Shri Chidambar Swami ji was born in 1889 at Chikkanayakanahalli near Tumkur in Karnataka. He was a retired post master. He set up a Gurukula at Gubbi in 1934 and an ashram for women at Chandrabhavi. He was a majestic figure. After touring the Himalayas for a Guru, he met his Sadguru Sri Narayana Bhagwan at Anandavana Ashrama near Agadi in Haveri Taluk of Karnataka. By the mere darshan of his Guru, he was awakened to Advaitha Siddhi. A story as follows was told by Bhagwan Sri Visweswaraiah about his Guru Chidambara Swamiji. Chidambara Swamiji was a postal worker near Sagar in the dense forest area. To the village came Narayan Bhagwan. A woman who had constant headache approached the Swamiji for help. On being cured of the same, villagers began to serve and listen to the Swamji's pravachanas. The post master, Chidambara Swami thought that he understood Advaitha. While on a delivery errand in the forest, he heard a big snake hissing. Looking back he saw a five headed black cobra after him. He ran for his life and soon the snake dissappeared. In the evening, Narayan Bhagwan asked Chidambar Swamiji "Didn't you see Narayana in the snake that followed you?" Then Narayan Bhagwan showed him that he was the snake that followed Chidambar Swamiji.
