Sri Ramanuja Brahmatantra Parakala Maha Desikan was known as Sri Ramanuja Chary in his purvaashramam. Sri Ramanuja Chary was was born to Sri Tirumalacharya of Bagepalli in Virodha naama Samavatsaram, Vaishaaka Maasam, Rohini Nakshatram, Koundiya Gotram (1709 ACE)

Sri Ramanujachary left Bagepalli to arrive at Kumbhakonam. He obtained mantropadesham at the lotus feet of 21st HH of the Parakala Matham, HH Periya Parkala Swamy (known as Tirumalai Krishnammacharya in his purvaashramam). Later, under the tutleage of the 22nd Seer of the Parakala Matham, Sri Srinivasa Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan, he underwent Sastraabhyasam, Vedantha Grantha Kaalakshepam and was an expert in Udaya Vedantha.

At the tender age of 24, Sri Ramanuja Chary was attending the Brahmotsavam festivals at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthaanam. During the celebrations, he had a premonition about his future life and as a result, he immediately proceeded to Kumbakonam and at the feet of the then Seer of the Parakala Matham, Sri Srinivasa Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan, he sought and obtained Sanyaasaashramam. Sri Ramanuja Chary spent the next 38 years performing Vedantha kaalakshepams and spreading the essence of the Ramanuja Siddhanta. With his dedication towards Laxmi Hayagriva and anugraham of PerumaL, Sri Ramanuja Chary became a Mahaa tapOnidhi, Gyani and above all, a achanchala bhakta of Lord Hayagriva.

At the time when Sri Ramanuja Chary was about 62 years young, the then Seer of the Sri Parakala Matham (24nd Seer), Srimad Abhinava Srinivasa Brahmatantra Parakala Maha Desikan was searching for a successor for the Matham. He found Sri Ramanuja Chary to be the most suitable candidate and instructed him to arrive at Sri Rangapattanam. Sri Ramanuja Chary followed the instructions and in 1771, became the 25th Seer of the Parakala Matham, Sri Ramanuja Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan. The Maharani of Mysore, Maharani Lakshmimani also sought Seer\'s counsel on several matters.


During the Tippusultan-Maraatha war and also because of the pressures from the British Empire and the Nizam of Hyderabad, the conditions were becoming unsafe for the Seer and the Matham. At the insistence of the Maharani of Mysore and several well-wishers, HH left for Tirupati for preserving the divine heritage of the Matham.

In 1799 Srirangapattanam fell into the hands of the British Empire. who handed the kingdom over to its previous rulers. After the kingdom regained its peaceful times, the Maharani of Mysore requested HH to return to Mysore.
HH granted the request and returned to Sri Rangapattanam. HH also performed the Pattaabhishekam for Sri KrishnaRaja Wodeyar, after which Mysore was made the capital city for the Kingdom of Mysore.

Shortly after that, Sri Krishna Raja Wodeyar invited HH to come to Mysore.
But, a more divine and sacred place was calling for HH. This punyakshetram was Krishnaapuram, which was in the taluka of T.Narispura. Krishnaapuram was on the banks of river Kaveri with a very beautiful temple of Lord Krishna in the form of Santhaana Gopala Krishna. HH, Sri Ramanuja Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan moved there, performing aaradhana to Sri Lakshmihayagreevaha LakshmiNarayana and immersed himself and the people there in Sastra-Grantha pravachanam.

HH later also instructed the Maharani of Mysore to invite a great scholar named Sri Krishnaacharya to take up the activities of the Matham at Mysore.
At the Seer\'s command, the Maharani of Mysore built a beautiful temple for Sri Sveta-Varaaha Swamy and presented to HH for the activities of the Matham. Sri Ramanuja Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan remained at the banks of Kaveri for a long time to come. Like his Prathama Acharya/Paramaachaarya, Sri Swamy Nigamantha Maha Desikan, HH graced this earth for a full 102 years. In Pramodutha samvatsara (1810), meena maasa, shasti thithi (Saturday), Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan reached the lotus feet of his acharyas.



"Vandeya SriNilaya Parakalaatha Vedaantha Yagnam Tatpaadaabje Vinihitabharam Brahmatantraathathuryam SriKrishnaarayadhadhighaTatham Gaabjamabjaakshahrutakam Srimad Raamavaraja Parakalabhidam Desikendram."

As told by Sri.Madhu Sudan

Contact: Sri.Madhu Sudan
Director of Sri Santhanagopala Sevabhivardhini Sabha
Ph: 91 - 98458-35202
Email : mkris007@rediffmail.com