Koorathazhwan was the first of the disciples of Saint Ramanuja and he was older than him by about 8 years. He was known as Kuresa and Srivathsanka Misra during his times. He was born in the " Sowmya year " in the Tamil month of Thai. His birth constellation was Hastham and he was born on a Thursday which happened to be the fifth waning day to Koorathazhwar and Perundevi Thayar of the Haareetha Gothra. They were followers of the Sutras of Sage Apasthambha and they belonged to the Yajur branch of Vedic practises. It is not easy to capture his glorious life in words or thoughts because even Saint Ramanuja had declared that Koorathazhwan was responsible for his own moksha or liberation. He married the pious Andal and the couple were blessed with two illustrious sons - Parasara Bhatta and Veda Vyasa Bhatta ( Sri Ramapillai ). The family was deeply devoted to Varadaraja Perumal. They were landlords in their native village Kooram and were charitable by habit.
Koorathazhwan was the first of the disciples of Saint Ramanuja and he was older than him by about 8 years. He was known as Kuresa and Srivathsanka Misra during his times. He was born in the "Sowmya year" in the Tamil month of Thai. His birth constellation was Hastham and he was born on a Thursday which happened to be the fifth waning day to Koorathazhwar and Perundevi Thayar of the Haareetha Gothra. They were followers of the Sutras of Sage Apasthambha and they belonged to the Yajur branch of Vedic practises. It is not easy to capture his glorious life in words or thoughts because even Saint Ramanuja had declared that Koorathazhwan was responsible for his own moksha or liberation. He married the pious Andal and the couple were blessed with two illustrious sons - Parasara Bhatta and Veda Vyasa Bhatta ( Sri Ramapillai ). The family was deeply devoted to Varadaraja Perumal. They were landlords in their native village Kooram and were charitable by habit.
Kuresa was heavily influenced by Ramanuja and his teachings during the sojourn of the Saint in Kanchipuram. He approached him and became his disciple. Thereafter the attention of the mentor ensured that Kuresa undertook a rigourous study of the Vedic scriptures and other holy works. With the moving away of the Saint to Srirangam, there was a temporary gap in the relationship but the protege indulged in enormous charity during this period. One day Lord Varadaraja and his divine consort Perundevi heard a heavy thud which emanated when Koorathazhwar had closed his doors after indulging in the charity of the day. The Chief Priest came to him on the order of the Lord who had appeared in his dream and on learning about the divine enquiry Koorathazhwar felt bad that he had disturbed the divine couple at night. This made him give up his material possessions and gather himself to Srirangam to serve under Saint Ramanuja. The divine enquiry as to why the thud happened ultimately had changed the course of his life. In Srirangam Koorathazhwan became the hand and eye of Ramanuja.
One of the main goals of Saint Ramanuja was to visit Kashmir, refer to Brahma Sutras and do a treatise or Bhasyam about the ancient text. The text was in the Kashmir library and it was a time when the great place was a place of learning. People from around the world used to visit Kashmir to gain knowledge. Saint Ramanuja, Koorathazhwan and a few others undertook a tedious journey to Kashmir, met the ruler and got permission to access the Bodhayana Vritti in order to do a treatise on the Brahma Sutra. A set of jealous scholars who ruled the roost those days insisted that the Vritti should not leave the library and one should not make notes while reading the same. Therefore Saint Ramanujacharya and Koorathazhwan read the Vritti in the library itself and returned home. The great Saint was greatly relieved when Kurathazhwan recalled the entire text word by word and this helped him to complete his treatise which is popularly known as Sri Bhashya and Saint Ramanuja is known as Bhashyakarar or Bhashyakarulu due to the same. It was possible to complete the work only because of the marvellous memory of Koorathazhwan. The student of the Saint has given us five works known as Panchastava and they are Sri Vaikunta Stavam, Athimanushthavam, Varadarajasthavam, Sristhavam and Sundarabahusthavam.
The popularity of Saint Ramanujacharya attracted the evil eyes of the advisors of the Chola king at Gangaikondacholapuram. Immediately , Saint Ramanuja was summoned to the court but Koorathazhwan went in his place while the Saint was forced to move to Melkote. Koorathazhwan was taken to the court with Mahapoorna or Periyanambi and the king commandeered that the eyes be pulled out because they were steadfast in their devotion to Lord Ranganatha. Koorathazhwan pulled his eyes on his own for he felt that he did not need the eyes which had seen the tyrant and the eyes of Mahapoorna were gorged out by the soldiers. The ripe old Mahapoorna attained liberation on the way to Srirangam. Saint Ramanujacharya later on lived in Melkote for sometime and returned to Srirangam. This return reunited the master and his disciple. Ramanuja considered Koorathazhwan as his "Pavithra", the darbha grass worn on the ring finger before beginning any vedic act. Koorathazhwan regained his sight on meeting Saint Ramanujacharya and like Kidambi Achan he was the other older disciple who was steadfast in his devotion.
The 1000 years of Koorathazhwan were celebrated with great pomp and splendour at the Sri Adikesava Perumal in Thirukooram near Kanchipuram. It is here that one get to visit the shrine of Koorathazhwan. There is a belief that the Bhagavatas who visit this shrine and the temple will be blessed with better vision which will enable them to see the world better while also understanding the purport of the teachings of Saint Ramanujacharya.