01
Sriperumbudur(Bhutapuri)
TAMIL NADU · 12.97°N, 79.96°E
Birthplace of Bhagavad Ramanuja (1017 CE). The avatara-sthala where he took his descent as the incarnation of Adisesha.
READ THE CHAPTER →The Sacred Pilgrimage of
Bhagavad Sri Ramanujacharya
यतिराज-तीर्थ-यात्रा
From Sriperumbudur to Srirangam, from Kanchi to Tirumala, from the Hoysala hills at Melkote to the Sultan’s court in the north — the places where the greatest of acharyas walked, taught, and opened the gates of the temple to all.
15 SITES·BIRTHPLACE · PRIMARY SEAT · TOURS
THE SITES
The Sacred Geography
- 02
Kanchipuram(Kanchi, Kancheepuram)
TAMIL NADU · 12.84°N, 79.70°E
Studied under Yadava Prakasha and later served Lord Varadaraja, drawing water daily from the Salai Kinaru under Kanchi Purna's guidance.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 03
Srirangam(Tiruvarangam)
TAMIL NADU · 10.86°N, 78.69°E
The primary seat of Ramanuja's ministry. He reorganized temple worship here, composed the Sri Bhashya, and attained his final rest in 1137 CE.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 04
Tirukkoshtiyur(Thirukoshtiyur)
TAMIL NADU · 9.86°N, 78.45°E
Here Thirukkoshtiyur Nambi initiated him into the sacred Ashtakshari after eighteen journeys. Ramanuja then proclaimed the mantra from the temple gopuram for the salvation of all — the decisive act of his life.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 05
Madurai
TAMIL NADU · 9.93°N, 78.12°E
A major center of the Pandya tradition and of the Alvars whose Divya Prabandham Ramanuja elevated. Traditional accounts include his visits during southern tours.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 06
Tirumala — Tirupati(Venkatam, Tiruvenkatam)
ANDHRA PRADESH · 13.68°N, 79.35°E
Ramanuja settled the long dispute over the Lord of the Seven Hills, confirming Him as Sriman Narayana (Venkateshvara) and codifying the Vaikhanasa-Pancharatra worship still followed there.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 07
Melkote(Tirunarayanapuram, Yadugiri)
KARNATAKA · 12.66°N, 76.65°E
Ramanuja's home in exile for twelve years during Chola persecution. He recovered the utsava murti Ramapriya, organized the Pancharatra worship, and reformed temple access for devotees of every background.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 08
Thondanur(Tondanur, Thonnur)
KARNATAKA · 12.78°N, 76.72°E
Traditional account: here Ramanuja cured the Hoysala king Bittideva's daughter, converting him to Sri Vaishnavism as Vishnuvardhana and laying the ground for the Melkote revival.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 09
Srimushnam
TAMIL NADU · 11.39°N, 79.36°E
One of the eight svayamvyakta kshetras of Lord Varaha. Traditional account: Ramanuja visited and offered worship during his southern pilgrimages.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 10
Ahobilam
ANDHRA PRADESH · 15.14°N, 78.72°E
The nine-form kshetra of Lord Narasimha. Traditional account: Ramanuja made pilgrimage here during his northern tour, a site central to the later Ahobila Matha lineage.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 11
Thirukurungudi
TAMIL NADU · 8.42°N, 77.55°E
Traditional account: the Lord Nambi Himself received the Sri Vaishnava pancha-samskaras from Ramanuja here, becoming 'Vaishnava Nambi'.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 12
Azhagarkoil(Thirumaliruncholai (Azhagar Koil))
TAMIL NADU · 10.07°N, 78.22°E
The hill shrine of Kallazhagar near Madurai, sung by the Alvars. Ramanuja worshipped here during his southern pilgrimages.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 13
Thirumaliruncholai
TAMIL NADU · 10.07°N, 78.22°E
The Divya Desam on the Azhagar hills associated with Andal's vow of a hundred vats of butter. Traditional account: Ramanuja fulfilled her vow on her behalf during his pilgrimage.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 14
Saligram(Shaligram (debated))
NEPAL / HIMALAYAS (TRADITIONAL) · 28.76°N, 83.62°E
Traditional account (debated): the source of the sacred saligrama stones on the banks of the Gandaki, a site venerated by Vaishnavas. Some hagiographies place Ramanuja's northern tour as reaching as far as these Himalayan foothills.
READ THE CHAPTER → - 15
Delhi(Dilli (traditional))
DELHI (TRADITIONAL) · 28.61°N, 77.21°E
Traditional account: Ramanuja travelled north to the Sultan's court to recover the utsava murti Ramapriya (Sampat Kumara / Cheluva Narayana), which had been carried away from Melkote. The princess's devotion to the Lord gave the deity his name Yatiraja-Sampat-Kumara.
READ THE CHAPTER →
SEE ALSO
The 108 Divya Desams →
Beyond the sites of Ramanuja’s life, explore the 108 sacred abodes of Sri Vishnu sung by the Alvars — the canonical geography of Sri Vaishnava devotion.
A NOTE ON SOURCES
Sites marked “traditional account” are drawn from the hagiographical tradition (Guruparamparas and regional sthala-puranas) and are cherished by the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya. For a narrative treatment of these events, see the thirty-six chapters of his life.