On the 6th day of the month of Jyeshta in 1847, Swami Pandurangashram was born to Nagar Shantapayya and his wife. He was named Nagar Kalappa. From a very tender age, he had enlisted among the students of the Chitrapur Math. This bright,intelligent and handsome young boy with His quick perception, superior intelligence and strong willed nature became a favourite with the incumbent head of the community, Swami Krishnashram.

As the shishya(disciple) at the tender age of 10, He was ordained of the incumbent Mathadhipati(Head of the community) Swami Krishnashram in 1857. For 5 years he received guidance under the tutelage of his guru. On the 8th day of the month of Marghshirsha in 1863, after Swami Krishnashram attained Maha-Samadhi, He was officially crowned the Mathadhipati. His flair for administration was shown even as a shishya. He played an important role in the smooth execution of the first Rathotsav.

Swami Pandurangashram thus became the eighth guru of the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community. For a period of 52 years from 1863 to 1915, the longest on record so far He held the position. A Sanskrit scholar, a Yogi and a Jyothishi, Swami Pandurangashram was trained in the Sanskrit Scriptures under `Swami Raghunath Shastri and also believed in Dharma which means the correct way to live one`s life.

Several infrastructural changes were brought about in Chitrapur Village in Shirali under the administration of Swami Pandurangashram. His planning was four folded: Reconstruction/Renovation of Samadhis, Planned construction of Chitrapur Village, Development of the Chitrapur Math and Renovation of Temples and mathas(Monasteries). With aspects of town-planning, Chitrapur village was made as a "model village". From the main road up to the entrance of the Chitrapur Math, a road was constructed which had street lights on either sides. On the side of the roads Houses were built in files. Everyday the roads were swept clean. For the children, Schools were constructed.

The greater part of the Math, during His period, was rebuilt and all the Samadhis of His predecessors were reconstructed with tamrashashan. A big tank, Shiv-Ganga Sarovar near the Math was dug and `Panchavati`, a tall building on the Govardhan Hill was also constructed. The mathas(Monasteries) at Mallapur,Gokarn and Mangalore were in a bad state. Mathas were renovated under Swamiji`s supervision. He had also brought about many social changes in the community. He firmly believes in Dharma and reprimanded those who did not follow it. Behind this act of His, He reasoned that ultimately it was Dharma that could help one attain the ultimate aim of Moksha. He imposed a ban on foreign visits and excommunicated anyone who went abroad. As Swamiji believed that a man would expose to the temptations of other cultures with the foreign visits, which would blatantly oppose Dharma.

Many people have experienced that in dire distress His devotees would redress the problems they faced with his grace.

As the devotees got anxious about the continuation of the Guru Parampara, asked Swamiji to accept a shishya(disciple). To all their pleas, Swamiji remained silent. Swamiji was greatly upset by the noncompliance of community members under his reign: The people were few in number, who firmly respected the Dharma and maintained the tradition of the ancestors.

He always pray to Lord Bhavanishankar(The community deity) to give him strength to hold firm in his decision. In 1915, Swamiji made a decision to accept a shishya, in the month of Vaisakha around time of June. Shantamoorthy, the son of a priest named Haridas Ramchandra Bhat was the one choose by the divine will. During the Shishya Sweekar ceremony, a ceremony where the guru accepts his disciple, he was ordained as Anandashram. Eight days after the Shishya Sweekar of Anandashram, Swami Pandurangashram`s health deteriorated. On 2nd day of the month of Jyeshtha He attained Maha-Samadhi(passed away) at the age of 68.

Inside the Chitrapur Math premises His samadhi(Shrine) is located and to the left to the samadhi of Swami Shankarashram I.