Swami Ānandāshram (Devanagari: आनंदाश्रम्, Ā.nan.dā.śram) was the ninth guru and the Head of the community of the Chitrapur Saraswats.

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).

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.

(NOTE: Henceforth in this article, Swamiji will refer to Swami Ānandāshram) 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.

[1] Swami Pāndurangāshram had accepted Shāntamoorthy as his shishya (disciple) on 5 June 1915 just nine days before he attained Mahā-samādhi (died).

[1] Thus he had the sole sovereignty over the community with no time to learn, among other things: Sanskrit Scriptures, administrative responsibilities, etc.

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.

[2] 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.

[3] During the initial period of Swamiji's reign, the Chitrapur Math faced acute financial constraints.

The measures included Suspension of the Rathōtsav (Car Festival), Introduction of Sādhana Saptāhas and the framing of a new constitution.

This time of financial shortcomings forced Swamiji to suspend the annual car festival (Rathōtsav) indefinitely.

This event took place every year at Shirali, Bangalore or Bombay: wherever Swamiji happened to be present.

This event would be held every year except for short breaks needed because of rice shortages or the Government's restriction of public gatherings.

Similar such public functions had been held under the aegis of Swami Sivananda at Benaras and in the mathas under Mata Ananda Mayi.

The society's elders decided that a constitution and a regular set of rules were needed for the administration of the matha and to help it overcome financial constraints.

In search of greener pastures, the young generation migrated to the urban areas of Bombay, Bangalore, Madras, Delhi and Calcutta.

This revival of interest in the Guru Parampara and the Chitrapur Math may have happened as a result of several factors:[9] Swami Ānandāshram's regime was one that gave high priority to reconstruction and renovation of old buildings that were in dilapidated conditions.

Some of the funds introduced for developmental activities were as follows:[3] Swamiji personally took charge of various reconstruction and renovation projects needed for the buildings that belonged to the community.

When he was called on by the Swamiji, he was stunned to see that with the customary coconut, he received a packet of Vibhuti instead of the akshata given to all other devotees.

[10][19] In 1959 the devotees suggested the Swamiji to accept a shishya (disciple) so that the sacred Guru Parampara could continue.

He would study under his guru for a period of 7 years after which he would succeed him as the Head of the community in 1966 after Swamiji attained Mahā-samādhi (died).

On 16 September 1966 Swami Ānandāshram died at the Shri Chitrapur Math in Malleshwaram, Bangalore with his shishya by his side.