Kandhadai Koil Annan is the direct descendant of Sri Mudaliyandan (a very close associate and disciple of Bhagavat Sri Ramanujar). He was born in 1389 in the month of October to Devaraja Thozappar as his 4th child at Srirangam and named Varadanayaranan by his parents. Vardanarayana guru took over the Srirangam temple Sri karyam after his father attained acharya tiruvadi. He was a great devotee of Lord Ranganatha and never missed a single day of perumal purappadu. Some people who were jealous of this asked him what would he do if he were to miss one day of perumal puraappadu. Varadanarayana guru replied that he would destroy his eyes if that were to happen. To test his devotion these people decided to conduct the perumal puraapadu one day very early right after midnight without informing him so that he would be forced to miss that day. But when they tried to open the main door the key got stuck and they couldn't open the door. In the meantime Lord Ranganatha himself took the form of his younger brother and went to the house of Varadanarayana guru and woke him up calling him 'Anna' (meaning brother) and informed him that they are making arragements to start perumal puraapadu very early that day. Taking the Lord (in his bother's form) he went to the temple pushkarani and after taking bath, and applying tiruman kaapu gave the wet clothes to the Lord (in his brother's form) to carry and they both went upto the dwadhasthamba of Sri Ranganatha Sanithi. After the customary namaskaram Varadanarayana guru to his surprise couldn't find his bother nearby. His brother seem to have vanished leaving his clothes and other items there. When Varadanarayana guru finally reached the sanctum sanctorum, the main door automatically opened to everyone's surprise. Later through the archakar Sri Rangnatha himself ordained that Varadanarayana guru and his descendants be henceforth called as 'Annan'. Those who doubted his devotion sought his pardon and admired his great devotion to the Lord. His house known as 'Annan Tirumalikai' (Palace of Annan) still exist at Sri Rangam East Uttra Veedhi.
