Srimushanam Andavan (1934 - )
H.H. Srimath Srimushnam Andavan is the current head of the ancient Andavan Ashramam, another prominent Vaishnavite sect in South India. Apart from the 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams of which Srirangam and Tirupathi are the most prominent, Venogopalaswamy (Lord Krishna) is one of the chief Vishnu forms that attracts followers of this ashram.
H.H. Srimath Srimushnam Andavan has been propagating the principles of universal brotherhood and peace amongst all sections of the society. He has performed initiations (Panchasamskaram (Samasrayanam) and Prapathi (Saranagathi)) for thousands of Devotees. During His travel to various places, offerings to the deities (Perumal and Paduka Aradhanams) are conducted at several residences of devotees all over India. His Holiness enthusiastically accompanies Sri Venugopalaswamy for the Deity travels (Dolothsavam) at the residences of various devotees and during those occasions his devotees are pleased to hear His short discourses on Sampradaya matters. He also heads philosophical discussions (Sri Paduka Vidwat Sadas) which is continued every year and he leads the lively and interesting discussions and encourages various Scholars vidwans to present their views on the topics chosen.
His Holiness is an erudite and articulate scholar having completed his Siromani in Tharka Sastra and having formally qualified as a Tamil Pandit also in his Poorvashrama. His masterly knowledge of the sastras, his impressive discourses, pleasing manners and his sparkling humor have endeared him to thousands of sishyas and also to admirers outside the sampradaya. Every one of the sishyas of Ashramam admire His Holiness's sound knowledge in Indian traditional medicines, like Ayurveda ,and take advice from Him regularly. The same can be said on our Acharyan's knowledge in astrology .Our Acharya can said to be a voracious reader of not only books related to our sampradaya, but also on other subjects of importance. His Holiness once has exhibited His skill as a craftsman and has sculptured the image of Sri LakshmiNarayana Perumal by His own hands on a granite slab .
His Holiness has covered the states of Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh by Paadayatra nearly 3000KMs.,following the footsteps of our poorvachariars.
During the 60th birthday (Sashtiabdapoorthi) celebrations of His Holiness held a few years back, a two volume book of Sri Swami Desikan's Sri Paduka Sahasram with the vyakyanam (commentary ) in Tamil of Srimadh Therazhundur Andavan was released for the benefit of devotees and copies of which are still available in Chennai Ashramam
