Lady Ramanathan was an Englishwoman who was born in Australia where her father was involved in gold mining.
She, as a young woman, had been attracted by the Theosophical Movement in Australia and, searching for further spiritual enlightenment, arrived in Ceylon where {onnambalam Ramanathan became her guru.
After the reformed Council years, they spent much of their time in Kodaikanal where they had three houses, Ammanadi, Sivanadi, and Muruganadi.
When Sir Ramanathan died in 1930, she took to wearing the white of a widow, built the Kurinji Andavar Temple in her husband's memory, overlooking the Palani shrine of Lord Sri Muruga.
It is said that she took solace in paying obeisance to the deities of the Saiva and Saktha traditions and immersing herself in the study of Hindu theology.