Sri Rama Ramanuja Ācārya

Prior to his initiation into Sri Vaisnavism, Sri Rama Ramanuja Ācārya spent 8 years in the Middle East studying Hebrew, Arabic, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Sri Rama Ramanuja Ācārya was instructed by his guru, Sri Varada Yatiraja Jeeyar to establish an independent Sri Vaisnava Math in Australia. Sri Ramanuja Matham was conceptualised in Sydney, Australia in early 1998.

Following his guru's instruction, Sri Rama Ramanuja Ācārya, with his savings, purchased a house from which to conduct classes and establish a centre for the propogation of Vedanta. He studied Sanskrit in Varanasi and then spent some time in South India studying Tamil, Vaisnava philosophy and Pancharatra Agama.

His Holiness Varada Yatiraja Jiyar Swami left his body on Monday 8 June at 3am IST. He was the Pontiff of Yatiraja Jiyar Math at Perumbudur, Tamil Nadu,. Yatiraja Jiyar Math was established by Sri Ramanujacharya himself in the ancient temple of Sri Adi Kesava Perumal. Perumbudur is the avatara sthala (appearance place) of Sri Ramanujacharya and an important holy place for his followers.