Rama Bhagavathar was born in Mundaya (മുണ്ടായ) village near Shoranur, Palghat, Kerala.
His father, Kasturi Ranganathan was a man of modest income.
He also learned music from Carnatic exponents like Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer.
Umayalpuram Swaminatha Iyer who was a scion of the great composer Thyagaraja's musical lineage, taught him to learn a number of kritis of Tyagaraja.
[1] He launched the Palghat (Palakkad) edition of the Tyagaraja Aradhana at Kalpathi Ram Dhyana Madom.