Prof. & Vidwan Late Mandayam Anandampillai Lakshmithathachar – As I Know Him

SrImathe Ramanujaya Namaha & Anantharya Mahaguruve Namaha

I am M A Ranganath – eldest Son of Late M A Parthasarathy (Jayanagar) & grandson of Late M A Rangachar & Singaramma, Shri. Rangachar was the younger brother of Late Peri Lakshmi Tathachar (grandfather of Late. Lakshmithathachar about whom I am writing). I have known about the Family lineage from this generation till the present one (five generations). I am in touch with most of the kith and kin of (1st/2nd cousins including nephews/nieces) through social media. Prof. Lakshmi Tathachar was the eldest Son of Sri Alwar Thirumalai Iyengar (son of Peri Lakshmi Tatachar) who was my father's Acharya being one of the first ones to have got the Samashrayanam from Him. He was the Principal of The Sanskrit College, Melkote and my father & He were very close.

Peri Lakshmithathachar started the Vivekollasini Sabha to perform 10 day Utsavam during Udeyavar Thirunakshtram which is doing kainkaryam even to-day where I am also a member. As children, whenever we visited Melkote from 1950 onwards – my parents took us to the Acharyas Thirumaligai and we used to offer our Sastanga Pranamams. I had seen wife of Peri Lakshmi Tathachar (called Ammagaramma). My parents attended the 600h Birthday Celebrations during the 60s at Melkote. He was present in my marriage in 1971 & blessed us as Acharya. Alwarswamy Families are Swayam Acharapurushas, the eldest Son and later their eldest Sons holding the Acharya Peetha being grihastas. My uncle S Sharma & my father used to celebrate the Thirunakshtram of Peri Lakshmi Tatachar in Malleshwaram Venugopalaswamy temple and even today all the 4 thirunakshtrams of the succeeding Swamis are celebrated by Family members, Shishyas and Abhimanis.

I came to know about him only in the beginning of 1960s when he was persuing his studies in Sanskrit including Graduation & Post Graduation, but not very familiar with him. I used to see him with one of his close friends KOVALE Rangarajan who was agile and active in Melkote. Later, I came to know that he was a disciple of Karpamkadu Varadacharya in Madras (Now Chennai) during 1965-75. I know about his eldest sister (Pushpa) and all other younger brothers and sisters and am in touch with most of them through social media. I came to know more about him after my marriage & his marriage to Godha who was second cousin to my wife. We became closer after his father demise when he became Acharya & my father's demise in 1983.

He had a quest for being modern without compromising on following family rituals/traditions. He shouldered the responsibility of taking care of the large family of younger sisters and brothers. He was a professor in Bangalore University. He learnt the art of going through palm leaf old manuscripts and transcribing to digitise in other languages for the benefit of the current generation in Science, Technology and Arts. He interacted with Department of Electronics (GOI) through MAS Rajan (son of minister M A Srinivasan) of our community. He tried to get funds from the Government for Sanskrit Research and went on establish the Famous Ramanuja Institute of Sanskrit Research and Studies in Melkote behind Akka/Thangi Ponds. He was the Chief of the Institution. I was also working in Department of Electronics in different area in Chennai. In 1988, when I performed my Son's Upanayanam, he was gracious enough to do the Brahmopadesham. Subsequently, I had more occasions to meet him and visit the Melkote Institution and he used to take me around and explain the work he was doing, I was fascinated by his intellect and using computers for the work including training youngsters about the knowledge system and the rich information from the palm leaves – which was a herculean task.

He also was interested in organic farming and developed a good garden with sharing some of the produce with me and others. He even cultivated the Nanjangud Rasabale which had become extinct. After his stint in the Melkote institute which he had to leave because of some political/vested interest, he pursued his research and studies in related fields and produced many volumes of books with information from the palm leaf scriptures and created various links for the benefit of the Sanskrit and other researchers. All this he did in the building housing Vivekollasini Sabha adjacent to Thirumaligai. After my retirement in 2003, whenever I visited Melkote and met him, he took me to the above centre and shared about the work he was doing. In addition, when we visited his house he and his wife Godha used to spend time with us as she was also very talented and had brought a cook book in Kannada which detailed all the preparations including recipes of Sweets, Savouries and daily/special occasion food preparations.

Also, whenever he visited any function in Bangalore other places where he was invited as Swamy – he used to address the younger generation about our culture, traditions value systems in an easily understandable language for their benefit. Both his Children Alwar & Sudarshan also followed the footsteps of his father and family traditions and have become great Scholars. I had the benefit of attending the centenary celebration of his father held in Ramanuja bhavana during 2006 where many stalwarts spoke about the contributions of the earlier and present swamis. We had many useful interactions during the decade 2006 to 2016. In 2012, me and my wife got the Samashrayanam done in view of my devout respect for him. Subsequently our meetings became rare due to my being in Dubai for long but made it a point to visit during the Udeyavar Thirunakshtram time. Later, Godha was unwell for a long time and passed away being tragic. This had an impact on Him, but did not show it externally. We attended her Naaliyiram Function performed by her Children. We attended his 80th year celebration held in Bangalore Ubhayavedhanta Sabha in 2016.

Later, the COVID in the beginning of 2020 had a toll of many of our very close ones including Lakshmi Tathachar who succumbed to the VIRUS during May 2021.. It was a great loss to the Alwarswamy Freternity which was condoned by many from within the family, wellwishers and abhimanis. We could not take part in the final rituals due to many restrictions by the government. His Periya Thiruvadhyanam Naalayiram Function celebrations at Thirumaaligai was conducted in a grand manner with participation from Stalwarts in Vedic, Divyaprabhandam and other celebrities under the auspicious of Vivekollasini Sabha. We missed due to being away. I have the collection all Youtube Videos of his various Talks in different Platforms and each one is very thought provoking.

Later In 2023, we went to meet Alwar & Family next year who were also very cordial.

Subequently, also we have been meeting and exchanging notes through the Alwarswamy Shishyas WhatsApp group. I have also listened to some of his talks and he also emulates his father.

I have seen the brochure for the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Samskrithi Foundation planned for 25th December 2025 which was started by Late. Lakshmi Tathachar during 19992000. Many Activities have been planned covering his works through Display, Discussions, Film & website release in the august presence of Yathiraja Jeeyar to commemorate the occasion. I wish the function grand success and to bring glory and laurels to this institution.

Adiyen Mandayam Anandampillai Ranganatha Dasan.