Sri Ramanuja is the only personage whose remains are belived to be interred inside the Great Temple precincts in Sri Rangam (Sandalwood paste and saffron are used to maintain the body and no other chemicals are added). 2 kms from Tiruchirapalli, Srirangam is the most important temple in Sri Vaisnavism. The Deity here is Lord Ranganatha reclining on Ananta Sesa.

If one goes to this shrine today, the priest in charge of the shrine may show the fingers on the left hand, and point out that this is the body of Sri Ramanuja in an embalmed state. Many others believe that the body of Sri Ramanuja was buried under the current shrine to Ramanuja at Sri Rangam, and that this image was installed directly above the resting place of Ramanuja’s body. Another school of thought is that his mortal remains (thirumeni) have been interred inside the Sri Ramanuja shrine and on top of it his wax look-alike deity (the wax image has been covered with the saffron robes he had used when he was alive) has been consecrated and it is anointed with chandan (sandalwood paste) and saffron .

This being a plaster image, needs to be touched up on the occasion it receives the coating. The later-day photograph( on top) shows the visage distortion caused by careless 'dressing'.

The pictures of Shri Ramanuja are from www.ramanuja.org