Sridhara Swamiji, born at Lad Chincholi in Gulbarga district, was a great spiritual leader who dedicated himself for the promotion of values of the Sanatana Dharma through penance, meditation, and discourses. He came under the influence of Samarth Ramdas who guided his religious pursuits. It was during his tour of Malnad that Sridhar Swamiji chanced upon a serene place nestling in the hillock at Varadahalli which fascinated him so much that he decided to concentrate his religious activities by building his own ashram in the Fifties that subsequently emerged as a much hallowed pilgrim centre.
He undertook his Chaturmasya after constructing his hermitage. He undertook the penance in a cave for years together and established the ashram naming it Sridhar Ashram on Vijaya Dashami by hoisting the Dharma Dhwaja.
Birth : Lad Chincholi. On Datt Jayanti. At 7:00 pm. Date :07/12/1908.
Childhood and primary education : At Hyderabad, from 1912 – 1923.
Higher education : At Pune, from 1923 – 1927.
Arrival at Sajjangad : Vijayadashami, 1927.
Blessed by Shree Samarth : On Dasnavmi, 1930.
Left for southern India on the orders of Shree Samarth : On Dasnavmi, 1930.
Became Sanyasi : At Shigehalli, 1942.
Toured all over India for religious upheaval : 1942 – 1958.
Continuous sadhana in solitude : From 1958 – 1973, at Varadpur.
Varadashrama Dharmadwaja