Sri la sri Ramanathan Gnana Desikar, the ninth head of  the mutt modernised the Koviloor mutt. He went to malaysia twice  to raise  funds  for  making  the  temple  car  for  the  Amman   at Thiruvannamalai.  He started a 'Sevasramam' at Thiruvannamali, for the  poor students; provided education, food, dress  and  shelter and  English language was taught to them.  Today that school has attained a massive growth and more than one thousand students are studying  there.  He was deeply devoted to St. Arunagirinathareven when he was an youngster. So he  set  a  tradition  of  having  a festival   for  Arunagirinathar  at  Thiruvannamali  madam.  He extended support and co-operation for the  conduct  of  the festival. The two front car mandapams at Koviloor were repaired by him.