Oppiliappan Koil SrI VaradAchAri SaThakOpan

adiyEn (srIman) VaradAchAri Sadagopan has been blessed with many good fortunes such as being born in a divya desam like Oppiliappan Koil, having loving parents who sacrificed every thing to encourage me to earn six degrees from the best of Universities in the World including the Doctor's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, pursuing a Scientific and Management career at IBM Research Division for 26 years. The best of all these blessings is the SoubhAgyam of initiation into SrIvaishNava assembly with SamAsrayaNam from HH the 43rd Jeeyar of Ahobila Matam, SrI VeerarAghava YathIndhra MahA Desikan of DevanAr ViLAgam and being blessed with the supreme soubhAgyam of BharanyAsam from HH the 45th Jeeyar of AhObila MaTham, SrI NaarAyaNa YathIndhra MahA Desikan. Links to the "Periya Periya PerumAL", SrI MalOlan of Ahobilam through AchArya sambhandham is the greatest of all gifts.

NelvAy MADabhUshi SrI SowmyanArAyaNachAr swAmi

swAmi is a Chartered Accountant by profession and is a former General Manger of United India Insurance Co Ltd.  He has also held position as a CEO at GEC Housing Finance.

NelvAy SwAmi is the thiruvadi of the revered KozhiyAlam SwAmy. He is also the nephew of the legendary GOshTipuram SwAmy and the son in law of SrI Oppili SwAmy of DevanAr ViLAgam, the PoorvAsrama brother of the 43rd PaTTam SrImath Azhagiya Singar, SrI VaNN SaThakOpa SrI VeerarAghava Yatheendhra MahA Desikan.  NelvAy SwAmi had his grantha chAtushTya tutelege under GOshTipuram VAsudevAchAr swAmi.

SwAmi kindly obliged to the request of the SrI VedAntha Desika SampradAya Sabha members and had delivered upanyAsams on SwAmi Desikan's SrImad Rahasyatraya sAram for almost 2 years. There were more than 50 vidhyArthis who had attended and enjoyed these lectures. 

SwAmi is well known as a PramAnikar and strictly adheres to the visheshArthams taught by SrI RAmAnujAchArya and to the sameecheena ukthis.  His eloquent explanations are always tinged with simplicity and elegance so that even very subtle and difficult concepts are made easily understandable.

Anbil SrI SowmianArAyaNan SrInivAsan

Anbil SrI SowmianArAyaNan SrInivAsan, was born in Melur in Madurai district.  He had his formal education in Chennai. He joined the Central Government’s Indian Information Service and worked in various capacities in Press Information Bureau, All India Radio, the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity and finally, Doordarshan’s News & Current Affairs from which he took voluntary retirement in 1999 as Joint Director. Since then he has been totally devoting himself to vedAntic studies & kaimkaryam in SrI Venkateswara Mandir, Sector 3, R.K.Puram, New Delhi as a Member of the Executive Committee. He has settled down in Delhi after retirement. He belongs to the lineage with poorvikam in Anbil, but he has been living in Chennai & Delhi.

He had the samAsrayanam from SrI MukkUr Azhagiya Singar of Ahobila MaTham. He had association with great scholars, during his younger days, including Sri Oppiliappan SrIrAmadesikAchAriAr (who was a friend of his father, the late S.SowmianArAyaNan), SrI PrativAdibhayankaram AnnankarAchAriar of Kanchi. He is also associated with SrI U.Ve. SrIvilliputhur Kannan Iyengar, a scholar now residing in SrIrangam. SrI. SrInivAsan attended upanyAsams & kAlakshepams in Delhi at Sri Venkateswara Mandir and  SrI  Vaikuntanatha Temple (Srimad Andavan Ashramam) of the following scholars:-

The present Azhagiya Singar during his poorvasram, SrI Seva Swami, SrI Purisai KrishnamAchAriAr, SrI V.S. SrivatsangAchAriAr, SrI Perukkaranai Swami (during their visits to Delhi).  SrI Srinivasan attended the kAlakshepams of  SrI V.S. KarunakarAchAriAr on SrIbhAshyam (the first four Adhikaranas), SrImad Rahasyatrayasaaram, SrImad Bhagavad Vishayam (partially complete) and different granthas and upanyasams on TiruppAvai, and Swami Desikan’s works including SrI Garuda Panchasat in New Delhi where SrI Swami was in Govt. Service till his retirement in September 2007. Earlier, SrI SrInivAsan also studied under SrI K.R.PadmanAbha Iyengar (Retd. From Indian Railway Service) who served as the General Secretary in SrI Venkateswara Mandir mentioned above, various granthas including SrI Geetha BhAshyam, SrI VAlmiki RAmAyaNa, SrImad RahasyatrayasAram, YAdavAbhdyudayam, SrI Chatus Sloki, SrI Sthotrarathnam and various Sthotrams of Swami Desikan.

SrI SrInivAsan is also a member of the Executive Committee of SrI Venkateswar Mandir, New Delhi. He was also involved in the publication of Selected Mantras of SrI Vishnu SahasranAmam which are referred to in the Nirukti Slokas (published by the late Prof. A. SrInivAsa RAghavAchAriAr), jointly with SrI PadmanAbha Iyengar, under the auspicious of SrI Venkateswara Mandir. He has made the transcriptions of the SrIbhAshya KAlakshepams of SrI KarunAkarAchAriAr Swami and brought out computer printouts.

He has also brought out the publications:- 1) “SrI DasAvatAra Keerthanaikal” (Tamil) based on Swami Desikan’s sthothram along with a recorded cassette sung by a Delhi-based Musician, 2) “Thiru Adhikaranamaadhavee” (in Tamil verses, based on the slokas on the Jignasathikaranam by Swami SrI KarunAkarAchAriAr) which was submitted to the Swami and released in the form of a booklet, in Chennai on the occasion of Swami’s shashtiyabdapoorti held at Selaiyur SrI Ahobila MaTham in September 2007, 3) “Thiru Garudan aimpathu” (Tamil verses, based on Swami Desikan’s SrI Garuda panchAsat), which was released during the Brahmotsavam of SrI Venkateswara Mandir, New Delhi. He has also contributed articles which have been published in SrI Nrisimhapriya Magazine (English).

Dr Saroja RAmAnujam

Dr Saroja RAmAnujam is a retired teacher and an active contributor to a number of web discussions on various topics related to our sampradAyam. She has also numerous web blogs on Bhagavad GIta, DasAvathara, SrI Vishnu Sahasranaamam, RAmAnuja Philosophy, Sankhya etc. She has a rich educational background with degrees in Mathematics, Statistics, Economics and Philosophy. She earned her Doctorate in Philosophy (VishishtAdvaita) from Madras University and is a Siromani in Sanskrit.

Dr.Saroja RAmAnujam had traditional KaalakshEpam of SrI BhAshyam with SrI Arasanippalai GopAla Desikan Swamy, who is a 92 years young Sri VaishNavite Scholar; He is a disciple of Abhinava Desika UtthamUr Sri VeerarAghavAchAr Swamy. He is the author of many commentaries of AchArya SrI Sookthis in Sanskrit and Tamil. He is proficient in Jyothisham and has been a Teacher of Sanskrit for many decades. His commentaries on SrI LakshminArAyaNa Hrudhayam, SrI Sooktham and LakshmI Sahasra NaamaavaLi are awaiting publication.

SrI MAdhavakkannan

Well known to us, SrI MAdhavakkannan belongs to thaiyaar aachhi vangipuram family. His paternal grandmother is from the illustrious navalpakkam AchArya Paramparai. His SamASrayaNam was from his grandfather VaikuNtavaasi Sri U Ve SrInivAsachAriAr Swami and bharanyAsam from His Holiness SrImad ParavakkOttai ANDavan Swami. His tireless kaimkaryams and SrEshta AchArya Bhakthi have been the inspirations for all of us. His bhakthi-drenched anubhavams in covering AzhwAr's aruLiccheyalkaLs have earned a special place in the hearts of BhakthAs over time. Blessed with a son and a daughter, SrI Madhavakkannan is working as Senior Project Manager in India. His wife Dr. Brintha Jayanthi is a well-known medical practitioner.

SrI Narasimhan KrishNamAchAri

aDiyEn Narasimhan Krishnamachari was born in a small village by name Paruthicheri (near Kodavasal). aDiyEn’s father was an elementary school teacher, and mother was a housewife.  ADiyEn is a living example of how much the blessings of elders and AcArya kaTAksham can get one in life –me being born in a family of less-than-average means and ending up in this country, being endowed with an average intellect and earning some of the higher degrees from prestigious Universities, not being formally educated in our sampradAyam but venturing to write on some of the most precious works of our sampradAyam and earning the respect of all of you in the process – the list can go on and on.

aDiyEn had samASrayaNam from SrImad TenpiRai ANDavan and bhara nyAsam at the holy feet of PrakRtam SrImad ANDavan SrI Ranga RamAnuja MahA DeSikan of SrImad SrI Rangam PeriyANDavan ASramam.  The most enjoyable gift that aDiyEn cherishes for being in this country is the great and loving association with the members of the different yahoo groups that promote our sampradAyam tirelessly.

(Note from the team: It is with a solemn heart that we have to state that SrI Narasimhan Krishnamachari Swami attained AchAryan's Thiruvadi in late 2008)

Smt KalyANi KrishNamAchAri

aDiyEn became a "poruL" on June 2nd, 2005, when asmat Acaryan, PrakRtam SrImad ANDavan SrI Ranga RamAnuja MahA DeSikan of SrIrangam PeriyANDavan ASramam, bestowed the bhara nyasam upon aDiyEn. aDiyEn had samAsrayaNam performed by SrImad TirukkuDandai ANDavan. It was AcAryan's blessings that led to the acquaintance of SrI Sadagopan, who drafted aDiyEn to translate his Tamizh write-up of nAcciyAr tirumozhi into English.

ADiyEn was born in MannArgudi, brought up in Calcutta and had college education in Kumbakonam and Madras. A high school teacher in early life with Geography major in B.A. and B.T, aDiyEn progressed into IT world with a Masters in Computer Science from IIT, Illinois and ended up being a Telecom professional. Currently, aDiyEn is retired. With continued anugraham from asmat AcAryan, aDiyEn has successfully completed 2 volumes of English translation of rAmAyaNa upanyAsam by SrImad TirukkuDandai ANDavan (books have been published by SrIrangam PeriyaNDavan aSramam.)  There is no end for learning and as such, aDiyEn is learning every day and am proud to be part of the sundarasimham/ahobhilavalli/SrIhayagriva group which is performing yeoman services to the SrIvaishNava world and creating treasure houses of knowledge for future generations.

SrIrangam SrI K.SrIdharan (www.namperumal.com)

Adiyen is from Srirangam. Had SamASrayaNam and bharasamarpanam at the divine feet of HH the 45th jeer of SrI AhObilamaTham & kuladeivam is SrI SrInivAsa perumal. Adiyen had the above two at Tirumala, and must confess that it was a privileged one - since only adiyen and adiyen's wife were alone with HH at that time. Written 10 - 12 books on Computer Science. Written more than 20 books on SrIVaishNavism. Some of the noteworthy books are Srimath Baghavad Gita commentary (three bhashyams), Sriman Narayaneeyam. Wife (Mrs. Krishna Sridharan) is house-wife, son (S. Parthasarathy) is doing his X standard. After 12 years of stay at Chennai, Namperumal moved adiyen back to Srirangam now. Currently working as Head - Computer Science with SrImad Andavan College, SrIrangam.

Rajendiram SrI V.VaradarAjan

adiyEn (srIman) V. Varadarajan has been blessed with many bhadrams such as having been born in a vaidika srivaishnava family at Rajendiram (near Kulitalai) on the banks of the Cauveri river and having had loving parents and siblings who provided a great moral support to my pursuit of many engineering degrees including a Doctoral degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am currently pursuing a scientific and management career in computing science and transportation research at Norfolk Southern. The best of all these blessings is the re-exposure to our sampradayam through the writings of my mAnasika achAryAs such as Sri U. Ve. V. N. Ramadesikacharya swamy and Brahma Shri Sri Anna.  My own (late) father having been a swayamAcharyan was also my achAryan in initiating me into sath sampradAyam by performing samASrayaNam and providing some mantropadesam with sampradAya sukthis a long time ago. Now I have the soubhAgyam of learning more about them through various materials currently available in print and on the Web.  All the astika activities at Hindu temples in North America also provide the required fodder and strength.

SrI DiwAkar Kannan

Hailing from Neduntheru and Perungalathur, SrI DiwAkar returned to India from a good position in San Francisco, to serve his AchAryan in best possible ways. His SamASrayaNam and bharanyAsam at the divine hands of prakrutam SrImath Azhagiyasingar. Blessed with a son, he is working with Sun Microsystems in Bangalore. one can easily see him either in ahobila divyakshetram or in SrImath Azhagiyasingar's gOshTi or in some active kaimkaryams.

SrI Mukund SrInivAsan

Well known to us, SrIman Mukundan hails from a village - Neduntheru near to ThirukkuDanthai; had SamASrayaNam and bharasamarpanam at the divine feet of HH the 45th jeer of Sri Ahobilamatam & kuladeivam is SrI BhUmidevi sameta SrI Oppiliappan. Did kAlakshepam on some Rahasyagrantams under SrI U.Ve. M.S. Hari. After working in India for 8 years, he came to Singapore and is working there for more than 12 years in a German company as Mechanical Design Manager, His wife hails from Thanjavur too and she is working as Finance Manager in a company. They are blessed with three daughters, two of whose bharasamarpanam was done at the divine feet of SrImadazhagiyasingar too. Having great thirst towards SrIvaishNava literature, together with well known SrIvaishNavas like SrI K.Sadagopaniyengar, SrI MAdhavakkannan, SrI DiwAkar Kannan and a few more, they have a publishing unit "SrIsukti Pracharini Sabha" registered in Singapore, which has published some CDs and hardback book such as 'The Choice is yours' of SrI U.Ve Sadagopaniyengar. Together with SrI DiwAkar Kannan and a few more Srivaishnavas, they are running a group for sharing divine pictures, which can be found in www.pbase.com/svami. And he is deeply involved in the mountainous tasks of SrI U.Ve. Oppiliappankoil V.Sadagopan svAmi, who serves SrIvaishNava community tirelessly.

Smt Kala Hari

Adiyen (Smt. Kala Hari) is a shishya of SrImad PoundarIkapuram ANDavan SwAmigal.  adiyEn's parents are devout SrIvaishNavas residing in Bhuloka Vaikuntham and belong to SrIrangam SrImad ANDavan Ashramam. Our ancestral place is Kadalur though the closest I have been to, is ThiruvahIndrapuram. Adiyen has been extremely fortunate to be blessed with very affectionate parents who not only introduced me to Swamy Desikan's stothrams at the age of 5 but also encouraged me to pursue the best education. I have an integrated Masters degree in Chemistry and Education from India and a Masters degree in Biology from the University of Maryland. Thanks to the encouragement and support of my husband, SrI Hari VenugopAlan, I have a Doctorate degree in Neuroscience from Rutgers University. Adiyen is immensely blessed to be able to participate in at least a small way in His Holiness SrImad Azhagiya Singar's Thirunakshatra Kaimkaryam under the wonderful leadership and guidance of  SrI Sadagopan SwAmin.

Smt Krishnapriya

Smt.Krishna priya is a SrI VaishNavite from Hyderabad  living currently  in Muscat/Oman and is deeply attached to AzhawAr/AchArya SrI Sookthis.  She attends SrI Krishna Temple at Muscat and they have number of  scholars , who visit Muscat to give upanyAsams as well have a Sanskrit Pundit from MadhurAnthakam , who teaches spoken Sanskrit. She has been a Member of Oppiliappan and SaraNAgthy Lists for number of years and is happy to be engaged in this kaimkaryam to spread the eternal message of SrI Bhagavath RAmAnuja SiddhAntham. Its her belief that the availability of the e-books would be of help to many children and parents, who might have difficulty in reading the original texts in Sanskrit, Tamil and MaNipravALam.

Sou. Chitralekha

SoubhAgyavathy R.Chitralekha is a talented multimedia professional with a full command of Web design and a host of Multimedia Software packages. She is a Multimedia, Graphics /animation design consultant located at Chennai. Her graphic artistry combined with her multimedia skills is an asset to make the e-books project populated with divine images to compliment the beautiful photographic images .She hails from a family known for its devotion to Ahobila MaTham's venerable Jeeyars. Her family is currently active in the renovationand SamprokshaNam of Kaappur temple in Tamil Nadu.

Smt RAjam KrishnaswAmy

Srimathy RAjam KrishnaswAmy hails from a devout VaishNavite family in Salem, Tamil Naadu . She has earned the degrees of M.A in Economics (U.T, Austin) and and Associate Degree in Computer Science. She has taught Econmics for a few years at Glen Elleyn Community College in Illinois and has also worked as a Software Applications development Professionsal in industry. She is married to SrIman C.N.KrishnaswAmy of KalyANapuram; He is an Engineer and they have been blessed with a daughter, SowbhAgyavathy AlarmEl Gita , who is teaching Biology in a San Fransisco High School. SrImathy RAjam KrishNaswAmy's AchArya Bhakthi is sincere and deep. She says: "My devotion to Swamy Desikan's SrI Sookthis has been nurtured by my Father, SrI K.N.SrInivAsan and my husband. adiyEn has the Parama BhAgyam of recieving Pancha SamskAram and BharanyAsam from Prakrutham SrImad Azhagiya Singar. adiyEn depends on SrImad Azhagiya Singar and His grace to guide me on the right path always . I have to remain true to His UpadEsams and He has to help me. adiyEn is at a loss of words to express my gratitude to Sri V.Sadagopan for giving me this opportunity to participate in this divine Kaimkaryam to my Acharyan."

SrI Lakshminarasimhan SrIdhar

SrI Lakshminarasimhan SrIdhar is now at Bangalore. He belongs to the Ahobila MaTham as a sishyan and he is kaDanthethi ANDavan's (HH SrImath SrInivSsa RAmAnuja Mahaa Desikan's) great grandson (eLLu pEran). SrI KaDanthethi ANDavan had been initiated into Sanyasa Ashram by HH ThirukuDanthai Azhagiasingar (38th PaTTam). SrI SrIdhar has built Web sites for Thooppul (Avathara Sthalam of Swami Desikan), Sathyagalam (Place where Swami Stayed in Karnataka for 12 long years), Doddamallur Krishna Temple. He has covered many well known and not so well known VaishNavite temples through his web site kaimkaryams so VaishNavaas can know more about the treasures in Karnataka. He is currenly building a mega Site for SrIperumpudur (Avathara Sthalam of SrI RAmAnuja); this web site will include Kooram and Madhura Mangalam (avathAra sthalams of KurEsar and EmbAr) & Thirukoshtiyur. His web sites are known for their creative approach in design and well researched contents. His Karnataka temple web sites (www.karnatakavaishnavatemples.net) are the first ever comprehensive coverage of the temples there, which go back to the time of AchArya RaamAnuja.

SrI SrInivAsan NArAyaNan

SrI SrInivAsan NArAyaNan hails from Trichy, and after living in USA for about 20 plus years, he is now at SrIrangam.. He was working as Instrument Engineer in an Engineering Design/Construction Company and is now retired. He and his family are Sishyas of Sri Ahobilla Mutt. He had the the bhAgyam of getting SamAsrayaNam from HH the 44th Jeeyar of Ahobila MaTham, SrI VedAnta YathIndhra MahA Desikan of MukkUr and being blessed with the bhAgyam of BharanyAsam from HH the 45th Jeeyar, SrI NaarAyaNa YathIndhra MahA Desikan. He feels blessed to contribute in a very small way to this great Kaimkaryam and is very grateful to SrIman Sadagopan SwAmin for giving this wonderful opportunity.

SrI Gopi

Adiyen is a sishya of SrI Ahobila Mutt and has the bhagyam of getting my PanchaSamaskaram and Bharanyasam done under Sri Lakshmi Nurusimha Divya padhuka sevaka SrI NArAyaNa YathIndra MahAdesikar. SrI Kaimkarya priyar thiru V.Sadagopan swAmin was instrumental for this in more than one way. Professionally, I work as a Software consultant at Maryland. Its my bhagyam to be a part of this great team whose zeal has been an great source of inspiration.

SrI Anil

SrI T. Anil hails from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. He has completed his work towards the PhD degree and currently working as a post-doc at an Australian University.. He has been blessed with the MahA BhAgyam of being a sishya of HH Peddha Jeeyar Swamy, who has the rare distinction of leading the daily SaaRRumuRai GhOshtis at the Sannidhi of ThiruvengadamudayAn at Thirumala. He considers himself fortunate to have Sri V. Sadagopan and Smt. Padhma Veeraraghavan as his mentors. And also, to be a part of this Kaimkaryam under the guidance and leadership of SrI Sadagopan mama.

SrI Santhanam Sudarsanan 

I owe my interest to our sampradaya to my lineage. My father was a salakshana ghanapati and a vidwan in Sanskrit and Tamil. He was serving as a Tamil Pandit in a school and after retirement served as brihaspati to a limited extent before attaining acharyan thiruvadi. Late. Sri. U.Ve. K.V. Santhana Gopalachariar, who served as Asthana Vidwan for Srimad Ahobila matam, was my father's cousin and both were together in their childhood days. Thenbirai Andavan was related to my mother in his poorvashramam. I had an opportunity to learn basic Veda mantras from my father. After his demise, with the divine grace, somehow I am able to pursue Vedic studies under learned scholars. I have had opportunities to learn few slokas and prabandams as well, during this time. I have a huge collection of books which I owe to my father and this helps me a bit in understanding our sampradayam as well.

I have undergone samashrayanam under Mukkur Swami (44th jeer of Ahobila mutt).

SrI Muralidharan DesikAchAri

adiyen (SrI Muralidharan DesikAchAri) belongs to a devout SrI VaishNava family hailing from the divya desam of Therazhundur. Our Kula daivam is SrI Bhoomidevi NAchiyAr samEtha SrI Oppiliappan swAmi of ThiruViNNagaram divya kshetram. I had the bhAgyam of samASrayaNam and BharasamarpaNam from the most kind and revered AchAryan HH the 45th jeeyar of SrI AhObila MaTham, SrI NArayaNa yathIndhra mahA dEsikan during 1992 at KAnchi divya kshethram. I consider this to be the most momentous event in my life. Subsequent to this I was blessed with the opportunity to perform the kaimkaryam of taking part (in my humble capacity) in the construction of SwAthi Peetam temple by the venerable U.Ve SrI P.T.SrInivAsa RAghavan swAmi and Smt. ChooDAmaNi AmmAL, for the Swayambhuva SrI Anandhavalli thAyar sametha SrI LakshmInrusimha SwAmy at Maraimalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu. The temple was consecrated by asmath achAryan the 45th jeeyar, prakruthum SrImath Azhagiya Singar. I am currently working as a Program Manager with a MNC at Virginia. It is SrI MAlOlan’s thiruvuLLam that I have been given the great honor to work along with the other devout and dedicated members of the SundaraSimham-ahobilavalli group, under the illustrious leadership of U.Ve.SrI V. SadagOpan Mama.

Smt Jayashree Muralidharan

Smt Jayashree Muralidharan  wife of SrI Muralidharan DesikAchAri has a post-graduate degree in Psychology. She is very much interested in sampradAyic literature and VishishtAdvaitha philosophy. She was blessed by the prakruthum SrImath Azhagiya Singar, HH SrI NArAyaNa yathIndhra mahA dEsikan with samAshrayaNam and bharanyAsam and has been blessed to assist the most respected 'SrI nrusimha seva raskan' Oppiliappan kOil SrI V.SaThakopan Swami in his eBooks kaimkaryam.