There is a village by name, Sevvannan patti, 7 km away from Coimbatore on Sathiyamangalam road. It is flourished with industries. In due course again turned to be ‘Siravai’ Nearby the village is a small hillock called Rathnachalam where graces Lord Muruga.

In 19th Century, there was one Palaniappa gounder of Kadai clan. He was rich and his house was called as ‘Big House’. He had five children of whom the third was Velappa gounder. His wife was Andal amma. They had no issues. They prayed Lord Muruga to grace them with a child.

It was not in vain. On 10.10.1857 they had a male child, They named him as Ramu kutti and the child was nurtured in a grand manner. The parents were happy. It is belived, as astrologers said, Ramukutti, who later became Ramandar, had his birth as Agasthiya’s trait.

When he was five, his parents admitted him in a village school and he was well in his studies. but he was different from other students. There was no mischief or useless play with him. He woke in early morning, prayed God, read devotional verses and did dhyana in a secluded place. Seeing these, people called him as Swamy’

Let us continue that name. There is one Vinayagar temple in Siravanampatti. Swamigal went there without break, made garlands for the God, and did prayers. Even during that period, he had some divine visions. No Saiva or Vaishnava difference. There were spiritual and mystical experiencess within him.

Under the supervision of his father, he attended household duties and agricultural work. When he was 19, his parents got him married to one Chinnammal. He was not in tune with family life. His relatives compelled him to have a second marriage, with Nanjammal. There were two male children for the first wife and one female child for the second one. Yet he was more interested in spiritual quest.

 

One night, it is said, Lord Ganesa at Siravai asked him to go to Thiruchendur, which he did. After a few days he returned. Later he went to Palani to which place he travelled each year on Thai poosam.

Swamigal composed some verses on lord Muruga. It was this time that Vannaccarabam Dhandapani swamigal was staying at Palani. Aperson by name Venkataramanadasar from Samakkulam was in touch with Vannaccarabam. Through him, Ramanandar came to read his book Dhyananubhuthi. At that time Ramanandar was composing ‘Shanmuga malai’, a poetic form with 100 verses. He was at his 89th verse which prayed for a guru. And it was not a co-incidence but a reality, Ramanandar had came to know about Vannaccarabam.

Ramanandar decided to go to Vannaccarabam and asked to take him as a disciple. Vannaccarabam readily accepted him and taught Dhyananubhuthi. He graced Ramanandar with a six - cornered rudraksha and holy ash. He further advised Ramanandar to teach those who would approach him for upadhesa and further to propagate Kaumara sect generation by generation. Ramanandar returned with peace and joy.

Ramananda followed the advice of his Guru sincerely. He put the photo of vannaccaraham along with Lord Muruga and continued to worship him. When Vannaccarabam introduced his monumental work, ‘Thiruvarangath thiruvayiram’ (1000 verses on Lord Ranganathar at Sri Rangam), Ramanandar took part in that important event.

After some time, Swami’s father Velappa gounder died. Swami had to take charge of the family. The worldly affairs were not conducive to his spiritual pursuit. He moved to Chinnavedampatti, a village nearly and there founded a small hermitage to do penance. He founded temples for Lord Vinayaka and Muruga. -(Siddhimakorkata Vinayakar and Dhandapani temples). He arranged for the continuance of daily pujas.

He wanted to become a sanyasi and infront of his guru’s photo (Vannaccarabam had already attained samadhi) he dethroned all his worldly responsibilities and became Ramanandar, leaving his birthname Ramukkutti gounder. Many disciples came to him and devotees were many in number. He arranged for four drawings to explain four philosophical thoughts,

 

namely 1. Description of six seats in human body 2. Cosmic structure of five elements 3. Description of three gunas and 4. Description of the whole universe.

Swami’s privacy and penance were disturbed by the huge crowd that came to see him. Therefore he founded the mutt, the original one in the south - west corner. Here are the samadhis of the three swami’s. This was called as Melaith Thirumadam - Here he had a vision of Goddess, with Muruga in her arms. This happened when he was fasting for twelve days. And the Lord Muruga gave him dharsan.

On 22.04.1916, at Thiruvamathur, a statue was consecrated for Vannaccarabam. Ramanandar went there and took part in this function and adorned his Guru with a long spear. Apart from this, he was deeply involved in the activities of Thiruvamathur mutt. He helped in all possible ways.

This was the period , when Kaumara mutt had many disciples. Siravai Kandaswamyswamigal, Siravai Sabapathi swamigal, Ganapathy Chinnaswaigal, Eripatha Swamigal, Sekkizhar Swamigal, Sowripalayam Ramalingathevar. Keeranattham Marudhachala swamigal were some of them. They on their parts, built temples in their places. Siravai kandaswamyswamigal later was appointed as the second Head of the mutt.

Ramananda swamigal copied all the works of his guru from palm leaves, in note books. He read all of them and taught them to his disciples too. On fridays he gave lectures to the devotees on various subjects. It was a big assembly and later it was called as Chatur Vedha Siddhantha Sanmatha Samayatheetha Advita Kaumara Sabha. A longer name, but deserves it for its achievements.

After this, swamigal built a separate building by name Kanakasabhai. It is unique in structure, having four doorways, in the centre, a cave enclosure below the ground to do penance, large rooms in the ground floor and a separate room in the first floor where swamigal prayed before the portrait of his Guru. The building had three holy pots at its top. It was this building, where Ramananda spent his last days in silence.

 

In between swamigal was on pilgrimage to Palani, Madurai, Thirupparamkundram, Thirunelveli, Thiruchenthur, Papanasam, Tiruchi, Chidambaram, Thiruvamathur, Mayilam and Chennai.

He was 99. Thavatthiru Sundara swamigal was organising a great function to celebrate the 100th birthday of Ramananda swamigal. But to the disappointment of all devotees, Swamigal left this world, even as sitting in a chair, without any disturbance. He reached the lotus feet of his guru, on 21.12.1956

He was laid to rest inside the prime space allotted earlier in the mutt. Till this day both his birth day and guru puja are conducted in a fitting manner.