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: Ra:ma:nuja:cha:rya
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 Varadara:ja, 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 manthra 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 Sri:man Na:ra:yana (Venkateshvara) and codifying the Vaikhanasa-Pa:nchara:thra 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 Pa:nchara:thra 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 Vara:ha. 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 Na:ra:yana), 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.