Chikkupadhyaya was born (around 1640 AD) to Sri RangAcharya and Srimathi NAchiyAramma in TerakanAmbi in Mysore district of Karnataka. His actual name at birth was Lakshmipathi.
He later moved to and settled in Melkote in Mandya district. He belonged to Shatamarshana (Purukuthsa or Vishnu-vruddha) lineage of Hebbar Srivaishnava community. Sri Nathamuni, Aalavandaar (Yaamunachaarya), Periya Thirumalai nambi and Bhagavadh Raamanuja's mother all belonged to Shatamarshana lineage.
'Chikkupadhyaya' title was conferred to Sri Lakshmipathi by His Royal Highness Sri Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar since he was his minister and teacher. 'ChikkupAdhyAya' in Kannada means teacher of Sri Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar.
He could be the most prolific writer of Kannada literature. He has more than 30 literary works to his credit. His best known works are Vishnupurana (1691), Kamalachala Mahatmya (1681), Hastigiri Mahatmya (1679), Rukmangada Charite (1681), Satvikabrahma-Vidya-Vilasa on Visishtadvaita philosophy,[1] Yadugiri Mahatmya in praise of Kadambi Srirangacharya and Yadavagiri Mahatmya in praise of Kadambi Lakshmanacharya, numerous compositions in the champu, sangatya, and gadya metres, seventy songs in praise of his patron king (under the pen name of Chikkadevaraja), a composition called Shringarada Hadugalu and several commentaries.[2] He has written the life of Aalwaars in champu style including the biography of Sri Bhagavadh Raamanujachaarya.
Sri Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar reformed the Mysore kingdom administration by dividing it into 18 departments, called chavadi and setting up a just system of taxation and transferred the capital of Mysore to Srirangapatnam, an island in the middle of the Kaveri river that offers a good protection against military attacks under the competent ministry of Tirumalarya and Chikkupadhyaya. (The translated version can be found: http://www.recherche.fr/encyclopedie/Odey%C3%A2r provides some of his important contributions to the Wodeyar dynasty.) Due to the glorious reign, Sri Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar was also popular as 'Nava-koti Narayana' which signifies the huge wealth and welfare created during his rule of Mysore (Kannada: ಮೈಸೂರು) kingdom.
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