Our Previous Acharyas
Srimad Tiruthuraipoondi Andavan Sri Srinivasa Ramanuja Mahadesikan
Birth Star: Aippasi Uthirattathi (Uttara Bhadrapada)
śrīmad gopāla-surer niravadhi-karuṇā-vāpta sat-saṁpradāyaṁ
śrīmad vedānta rāmānuja yati-nṛpatis-sarvataḥ sthāpa-yitvā
yasmin sat-saṁpradāyaṁ sakala-mupadi-śannaṁ sato’nu-praviśthaḥ
śrīmad śrīvāsa rāmānuja munim-anaghaṁ taṁ bhaje deśikendraṁ
“I pay my profound respects, to the blemishless Srimad Thiruthuraipoondi Andavan Sri Srinivasa Ramanuja Mahadesikan, who was the recipient of the limitless mercy of Srimad Gopalarya Mahadesikan (Thirukudanthai Desikan). The king amongst yatis (renunciates), Srimad Vazhuthoor Andavan Sri Vedanta Ramanuja Mahadesikan who was also the founder of the worldwide sat-sampradayam (the original and bonafide spiritual tradition), had nominated and chosen Srimad Thiruthuraipoondi Andavan to succeed him. Srimad Vazhuthoor Andavan taught him all that one should know about our sat-sampradayam , and appeared to have reincarnated in him.”
Srimad Thiruthuraipoondi Andavan Sri Srinivasa Ramanuja Mahadesikan was born in the Tamil month of Aippasi with Uthirattadhi as his birth star, and was named Srinivasachar.
He belonged to the lineage of Eyunni vamsam originating in Bharadwaja gotram. He learnt sampradhaya granthas (the traditional esoteric texts) from Srimad Vazhuthur Andavan. He became an erudite scholar and an authentic exponent of Sri Vaishnava philosophy.
He had prapatti (the ritual of surrender) performed at the feet of Almighty and was initiated into the turiyasrama or the renunciate order of sannyas by Vazhuthur Andavanm, who named him, ‘Srinivasa Ramanuja Maha Desikan’. Srimad Thiruthuraipoondi Andavan became one of the most illustrious acharyas of Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashramam.
Srimad Thirutthuraippoondi Andavan was also known as Vilakkudi Andavan as he hailed from Vilakkudi, a small hamlet near Rajamannargudi .