1.  Thirukkudanthai Desikan (Sri Gopalarya Mahadesikan)

2.  Sri Vazhuthur Andavan (Sri Vedantha Ramanuja Mahadesikan)

The   Institution   had    its   genesis   in   Sri Gopalarya Mahadesikan famously known as Thirukkudanthai Desikan. He was born about three hundred years ago, in the village of Rayampettai in the district of Thanjavur by the Grace of Lord Oppiliappan as the son of Krishnasuri. He became proficient in all scriptures at a young age. He was sent by his father to Srirangam to be a disciple of Sri Sakshat Swami who was Himself very famous from the day of His birth. In fact Lord Ranganatha instructed Sri Sakshat Swami in his dream to train Sri Gopaladesika in the philosophical tradition propagated by Sri Ramanuja and Sri Vedanta Desika.

On a command received from Lord Aravamudha of Thirukkudanthai, Sri Gopaladesikan, returned to Thirukkudanthai and started propagating the sampradayam (traditional religious doctrine)  besides  completing  the   books  which were left unfinished by his Acharyas. He himself    authored  some books including  "anhikam" and "Sarnganeeva Stotram".   Lord Ranganatha   directed   three   illustrious    persons in their dreams to go to Sri Gopalarya Mahadesikan and learn the traditional literature and spread the same.

Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan had a dream that he should teach those three persons - One of the was from Vazhuthur.     He,   became    an    ascetic     and   came   to   be   known   as Sri Vedanta Ramanuja Mahadesikan alias Vazhuthur Andavan. The title "Andavan" was given to him by Lord Ranganatha as He was protecting   the  sampradaya.  Sri   Vazhuthur   Andavan founded the institution in 1776 AD as   per   the  directions   of Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan at Srirangam which is known as "Periyashramam" on the banks of river Kollidam.

When He was  in  Vazhuthur, for   more  than  30  years,  He did  Mangalasasanam  for   the Temple of Sri Jagathrakshaka Perumal. It is very well known to many when the curtain was drawn in the temple, Vazhuthur Swami used to have direct dialog with the Perumal.  When He shifted to Srirangam, He used to do  Samaashranam  and   Bharanyaasam  at  Thayaar Sannadhi in the Temple. He is devoted to   Srirangam  Perumal so much, that one day, Sri Ranganathar appeared to Him in front of the Dwajasthambam  in  the  Temple  and called, "Protector of our Sampradayam, Andavanae!" and embraced Him with these words. From that day, Srimath Andavan name is attached to Periashramam at Srirangam.

3.  H.H. Thiruthuraipoondi Andavan (Sri Srinivasa Ramanuja Mahadesikan)

He succeeded Sri Vazhuthur Andavan, for the Acharya Peetam, and he stayed in Srirangam and did scriptures etc., When a Young boy from Kancheepuram requested him to give Sanyasam, he advised him to go back to his parents, get married and come after the birth of a child. As advised, the Young boy came back to him, after sometime, and informed His Holiness, that he is now ready to take Sanyasam as he has married, and is now a father of a male child. H.H. Thiruthuraipoondy Andavan, made him a Sanyasi and this young man was none other than Srinivasa Mahadesikan, who later became the famous Srimath Periandavan.

4. H.H. SRIMATH PERIANDAVAN, SRI SRINIVASA MAHADESIKAN

(1830 -1886 A.D.)

Srimath Periandavan was an ascetic for more than 50 years. For quite a long time, he was in continuous meditation in Srirangam. He used to get grains from the houses of a few devotees of Lord Ranganatha, by Unchavrithi, only for 7 or 8 days a month, wash the same in Kaveri water, cook the same, and eat it alongwith Thulasi leaves without salt, ghee, milk or curd. On other days, he used to powder the dry leaves fallen from the Holy Fig tree, consume the same and drink water. Such was his Vairaagyam.

By such severe penance, he became lean, and emaciated and came to be known as "Vathal Swami". As he was for long indulging in Meditation, Lord Ranganatha issued a command to him, to take disciples, and disseminate and propagate the Religion and Philosophy. Thereafter, several persons became His Disciples, and turned out to be great men of Learning and preceptors. Some of them who were famous were

1) Thirupputkuzhi Appa  2) Mannargudi Gopalanna   3) Vyakaranam Rangachariar  4) Meemisal

Narasimhachariar  5) Chinnamu Rangachariar  6) Thirunelveli Gopalasamudram Narayanachariar

7) Shamala Chakravarthi and 8) Purisai Nadathur Rangachariar.

One of His disciples purchased a land on the Southern bank of Coleroon river and offerred it to H.H. Periandavan. His Holiness accepted it and had a hermitage constructed, where he stayed and rendered Kalakshepams. Sri Periandavan was a strict disciplinarian and insisted on adherence to absolute discipline among his disciples, both during the time of Kalakshepams and at other times. It used to be said, in the morning, when he took the texts in Cadjan Leaves for Kalakshepam, whatever may be the number of pages, whatever may be the time span, He would not rise from His seat, without finishing all the pages. He travelled widely in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, by foot, and performed Samasrayanam and Baranyasam to devotees. He used to render Kalakshepam of Grantha-Chatushtayam, that is Sri Bashyam, Geetha Bashyam, Srimath Rahasyathrayasaaram and Sri Bhagavath Vishayam in a year and in that way he had completed them THIRTY times. Such an illustrious Acharya was succeeded by one of His Disciples, who was tested in several ways by His Holiness, before he was given Sanyasam. As He became an ascetic, even during the life of Sri Periandavan, and both Swamis were together for about Six months, He came to be known as Chinnandavan. His official name was Sri Paduka Sevaka Ramanuja Mahadesikan.

 5.  Sri Paduka Sevaka Ramanuja Mahadesikan alias Chinnandavan

           (1886 -1895 A.D.)

He was a great scholar in Dharmasastras such as Manusmrithi, Yagnavalkya Smrithi, etc., He was often consulted by the British Government in matters of Hindu Law etc., He authored as many as nine books 

1) Ahnikartha prakasika

2) Sri Jayanthi Nirnayam

3) Ukthyacharyanishtaa Vicharam

4) Satpadarakasha

5) Janmashtami Nirnayam

6) Tatkratunyaya Vicharam

7) Acharya Sambavanakramam

8) Yatidharmasamuchayam and

9) Asoucha Sangraham.

He had several disciples two of whom became heads of the Ashramam later, namely Therazhundur Andavan and Thenbarai Andavan. When He left this mortal world ,at that time, there was none to take charge of the Ashramam for 10 years. Then some disciples persuaded Sri Varada Vedantachariar to adorn the Acharyapeetam. He became Sri Srinivasa Ramanuja Mahadesikan alias Kadanthethi Andavan.

6.  Sri Srinivasaramanuja Mahadesikan alias Kadanthethi Andavan.

(1905 -1910 A.D.)

He had mastered several Manthras with the aid of which He used to perform some miracles. In His poorvashramam when He went by Palanquin, the front sides were carried by men and the rear side were carried by Mantras without any man. He pleased the authorities of Thiruppathi Devasthanam with His miracles and the Devasthanam presented an ivory Palanquin which He presented to Sri Desikan Sannidhi in Thiruchanur. He authored some stotras. He was a Satavadani. He gifted the benefits acquired by Him by reciting Thiru Ashtaksharam seven crore times to Eyunni Varadachariar Swami and also made him a Sanyasi. That was Sri Vedanta Ramanuja Mahadesikan.

7. Sri Vedanta Ramanuja Mahadesikan alias Therazhundur Andavan or Nammandavan.

(1910 -1931 A.D.)

He had Panchasamskaram under H.H. Sri Periandavan. His versatility even in his childhood was unrivalled. His erudition and scholarship had no bounds. He earned several honours in Seminars of Vidwans. He was rewarded by the Maharaja of Pudukkottai. He had Baranyasam under H.H. Sri Chinnandavan. When the later was thinking of nominating a successor, Sri Varadhachariar offerred to become a Sanyasi but other people prevented him as he had elderly parents and young wife. After getting progeny, he obtained Sanyasam from H.H. Sri Kadanthethi Andavan.

During His period, the number of disciples increased. Everyone was attracted by His sweet qualities. He was an expert in music. He wrote a commentary in Tamil on Sri Paduka Sahasram for 860 slokas but was prevented by illness from completing it. He caused the publication of several books through Sri V.K. Ramanujachariar Swami. He made valuable contributions to several temples and arranged for continuous performance of festivals an other rituals in some temples. He travelled widely. He was a rare personality respected even by atheists. His disciple and successor was H.H. Sri Srinivasa Maha Desikan alias Akkur Andavan or Engal Andavan.

8. H.H. Srinivasa Mahadesikan @ Akkur Andavan or Engal Andavan

(1931 -1947 A.D.)

Sri Akkur Andavan was a disciple of H.H. Nammandavan. Having studied the scriptures under Him, Sri Akkur Andavan proved to be an expert in rendering discourses on Srimad Bhagavatham, Srimad Ramayanam etc., He completed the Tamil Commentary of Sri Paduka Sahasra and published it. He travelled all over South India and caused renovation and repairs to several temples. He gave sanyasam to Thenbarai Ramabadra Chariar who was a disciple of H.H.Chinnandavan.

9. H.H. Sri Ranganatha Mahadesikan @ Thenbarai Andavan

(1947 -1963 A.D.)

His Holiness was an embodiment of Vairagyam (detachment) and Shantham (quietism). His calm and unperturbed temperament overpowered anyone who approached him with a disturbed mind. He performed fifteen Chaturmasyams . On account of indifferent health, He did not move out of the Ashramam. He caused the performance of Ashtakshara Mahayagyam in the Periashramam premises at Srirangam. He chose such a successor who could take the institution to dizzy heights and that was Thirukkudanthai Andavan.

10. H.H. Sri Vedanta Ramanuja Maha Desikan @ Thirukkudanthai Andavan.

(1963 -1989 A.D.)

Named as Srinivasaraghavan by his parents he earned a popular name "Kannan Swami". By his discourses in a mellifluous voice he was very well known throughout the country. It is no wonder that on his entering the fourth Ashrmam, the institution Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashramam got expanded beyond recognition. His Holiness travelled on foot the length and breadth of the country and attracted thousands of disciples.

Being a scholar in Nyaya and Vyakarana, He specialised in Alwars' songs compendiously known as Nalayira Divya Prabandham. The mastery which he had over the subjects on which he rendered discourses namely, Srimad Ramayanam, Srimad Bhagavatham, Mahabharatham etc., was simply amazing. The way in which He used to quote from Divyaprabhandhams used to remind the listener the grandeur of the flow of a perennial holy river. Whether it was a Kalashepam or upanyasam, he used to intersperse them with witticism and simple similies which made even an uneducated listener understand easily the mose abstract philosophical tenets. He carried out repairs and renovations in several temples and donated several articles and jewellery to various temples.

He established an Ashramam Branch at Keezhnattham Village in Tirunelveli District  and also Sri Vedanta Desikan Sannathi at Thirukkurungudi village

He had constructed two temples in Bangalore,at Jayanagar &Sripuram and  one in Delhi. He established branches of the Ashramam in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh States besides several important towns in Tamil Nadu including the city of Madras (Chennai). He performed 26 Chathurmasyams.

He rejuvenated the monthly journal "Sri Ranganatha Paduka". He created several charitable and educational trusts such as Sri Paduka Charities in Madras and Sri Ranganatha Paduka Vidyalaya Trust in Srirangam. The latter trust established an educational institution and started courses in Vedas, Divya Prabandanis, Sastras, Kavyas etc.,

When he realised that the Lord wanted him back in His abode, he gave sanyasam to Mysore Gopalachariar Swami who was a Srikaryam in the Ashramam and a year later left this mortal world.

12. H.H. Sri Rangaramanuja Mahadesikan @ SriMushnam Andavan (Prakirtham Andavan)