Brahmasri R.Muthukrishna Sastrigal was born on 18-3-1909 in a remote village Sathanur, Mannargudi Taluk, Thanjavur District on the Moola star day in the Tamil month of Panguni, Keelaka Varsham to Brahmasri Ramanatha Sastrigal and Kokilambal. After practising Vedas under his father, he studied "Mimamsa Shastra" both in Thiruvaiyaru Sanskrit College and Madras Sanskrit College, passed the Madras University Shiromani examination in 1931 and won the gold medal awarded by the University of Madras. Later, he studied "Prasthanatraya" Tharkka Sastra from Brahmasri Angarai Rangaswami Sastri and stood first in that examination.
Following this, he joined the Tiruvaiyaru Sanskrit College as a professor and taught the "Mimamsa Shiromani" class. While working as a teacher, he continued his studies and appeared for the "Sahitya Shiromani" examination and stood first. He studied "Vyutpathivadam" from his fellow teacher and "Pancha Lakshani" from Mannargudi Brahmasri Yagnaswamy Sastrigal.
Following the good advice of Sri Sri Sri Kanchi Maha Periyaval, he left his job and preached the epics of our religion like Ramayana, Mahabharatham, Bhagavatam and Upanishads in Tamil Nadu from cities to hamlets and in the big cities of North India. He delivered various Saṃmelanas held under the auspices Veda Dharma Sastra Paripalana Sabha established by Sri Sri Sri Kanchi Maha Periyava in such a way that anyone could easily understand the inner concepts of Vedas and Dharmasastras. Many Spiritual Sabhas and Bhakta Mandalas conferred on him titles like 'Pravasana Praveena', 'Saropanyasa Chatura', 'Mimamsakesari', 'Veda Vedanta Vidvaratnam', 'Geetamrita Varshi' etc.
He studied Advaita Siddhi, Brahmanatheeyam and other Vada Granthas from Prathyankara Brahmasri Subramanya Sastri. Those who are not well trained in Tharkam, Poorva Mimamsai, etc., will never be able to understand these Vada Granthas properly. He understood this correctly and passed the relevant examination and got the golden toda from Sri Kanchi Maha Periyava. As per the request of the Swamigal, the prize was presented by the then District Judge in a grand function held at Thanjavur.
From 1947 onwards he was running a spiritual monthly magazine 'Hithabhashini' with headquarters in Thanjavur to enable everyone to understand even difficult Vedic and Vedanta matters in simple Tamil. Through this journal, he rendered a great service to the spiritual lovers by publishing many rare things, by doing deep research and translating the manuscripts available in the Tanjore Saraswathi Mahal. Later he published several Sanskrit books under the title "Hithabhashini Publications" with Tamil commentary and with the financial assistance of the Central Government. They are: (1) Vidura Neethi – Yakshaprachnam – Bharatha Savithri (2) Kenopanishad (3) Satachloki (4) Sivanandalahari (5) Dakshinamurti Stotram (6) Stuti Kusumamala (7) Charusarya (8) Akshara Sagunam (9) Sri Rudram Chamakam with Ekadasinee Prayogam. All of them received many accolades from the spiritual lovers and the world of journalism alike.
From 1975 to 1996, he was the Principal of Sri Jagadguru Vidyasthanam, Tiruvanaikaval and taught many youngsters "Vyakaranam", "Advaita Vedanta", “Tharkam", "Mimamsam", etc. Similarly, in Srirangam Paduka Vidyalayam run by Periyasriramam Srimath Andavan Swamigal, he taught Mimamsa and paved the way for the students studying there to chew in this field. Today, his students are working in Tirupati Venkateswara College, Sanskrit College, Chennai. He also presided over the monthly Sadas, conducted the "Sanskrit Sahitya Pareekshath" in Trichy and won the love of the theists by speaking in both Sanskrit and Tamil in a way that everyone could understand. Similarly, for the great Krantha "Anubhuti Prakasam" he has written commentary in Sanskrit called "Shruti Samyojini" and it was published by Trichy Advaita Sabha.
In 1982, the President, Government of India has honoured him with a certificate of appreciation for Sanskrit Excellence with incentives. He was also a pensioner of Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Sthapti Mahotsava Trust. In 2003, the Diamond Jubilee year of the Sanskrit Academy, Chennai, he was conferred with the title of "Darshana Kalanidhi" and a citation. He was also honoured with the title "Sruthi Mimamsa Vallabha" by Srirangam Srimath Andavan Sri Ranga Ramanuja Maha Desikan Swamigal on 22.5.2004 at Bangalore on the occasion of his Saptathi Poorthi Mahathsavam.
In 1969 Sashtiapthapoorthi Shanthi in Thanjavur and in 1989 Shatabhisheka Shanthi in Thiruvanaikaval, Trichy were performed in a grand manner with the blessings of Periyava. In the year 2006, Kanakabhisheka Shanthi was held in Chennai.
In this way, he spent a large part of his life serving the Vedas, Vedantas, Epics, Puranas and Upanishads to reach everyone. He attained SivaLoga Prapthi in 2008.
Doyen of Mimamsa 