Indiramma Iyengar
Encyclopedia
Indiramma Janardhana Iyengar (9 September 1914-3 November 2010), also known as Manni, was philanthropist and community organizer in Mysore, India.
in 1926.
On February 26, 1926, she married 18 year-old H. R. Janardhana Iyengar
, son of Haradanahalli Ramaswamy Iyengar and Janakamma. Her husband would become a successful engineer, contractor, architect, designer, and also an established philanthropist in Mysore. After marriage, she lived in Bangalore
until 1940, in a joint family, and then moved with the family to Mysore, where she remained permanently. She had five sons—Ramaswamy (born 1934), Srinivas (1938), Rangaraj (1940), Krishnamurthy (1942) and Prakash (1944)--and two daughters: Rathna (wife of K. K. Srinivasan
; 1936) and Lavanya born in 1950. She had fifteen grandchildren, who now reside in the United States
, the United Kingdom
, Australia
, and India
.
Throughout her life, she ardently followed the Srivaishnava
philosophy, customs, and traditions. Although not a professional Carnatic music
ian, she was a respected singer, notably of Devarnamas. Indiramma was also a follower the teachings of Ramanujacharya, with expertise in the Gadhya Thrayams, Vaikunta Gadyam
, Saranagati Gadyam
and the Sriranga Gadyam
. Under the tutelage of her mother-in-law and mother, Indiramma became well-versed in the Bhagavad Gita
and the Bhagavatha Purana. Manni was conscientiously active in festivals and traditions, such as reading the Ramayana
and performing the Rama Pattabhishekam on Vijayadashami
during Mysore Dasara
, which she performed infallibly for decades. While raising seven successful children with her husband, she devoted herself to hospitality
, generosity
, and kindness
, opening her home for to a multitude of people as they worked and studied in Mysore, and providing financial and material support to the Mysore community; throughout her life, she was a respected member and a point of light in the community.
H. R. Janardhana Iyengar
died on 6 February 1991. She lost her son, Rangaraj, at age 59 to leukemia on December 15, 1999. She was stoic in her grief and accepted all life events that came to pass with prasada budhi. Throughout the last 15 years of her life, she underwent significant physical hardship, having lost her mobility to multiple hip fractures and also her eyesight. Bearing these burdens, she maintained her activities and philanthropy to the best of her ability with a strong mentation and genial outlook. Indiramma was a beautiful and gentle being, devoted to God, her family and her community. She died on 3 November 2010.
She was a trustee of the Sri Lakshmi Venkataramanaswamy temple in V. V. Mohalla, Mysore.
Biography
Indiramma Janardhana Iyengar, or H. R. Indiramma, née Indiramma Srinivasa Iyengar, was the eldest of the three children of Srinivasa Iyengar and Sowmyanaki; her siblings were a younger brother, Sampath, and a younger sister, Padma. She graduated from the Lower Secondary school in KollegalKollegal
Kollegal is one of the major taluks in the Chamrajnagar District of Karnataka State in the south of India. Kollegal is well known for its silk industry which attracts traders from all over the state.-History:...
in 1926.
On February 26, 1926, she married 18 year-old H. R. Janardhana Iyengar
H. R. Janardhana Iyengar
Sri Haradanahalli Ramaswamy Janardhana Iyengar was an eminent engineer in Mysore, India. He made valuable contributions to the engineering profession during the 1940s and 1950s through his innovative methods and original designs....
, son of Haradanahalli Ramaswamy Iyengar and Janakamma. Her husband would become a successful engineer, contractor, architect, designer, and also an established philanthropist in Mysore. After marriage, she lived in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
until 1940, in a joint family, and then moved with the family to Mysore, where she remained permanently. She had five sons—Ramaswamy (born 1934), Srinivas (1938), Rangaraj (1940), Krishnamurthy (1942) and Prakash (1944)--and two daughters: Rathna (wife of K. K. Srinivasan
K. K. Srinivasan
Kushalnagar Krishnaswamy Srinivasan known as K. K. Srinivasan was an Indian radar officer who founded a pre-school for deaf children.- Education :Madras Presidency College, Madras...
; 1936) and Lavanya born in 1950. She had fifteen grandchildren, who now reside in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Throughout her life, she ardently followed the Srivaishnava
Srivaishnava
Sri Vaishnava is a universal term among Hindus for worshippers of Vishnu. They are not limited to any part of India. Over its long history, Sri Vaishnavism has influenced nearly every aspect of Indian religious life.- Overview :...
philosophy, customs, and traditions. Although not a professional Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
ian, she was a respected singer, notably of Devarnamas. Indiramma was also a follower the teachings of Ramanujacharya, with expertise in the Gadhya Thrayams, Vaikunta Gadyam
Vaikunta gadyam
Vaikunta Gadyam is a Sanskrit prayer written by the Srivaishnavism philosopher Ramanuja towards the end of the 11th century. It is one of the first bhakti prayers in this school of thought and is the basis for many prayers of this style...
, Saranagati Gadyam
Saranagati Gadyam
Saranagati Gadyam is a Sanskrit prayer written by the Srivaishnavism philosopher Ramanuja towards the end of the 11th century. It is one of the first bhakti prayers in this school of thought and is the basis for many prayers, like Raghuveera gadyam of this style...
and the Sriranga Gadyam
Sriranga Gadyam
Sriranga Gadyam is a Sanskrit prayer written by the Srivaishnavism philosopher Ramanuja towards the end of the 11th century. It is one of the first bhakti prayers in this school of thought and is the basis for many prayers, like Raghuveera gadyam of this style...
. Under the tutelage of her mother-in-law and mother, Indiramma became well-versed in the Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
and the Bhagavatha Purana. Manni was conscientiously active in festivals and traditions, such as reading the Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
and performing the Rama Pattabhishekam on Vijayadashami
Vijayadashami
Vijayadashami also known as Dasara, is one of the most important festivals celebrated in various forms, across India, Nepal and Bangladesh...
during Mysore Dasara
Mysore Dasara
Mysore Dasara is the Nadahabba of the state of Karnataka. It is also called Navaratri and is a 10-day festival with the last day being Vijayadashami, the most auspicious day of Dasara. Dasara usually falls in the month of September or October...
, which she performed infallibly for decades. While raising seven successful children with her husband, she devoted herself to hospitality
Hospitality
Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. Specifically, this includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers, resorts, membership clubs, conventions, attractions, special events, and other services for travelers...
, generosity
Generosity
Generosity is the habit of giving freely without expecting anything in return. It can involve offering time, assets or talents to aid someone in need...
, and kindness
Kindness
Kindness is the act or the state of being kind, being marked by good and charitable behaviour, pleasant disposition, and concern for others. It is known as a virtue, and recognized as a value in many cultures and religions ....
, opening her home for to a multitude of people as they worked and studied in Mysore, and providing financial and material support to the Mysore community; throughout her life, she was a respected member and a point of light in the community.
H. R. Janardhana Iyengar
H. R. Janardhana Iyengar
Sri Haradanahalli Ramaswamy Janardhana Iyengar was an eminent engineer in Mysore, India. He made valuable contributions to the engineering profession during the 1940s and 1950s through his innovative methods and original designs....
died on 6 February 1991. She lost her son, Rangaraj, at age 59 to leukemia on December 15, 1999. She was stoic in her grief and accepted all life events that came to pass with prasada budhi. Throughout the last 15 years of her life, she underwent significant physical hardship, having lost her mobility to multiple hip fractures and also her eyesight. Bearing these burdens, she maintained her activities and philanthropy to the best of her ability with a strong mentation and genial outlook. Indiramma was a beautiful and gentle being, devoted to God, her family and her community. She died on 3 November 2010.
She was a trustee of the Sri Lakshmi Venkataramanaswamy temple in V. V. Mohalla, Mysore.