Sri Shiva Chidambara Mahaprabhu was born around 1769 to Sri Marthanda Dixitar in Murgoad in Belgaum district. The child was born after several years of tapasya. He was an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He had mastered the vedas by four years of age. His father was a purohit and used to conduct various vratas. A person approached Marthand Dixitar for performing Gaja Gowri vrata at his home. Father having known the powers of his son sent him to do the vrata. The man accepted the young boy as purohit out of reverence to his father. While performing the puja he did prana pratishtapana to the two mud elephants. Having finished the puja he went home. At night, the two elephants started moving round the house. The man came to Dixitar and anxiously narrated the incident. Then Shiva Chidambara was sent to do the visarjana and end the vrata.He spent his whole life doing yeomen service to mankind.
He was very active in Belgaum district in the villages of Murgoad, Sogale, Gonnagara, Babulgara, Savadatti and Chidambara Nagar. He was a great devotee of Panduranga. Hindus and Muslims participate even today in the Kartika celebrations of 8 days at Chidambara Nagar. This tradition of teachers emanating from him is very deep and vast and ever present.