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Chinna Jeeyar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Akulamannada Chilakamarri Sriman Narayana Charyulu[citation needed] (1956-11-03)3 November 1956 (age 69) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Parents |
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| Signature |  |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Denomination | Vaishnavism |
| Order | Jeeyar (Lion)[1] |
| Philosophy | Vishishtadvaita |
| School | Vedanta |
| Sect | Andhra Vaishnavas,Sri Vaishnavism Thenkalai |
| Religious career | |
| Guru | Pedda Jeeyar |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan |
| Website | chinnajeeyar.org |
Chinna Jeeyar (born 3 November 1956), more formally known asSri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swami, is aThenkalaiSri Vaishnava Indian religious guru and yogi ascetic known for his spiritual discourses and the propagation of RamanujaVishishtadvaitadarshana. He operates spiritual centers in India and the US. He is the designer and planner of theStatue of Equality, a statue dedicated toRamanujacharya, inHyderabad, India. Recently, he has also unveiled the Statue of Union, a 90ft statue of Hanuman, located in Sugar Land, Texas, in the United States. He has also guided the Telangana State Government in the renovation of Yadadri Temple. He is one of the few Jiyars who accepts disciples irrespective of their castes.[2]
Chinna Jeeyar Swami was born inArthmuru nearRajahmundry,Andhra Pradesh, in a traditional Telugu Vedic family. His grandfather, Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Jeeyar, also known as Pedda Jeeyar Swami, mentored him and he was educated and trained by several scholars in Sri VaishnavaSampradaya. He mastered manyTelugu language,Sanskrit andTamil works and otherHindu scriptures, includingVedas,Puranas,Itihasa andNaalayira Divya Prabandham. At the age of 23, he took the oath to become aSannyasi. In 1981, after the death of H. H. Pedda Jeeyar Swamiji, he assumed leadership and became the head of Srimad Ubhaya Vedantha Acharya Peetam, Nadigaddapalem.[2]
Chinna Jeeyar Swami founded the Jeeyar Educational Trust (JET), with branches in places such as Hyderabad, Chennai, and the United States, to help educate students in Vedic tradition. His schools are open to everyone. In addition, he is known for his performance of Vedic rituals of peace and harmony. He speaks multiple languages and provides religious discourses in simple words. He has performed thousands ofSamashrayana. His understanding of kainkarya includes modern social services such as schools for tribals and homes for the elderly, orphans, handicapped and destitute. Further, he supports rural development, science and technology schools as well as the introduction of computers for the study of Vedas.[2] He has been visiting the United States since 1994, where he taught a large number of people and spread the teachings of Sri Vaishnavism. He has also performedYajnas in United States, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Canada.[3]
In December 2013, Jeeyar endorsed theAkhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) student organization for instilling patriotism in students and encouraging them to learn about Indian culture. He claimed Indian culture would remain unchanged if students are acquainted with a comprehensive understanding of thecountry's history. He expressed the view that students play a critical role in a country's development.[4] Jeeyar was invited by theGovernment of Andhra Pradesh to assist in organizing theGodavari Maha Pushkaram (river festivals) in July 2015.[5] He has spoken at theUnited Nations aboutSustainable Development Goals.[6]