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Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth3 November 1956

Age66 Years

BirthplaceArthamuru village, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India

ProfessionSpiritual leader

NationalityIndian

FamilyFather - Akulamannada Chilakamarri Venkatacharyulu; Mother - Akulamannada Chilakamarri Alivelu Manga Thayaru; three sisters and one brother

Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji Biography

Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji is a prominent Indian spiritual leader in the Sri Vaishnavism tradition. Born Arthamuri Sriman Narayana Charyulu, he became an ascet‑

Early life and background

Arthamuri Sriman Narayana Charyulu was born on 3 November 1956 in Arthamuru village, located in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. He is Indian by nationality and was raised in a Vaishnava family; his father is Akulamannada Chilakamarri Venkatacharyulu and his mother is Akulamannada Chilakamarri Alivelu Manga Thayaru. He has three sisters and one brother.

According to his official information, his early religious training came under the guidance of his grandfather, Pedda Jeeyar Swamy. He attended Sri Gowthami Vidya Petam Oriental High School in Rajahmundry. In the Vaishnava tradition he follows, the Thenkalai denomination, Lakshmi and Vishnu occupy a central place in worship and practice.

Career

At the age of 23, after the death of his grandfather in 1981, he embraced ascetic life and received the name Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swami. He became head of the Srimad Ubhaya Vedantha Acharya Peetam in Nadigadapalem and is known for carrying the Tridanda, a symbol of his Tridandi sanyasa.

Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji has built a network of educational and humanitarian initiatives over several decades. In 1982 he founded the Jeeyar Educational Trust (JET) and later established the Jeeyar Educational Trust Vedic University in 1984 on the banks of the Krishna river in Sitanagaram, Guntur district. JET expanded city branches in Hyderabad, Rajahmundry and Madras and opened international branches in countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. He also started the Pancharathra Agama school in 1987.

His social service activities include founding Vikasa Tarangini in 1992, an organisation focused on free education for blind and underprivileged tribal and fishermen children, along with a range of health, disaster relief and basic-needs programmes. In 2001 he founded NethraVidyalaya, a residential school for visually impaired children in Vishakapatnam district; students from this school have participated in national cultural programmes and sports events. In 2013 he established Jeeyar Integrative Medical Services (JIMS) Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital near the Hyderabad–Bengaluru highway, with diagnostic, inpatient and outpatient facilities.

He regularly performs Vedic rituals such as yajnas and homams and has conducted large-scale ceremonies, including a Maha Yajna at Tirumala involving 1,008 kundas. He has also been involved in completing devotional programmes initiated by his predecessors, such as the 108 Sri Rama Krathus started by his grandfather.

Chinna Jeeyar emphasizes education and social services as modern expressions of religious work. He has trained students in Vedic research, promoted the teachings of Ramanujacharya, and accepted disciples beyond traditional caste boundaries. He is reported to be fluent in Tamil and English, and he advocates respect for women within his tradition. As a sanyasi, he has stated that he maintains distance from politics and does not hold a personal bank account.

Public profile

He is widely known by his ascetic title but was born Arthamuri Sriman Narayana Charyulu. Physically, he is listed at approximately 170 cm (about 5'7"), with brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. He follows a vegetarian diet.

His work has taken him abroad: Jeeyar Educational Trust events have been organised in cities such as Melbourne and London, and international guests and public figures have attended JET-sponsored yajna events. In 2022, he advised on the planning, design and installation of a large statue commemorating Ramanujacharya that was unveiled in Hyderabad.

Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji received national recognition in 2023 when he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in the Others-Spiritualism category.

Controversies

Some of his public statements have led to criticism and complaints from community groups. Videos that circulated online at different times prompted objections from tribal associations and other organisations, who felt offended by comments attributed to him. In response, he and his team have addressed the reactions by noting context and, in at least one instance, suggesting remarks may have been from many years earlier. His team has also said they maintain that their organisations carry out substantial service for tribal and disadvantaged communities.

Latest updates

In 2022 he took an advisory role in the installation of the Statue of Equality project honouring Ramanujacharya. In 2023 he was conferred the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India for his contributions in spiritualism and public service.

He continues to lead and expand educational, humanitarian and religious programmes through institutions he founded, including JET, Vikasa Tarangini, NethraVidyalaya and JIMS, while conducting Vedic rites and public discourses.
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Recent Work

Padma Bhushan Award

Honoured by the Government of India under the 'Others-Spiritualism' category.

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. Became head of Srimad Ubhaya Vedantha Acharya Peetam after embracing asceticism in 1981
  2. Founded Jeeyar Educational Trust (JET) in 1982 and expanded it nationally and internationally
  3. Established Jeeyar Educational Trust Vedic University (1984), Pancharathra Agama school (1987), Vikasa Tarangini (1992), NethraVidyalaya (2001), and JIMS Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital (2013)
  4. Performed large-scale Vedic rituals including a Maha Yajna with 1,008 kundas
  5. Awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2023
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji born?

3 November 1956

What is Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji known for?

Spiritual leader