Believed to have lived in the 8th century, he ranks among the twelve Azhvars.
On the banks of river Kaveri in Chola Nadu, there is a small village called Thirumandangudi (near Pullampoothangudi). It was in this village Vipranarayanan was born in a Brahmin family in Tamil month Margazhi (Dec-Jan) under the star Iyeshta. His work was to pluck flowers in the Nandavanam for offering to the Lord in Srirangam.
At this time there was a lady named Devadevi wanted to woo Vipranarayana, who was not interested in worldly life. By constantly helping him in his Nandavana kainkarya and pretending to be a great devotee of Sri Renganatha with her overtures she won him over. He so much involved with her that he forgot his duty in the Nandavanam.
In the meanwhile an attendant of the temple visited Devadevi’s house with a silver vessel from the temple, while Vipranarayana was away. He told her that it was Vipranarayana who sent it as a gift to her. Though Devadevi was sincerely devoted to Vipranarayana, her mother was a greedy woman, who wanted to most of this friendship and grab as much as possible from him. Next day when the priest opened the temple, the matter was reported to the King. Vipranarayanan was named a thief and dragged to the temple inspite of his pleading innocence. Vipranarayana prayed to the Lord and in front of a huge gathering the Lord narrated the story of how the vessel was stolen by the priest and sent through the attendant.
Vipranarayanan gave up Devadevi and returned to his original life of devotion and service to Lord Ranganatha. He called himself Thondaradipodi meaning dust of the feet of the devotees.
During his period there lived in Srirangam devotees both of so-called low caste and high caste. But he established that it was not the caste that mattered but the Gnana that mattered most.
He composed two works – 1) Thirumalai consisting of 45 verses and 2) Tirupalliezhuchi. Thirumalai is a set of verses propounding high philosophy and also showing love of Nature. Even today Tirupalliezhuchi (waking up the Lord) is sung in temples dedicated to Vishnu. 1st verse starts thus,
Kathiravan Gunadisai Vandhu Amaindhan….
Like Kulasekara Azhvar he made Srirangam his abode. He lived for 105 years.