Sri Mudali AndAn

Sri Mudali AndAn was born in 1027 A.D. at Varadaraja puram near Madras. His parents, Anantha dIkshitar and Naachchiyaar (Sri Raamaanuja's sister), named him as Daasarathi. Since he was one of the foremost disciples of Sri Raamaanuja, he came to be known as Mudaliaandaan.

When Sri Raamaanuja went to Triukottiyur Nambi for upadesam on Tiru mantram, he was asked the reason for bringing Daasarathi and Kuresa with him, inspite of his instruction to come alone. To this, Sir Raamaanuja replied, saying, he had come with his Staff (tiru danda referring to Daasarthi) and Pennant (pavithram referring to Kuresa). Tirukkottiyur Nambi took all three of them and instructed them on the secrets of Tiru Mantram.

Latter, when Sri Raamaanuja was instructing Kuresa on the Charama-Slokam, Daasarathi too wanted to know the meaning of the sloka, and therefore approached Sri Raamaanuja. Due to Tirukkottiyur Nambi's instructions, Sir Raamaanuja, asked Daasarathi to go the him and ask for upadesam on the sloka. Daasarathi went to tirukkottiyur and submitted himself to Nambi, who never gave him contenance. This continued for about Six months and Daasarathi never gave up his resolve. At this point Tirukkottiyur Nambi inquired about his reason for being there. When Daasarathi requested to be taught the meaning of Charama Sloka, he said "Let every trace in thee cease, of the three fold egotism which troubles the mankind, that of talent, wealth and ancestry. Raamaanuja will be the best judge of thee in these matters. Go to him and wait on him and his will and pleasure. He will bless thee". Daasarathi returned to Srirangam, fell to Sri Raamaanuja's feet and related all that happened at Tirukkottiyur. Pleased with Daasarathi, Sri Raamaanuja lauded the change in Daasarathi and started his upadesam on the Charama slokam.

Sri Raamaanuja, latter, started to depend on Daasarathi a lot. While going to kaveri for his daily bath. He used to lean on Daasarathi for support. One day, while on his way to the river, he was asked why, when he donned the robes of a Sannyaasins (ascetic) he did not give up Daasarathi, as that order demanded that all kith and kin should be renounced. To this Raamaanuja replied that Daasarathi was an exception as he was his triplestaff (tirudanda) (the same reason he gave to Tirukkottiyur Nambi) and added "If it is possible for me an ascetic to give up my staff only then can Daasarathi leave me. He, though a bodily relation, is yet a kin to my soul."

When Raamaanuja went to North India to collect the work of Brahma Sutra, he left the Srirangam temple activties in the hand of Daasarathi. Daasarathi composed the taniyan to be sung before Mutal Tiruvantati. He was very well educated in both the Sanskrit and Tamil Vedas and instructed many such as Embar and other on the meaning of Tiruvaimozhi and other paasurams of the 4000 Divya Prabandham.