A. Padmavathi, though was born in southern Tamil Nadu, lived all the time in Chennai, the erstwhile Madras. Her earlier education was in Christian missionar schools and college. She qualified herself with Bachelor in Science and Bachelor in Education before marriage. After bearing two sons and after they settled down, she along with her husband went back to school to do their Master’s degree in Vaisnavism from the University of Madras. She completed her M.Phil., under ProfS. Padmanabhan was later awarded a Ph. D., for her thesis on Artha Pancaka, a study as presented by Pillai Lokacarya and Svami Desika under the guidance of Prof. V K S N Raghavan at the University of Madras. The thesis is published as a book for the general public. The subject is so gripping because it involves every person’s way of living, and guides one through, to live a meaningful and purposeful life.