# Periya Nambi
Periya Nambi (பெரிய நம்பி), also revered as Mahapoorna, Parankusa Dasar, and Purnacharyar, was a Srivaishnava acharya of [Srirangam](https://www.edgepedia.org/srirangam) of the eleventh century, remembered as the disciple of Alavandar ([Yamunacharya](https://www.edgepedia.org/yamunacharya)) and the initiating acharya of Ramanujacharya.[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [2](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2012/09/01/periya-nambi-english/) [Tradition](https://www.edgepedia.org/tradition) places his birth at Srirangam in the Tamil month of Margazhi under the star Kettai (Jyeshtha).[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [3](https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/indefatigable-periya-nambi/article67715736.ece)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Native name | பெரிய நம்பி (Periya Nambi) |
| Other names | Mahapoorna, Parankusa Dasar, Purnacharyar[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [2](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2012/09/01/periya-nambi-english/) |
| Birthplace | Srirangam[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [2](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2012/09/01/periya-nambi-english/) |
| Birth month and star | Margazhi, under Kettai (Jyeshtha)[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [3](https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/indefatigable-periya-nambi/article67715736.ece) |
| Guru and disciple | Disciple of Alavandar; acharya of Ramanuja[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [2](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2012/09/01/periya-nambi-english/) |
| Principal act | Pancha Samskaram (samashrayanam) initiation of Ramanuja at Madhurantakam[3](https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/indefatigable-periya-nambi/article67715736.ece) • [2](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2012/09/01/periya-nambi-english/) |
| Death | At Pasupathikoil in Chola desam, after his eyes were ordered gouged out at the Chola court[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [4](https://koyil.org/index.php/koyilperiyanambi/) |
## Origins and family
Tradition records that Periya Nambi was born at Srirangam.[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [2](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2012/09/01/periya-nambi-english/) He became one of the prime disciples of Alavandar.[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [2](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2012/09/01/periya-nambi-english/)
## Career
Bringing Ramanuja to Srirangam was the work for which Periya Nambi is remembered. Alavandar had sent him to Kanchi to fetch Ramanuja, and on the way Periya Nambi recited a verse from Alavandar's Stotra Ratnam that moved Ramanuja to wish to meet its author.[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [3](https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/indefatigable-periya-nambi/article67715736.ece) Ramanuja agreed to travel to Srirangam, but Alavandar had already died by the time he arrived.[3](https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/indefatigable-periya-nambi/article67715736.ece)
The two met at Madhurantakam, where Periya Nambi performed Pancha Samskaram, the initiation that formally inducted Ramanuja as a Srivaishnava; tradition places the ceremony under a Vakula (Magizha) tree, and the Eri Katha Ramar temple at Maduranthakam is shown today as the site.[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [3](https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/indefatigable-periya-nambi/article67715736.ece) • [5](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2015/07/14/periya-nambi-tamil/) Periya Nambi then went to [Kanchipuram](https://www.edgepedia.org/kanchipuram) to teach Ramanuja the doctrine (sampradhaya arthams), but conflicts involving Ramanuja's wife led Periya Nambi and his family to leave Kanchipuram and return to Srirangam; the hagiographies count this episode among the incidents that led Ramanuja to take sanyasa.[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [2](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2012/09/01/periya-nambi-english/)
## Political influence
The tradition assigns him a central role in Ramanuja's induction as a Vaishnava: by fetching Ramanuja and initiating him, he carried out Alavandar's mission.[3](https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/indefatigable-periya-nambi/article67715736.ece) • [2](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2012/09/01/periya-nambi-english/) The one direct collision with Chola state power came when the Chola king, whom the tradition names Kirmikanta Chozha (Kirumikanda Chozhan), summoned Ramanuja to court to sign a declaration that Shiva was the supreme deity.[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [6](https://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2026/01/vazhi-thirunamams-periyanambi-simple/) Kurathazhwan ([Kuresa](https://www.edgepedia.org/kuresa)) went in Ramanuja's place, disguised as him, with Periya Nambi accompanying him as acharya and Periya Nambi's daughter Aththuzhai also present.[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [6](https://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2026/01/vazhi-thirunamams-periyanambi-simple/) When Kurathazhwan declared in court that Sriman Narayana is the supreme lord, the king ordered the eyes of both men to be plucked out.[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [6](https://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2026/01/vazhi-thirunamams-periyanambi-simple/)
## Death and successors
Periya Nambi accepted the sentence, but, unable to bear the pain at his great age, gave up his life; tradition places the spot at Pasupathikoil in Chola desam, on the way back toward Srirangam.[1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/) • [5](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2015/07/14/periya-nambi-tamil/) • [4](https://koyil.org/index.php/koyilperiyanambi/) According to the KOYIL acharyas account, his daughter Aththuzhai and Azhwan urged him to hold on until he could reach Srirangam, but he answered that wherever a Srivaishnava is, that place becomes [Vaikuntha](https://www.edgepedia.org/vaikuntha).[5](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2015/07/14/periya-nambi-tamil/)
## Historians' assessment
A study of the Srirangam temple complex examines the persecution of Ramanuja and the earlier restoration of the temple to the [Pancharatra](https://www.edgepedia.org/pancharatra) tradition under Yamunacharya, as recorded in the Koil Olugu chronicle.[7](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/001946469503200404) Within the tradition itself, Periya Nambi is assessed as the facilitator of Ramanuja's induction as a Vaishnava and as an acharya whose loyalty was tested at the cost of his sight and his life.[3](https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/indefatigable-periya-nambi/article67715736.ece) • [1](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/)
## Legacy
For his sacrifice for the growth of the Ramanuja darsana, tradition records that Periya Nambi's descendants receive honors at divya desams such as Srirangam, Thirukkurungudi, and Srivilliputhur.[4](https://koyil.org/index.php/koyilperiyanambi/)
## References
1. [Guru Parampara Series – Periya Nambhi (Mahapoorna)](https://archive.anudinam.org/2014/10/29/guru-parampara-series-periya-nambhi-mahapoorna/)
2. [Periya Nambi – KOYIL](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2012/09/01/periya-nambi-english/)
3. [Indefatigable Periya Nambi, The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/indefatigable-periya-nambi/article67715736.ece)
4. [kOyil periya nambi thirumALigai – KOYIL](https://koyil.org/index.php/koyilperiyanambi/)
5. [பெரிய நம்பி – KOYIL](https://acharyas.koyil.org/index.php/2015/07/14/periya-nambi-tamil/)
6. [AzhwAr/AchAryas vAzhi thirunAmams – periya nambi – KOYIL](https://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2026/01/vazhi-thirunamams-periyanambi-simple/)
7. [The persecution of Ramanuja: A view from the Srirangam temple complex, Indian Economic and Social History Review](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/001946469503200404)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › History and archaeology › Asian history › India and South Asia › Post-Gupta kingdoms (550 to 750) › Religion and saints*
*Initially written Sep 23, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026*
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