 'He who knows Brahman becomes Brahma' (Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavathi)

Chidambara Gurupantha

Chidambara was born in Murugod on Monday Shasti of Kartika Krishna Paksha. (1758 AD) His parents were Marthanda Dixit and Lakshmi Matha. Chidambara of Akashalinga kshetra of Chidambaram (in Tamilnadu) gave a boon to Marthanda Dikshit that he would be born as his son. Countless are his leelas . He established Siva Panchayatana at Kengeri, performed Somayaga of Gonnagara on the banks of Malapahari river, and gave 143 gold coins to as a loan to Sri Venkateshwara of Tirupathi. Feeding thousands of people was a regular feature everyday. He spread Karmayoga all around. Once when Chidambara was at Sirahatti (Dharwad District) Virupaksha Jois of Anaji and Krishnappa of Honnur sought his blessings. Chidambara said to Virupaksha Jois that his son would beget a daughter at first and that he would reincarnate himself in her lineage.

Chidambara became one with Shiva on the fourteenth day of Pushyamasa shukla paksha of 1815.

Chidambara reincarnated as Sri Seshachala of Anandavana, Agadi(Haveri Dist) on Chaitra Krishna Panchami of Yuva nama Samvatsara 1848 AD. Sri Seshachala spread the message of Bhakthi all around and he is known as Seshachala Maharaj and Seshachala Sadhugalu.

Sri Shankara Bhagavan was one of the main disciples of Seshachala. He blessed Shankaralinga with His Anugraha.

Dattapantha

2(a) Dattareya Son of Anasuya and Athri is the origin of Dattatreya Gurupantha. He rein carnated as Sripada Srivallabha and Sri Nrisimha Saraswati (of Ganigapur) Madhava Saraswathi was his disciple. Janardhana Swami was sishya of Madhava Saraswathi. Ekanath was a sishya of Janardhana Swami. In this lineage came Shankarananda. He showered his kripa on Sahajananda. Sahajananda blessed Sri Dattarajayogendra of Banavasi. Sri Dattaraja showered his Kripa on Shankaralinga .

2(b) Sri Ganeshavadhutha was a sishya of Dattatreya(in Tretayuga). He came to Varanasi at the end of Dwaparayuga and performed Thapas on the banks of holy Ganga in Varanasi. Sri Brahmananda was Sishya of Ganeshavadhutha. Brahmananda was a grandson of Krishnappa Honnur)

Yellappa of Anaji was a sishya of Brahmananda the first guru of Shankaralinga.

Nathapantha

3. Samartha Armadas (Guru of Shivaji) is the founder of Ramadasa Pantha. Samartha Brahma Chaitanya of Gondavali is one of the great icons of the pantha. He spread the message of the great efficacy of Ramanama which is a solution for the problems of this world and a sure way to achieve salvation. Udhhava Chidghana a sishya of Brahmachaitanya transferred all the power of his Ramanama Japa to Sri Shankaralinga.

It is worthwhile to note another influence on Sri Shankaralinga. Sri Sri Sri Chandrashekara Bharathi Mahasannidhanam of Dakshinamnaya Sharada peetha of Sringeri sent danda, Kammandalu, Sheshavastra and a note of assent to Shankaralinga to assume Sannyasa.