by Vachaspathy Dr. Sri U. Ve. Mukundagiri Vankeepuram Ananntha PadmaNabhachariar (Sri APN Swami) , Upanyasakar, Writer, Researcher, Editor, Sri Nrishimhapriya, and Director & influencing Pillar of Sanathana Dharma.
He continues to motivate young and dynamic volunteers SARAN Sevaks through SARAN Sathsangh to spread Sanathana Dharma all over the world.
With a Siromani, M.A., M.Phil., and PH.D in Sanskrit from University of Madras, he has been playing a pivotal role in spreading Sanathana Dharma and helping millions of people understand the nuances and intricacies of the Hindu way of life.
Birth & Family Heritage
Sri APN Swami was born on 15th May 1972 in the Tamil month of Vaikasi on Murugasheerisam star at Chennai to an orthodox Srivaishnava Brahmin family belonging to Bharadwaja Gothram.
The family hailed from Mukundagiri, a small & ancient agraharam near Madurantakam (famously known as “Dwayam vilaintha Thirupathi”). Mukundagiri is well-known for an ancient temple dedicated to Sri Kothandarama Perumal and Srinivasan.
Sri APN Swami’s Father, Sri Mukundagiri Vangeeepuram Narasimhachariar, popularly known as Sri Nrisimhapriya Narasimhan served as a teacher at Venkataramana Elementary School, Chennai Mylapore and rendered service to Sri Nrisimhapriya Tamil Magazine all through his life.
His name Sri Nrisimhapriya Narasimhan as given by Mukkur Srimadh Azhagiya Singar, speaks volume about his contribution to SriNrisimhapriya Tamil Magazine. This title has been included in Swami’s Charama Slokam too. Sri APN Swami’s Mother, Smt Ramani Narasimhan, also joined her husband to serve for Sri Nrisimhapriya Tamil Magazine. She has rendered invaluable service to the circulation of this magazine by supplying it to places like Higginbotham stalls in Railway stations.
Such a staunch dedication for SriNrisimhapriya from the entire family laid the foundation for APN Swami’s life too. He continued on the path set by his parents and his dedication and involvement in SriNrisimhapriya is there for everyone to see and experience today.
Holistic Academic Education
Sri APN Swami began his education at renouned Venkataramana Elementary School, a government School in Chennai Mylapore, under the direct guidance of his father till Class 5. From Class 6 on, Swami continued his education at Sri Ahobila Mutt Oriental School in T.Nagar Chennai.
After completing Class 10, Swami pursued the five-year Sironmani in Mimamsa from Madras Sanskrit College. Swami completed his MA MPhil and Ph.D. degrees from Vivekananda College. His Ph.D. included theses such as Allegorical Dramas in Vishistadvaitham, Sankalpa Suryodhyam and Viveka Vijayam Manuscript edition. Swami also completed Diploma in Vaishnavism from Madras University.
All this rich learning from esteemed institutions and a personal flair for languages has made Swami a multi-linguistic scholar today. He is well-versed in languages such as Tamil, Sanskrit, English, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam.
Traditional (Sampradayic) Education
Sri APN Swami had initiation into SriVaishnava Sampradayam i.e. Samasreyanam under HH 44th Pattam Mukkur Srimadh Azhagiya Singar and became a Shishya of the ancient Srimadh Ahobila Mutt.
Sri APN Swami has acquired in-depth knowledge and proficiency in Hindu Religion and Shasthras, Vedas, Divya Prabantham and Visishtadvaitha Siddantham through Kalakshepam in the Traditional and ancient gurukulam style from following great Scholars,
Erudite scholar Sri U Ve. Purasai Nadadur Krishnamachariar (Sri Purisai Swami) (Vaikuntavasi), a President Awardee for Sanskrit was an editor of Sri Nrisimhpriya for more than 50 years and published many books on Sri Visishtadvaitham as well as written Bagavath Ramanuja’s Sri Bhashyam in Tamil.
Another great scholar, Kulapathy Sri U. Ve. O.R. Rajagopalachariar Swami (Vaikuntavasi), who has produced thousands of students for the propaganda of Sanskrit through his Sanskrit Vidhyalaya, Mambalam, Chennai.
Swami’s Sahithya Sanskrit was nurtured under the able guidance of Kulapathy Uzahappakkam Sri Rajagopalachariar (Son-In-Law of Sri Madhurantakam Swami).
Sri APN Swami attended SriVaishnava Sampradayic learning as per the ancient Guru Shishya Kalakshepam method under the guidance of eminent scholar Sri Purisai Swami for 7 years including 5 years of sampradayic learning. During this time, he diligently served his Acharyan 24/7 by staying as an “Anthevasi” from 1994 to 2002.
Through traditional Kalakshepam under Sri Purisai Swami, Sri APN Swami learnt Sri Bhashyam, Srimadh Bhagavad Gita Bhasyam, Srimadh Rahasyatrayasaaram, Bhagavad Vishayam, Ramayanam, Mahabharatham & other important Sampradayam Granthas including works of Swami Ramanujacharya and Swami Vedanta Desika.
As per the guidance of Sri Purisai Swami, Sri APN Swami surrendered at the lotus feet of SrimanNarayana and performed Bharasamarpanam under the guidance of 45th Pattam Srimadh Azhagiya Singar.