Chinna Jeeyar Swami among five Padma awardees from Telangana

Hyderabad: Vedic scholar, spiritual teacher and philosopher Sri Tridandi Chinna Srimannarayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji, popular as Chinna Jeeyar Swamy, was honoured with Padma Bhushan by the Centre on Wednesday under ‘Others-Spiritualism' category. He is among five (two Padma Bhushan and three Padma Shri) from Telangana who were honoured with Padma awards on the eve of Republic Day.
Chinna Jeeyar was much in news for designing the 216-ft tall Statue of Equality, dedicated to Hindu philosopher and social reformer Ramanujacharya, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Muchintal near Shamshabad in February last year.
CM K Chandrasekhar Rao was conspicuous by his absence at the event though he was often seen with Chinna Jeeyar during his trips to Yadadari temple renovation works.
Chinnay Jeeyar, 66, was born in Arthamuru village in AP's East Godavari district and completed his schooling in Rajahmundry. Before becoming a seer and giving spiritual discourses on Vaishnavism, Chinna Jeeyar, whose original name was Arthamuri Sriman Narayana Charyulu, adored Pedda Jeeyar Swamy when he first met him in his hometown and became his follower.
His ashram runs schools, colleges for visually impaired, a homeo medical college, orphanages and old age homes apart from Vedic schools. Chinna Jeeyar has also renovated several temples and also constructed new ones.
KCR was one of his ardent devotees along with several politicians and businessmen of Telangana. However, relations between the seer and the CM soured just before the unveiling of the Statue of Equality. KCR did not attend the event as his name did not figure on the plaque along with PM Modi's name. Ever since, KCR has stopped going to the ashram near Shamshabad.