In 1804, Swami Vamanashram had been ordained as the Shishya to Swami Keshavashram. He was from the Shukla Bhat family from Mangalore. With certain Brahmin teachers He began His training at Mangalore. However, he focused his time and energy in the southern region of the Kanara district, once he succeeded Keshavashram Swami in 1823. He gained great knowledge on the Sanskrit scriptures of India during His tutelage under the Swami Keshavashram for 19 years.
After Swami Keshavashram attained Maha-samadhi(passed away) on the 9th day of Margha month in 1823, Swamiji was officially enthroned as the Guru of the community. Swami Vamanashram was deeply involved in spiritual pursuits and was very reluctant to concentrate on the administration affairs of the matha and affairs of the community in general. He gave total responsibility of the administration to the Shukla Bhat managers in order to reduce the burden, so that He could give His full to pursue his spiritual conquests.
His Holiness Swami Vamanashram thus became the sixth guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community and He held the post for 16 years from 1823 to 1839. He was also regarded as a Braha-Jnani. The administration of the matha and its treasury, according to Him was the materialistic pleasures, which Swamiji gave away. To his shishya and the Shukla Bhats, He abandoned the responsibilities over. He was a personification of compassion, mercifulness and self-discipline.
Eventually Swamiji consented in accepting a shishya(disciple), upon the advocacy of his devotees to accept a disciple to help him discharge the affairs of the community. When Swamiji had come to visit Vitthal in Karnataka, the successor was found in the hamlet of Vitthal. His name was Parameshwar Nagar. This young boy was beamed with energy and potentiality. The priest of the Shri Vishweshwar Vitthal temple had told swamiji about this boy. In 1836, in the month of Jyeshta, Swamiji officially ordained his shishya as Krishnashram. On that day, thus another link was added to the Guru Parampara. Swamiji continued his never-ending quest after spiritual knowledge and handed over the responsibilities of administration to Krishnashram.
In 1839, Swamiji went to visit His devotees in Mangalore. During this visit, He became seriously ill and His health was rapidly degenerating towards worse. Swami Vamanashram attained Maha-samadhi(passed away) on the 9th day of the month of Kartik in 1839. The devotees of Swamiji, constructed his samadhi(shrine) and poured tender coconut water as Abhisheka. A math centering on His samadhi was built up at Mangalore. As Shiyala Abhisheka devotees offer seva(service). Tender coconut("Shiyala" in konkani) water is poured on the shrine as abhisheka.
