आगमे विश्वासटिप्पन्यः

A modern-day ascetic noted for the strictness of his ascetic practices. His name
comes from his habit of using his hands
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Karnavedha (“ear-piercing”) Samskara
Sculptures decorate the Virupaksha Temple in Pattadakal,
one of many historical sites in the state of Karnataka.
(kara) as the vessel (patra) in which he
received the food he took as alms. This is
considered one of the strictest ascetic
practices, since the amount of food one
can receive in this way is fairly small. The
lack of an eating vessel indicates complete
renunciation of material possessions.
Swami Karpatri was also known for his
conservative political views. After Indian
independence in 1947, he was one of the
founders of the political party Ram Rajya
Parishad (“Organization for Ram’s Reign”).
The party’s basic assertion was that people
had to follow the division of status and
labor found in the traditional caste system
in order to have a smoothly working society. Aside from this conservative social
platform, the party also backed Hindu
causes such as the demand for a total ban
on cow slaughter. Despite being a Sanyasi
who had renounced the world, Swami
Karpatri still maintained some residual
attitudes from his former life. He had been
born a brahmin; even after renouncing the
world, he would only take food from brahmin houses. Swami Karpatri exemplifies
how many ascetics still retain connections
with the “everyday” world—both in retaining some concern for their former status
and in taking organized political action to
promote causes reflecting deeply
entrenched Hindu values.