Sri Gopalakrishna Bhagavathaswamy, popularly known as Appa, is a proponent of the 'Bhakti movement' who inculcated Naamasankeerthanam as a method of reaching God and aiding spiritual progress. He was born to Smt. Meenakshiammal and Sri Sundaresa Ayya on the highly auspicious 30th day of Purattaasi, Nandana year, under Ashlesha nakshatra. He lost his father when he was 7 years old and was under the care of his brother-in-law Sri Venkitakrishnaiyya, from whom he had his mantropasana and also learnt music and languages till the age of 15. He simultaneously learnt Sampradaya Bhajan. Sri Gopalakrishna Bhagavataswamy was married to his maternal uncle's daughter, Sou. Mangalanayaki, at the age of 15. They sired two sons' Sri Venkatasubramanian and Sri Sanjeevi Bhagavataswamy. Bhagavataswamy's daily routine, included Unchavrithi, offering Pooja to Sri Lakshminrusimha and Sampradaya Bhajan in the morning; and Bhajan and Dolothsavam in the evening which would often extend into the wee hours of the next day. This routine was never broken even when he travelled to far-flung places like Delhi from Pudukkottai. Sri Gopalakrishna Bhagavathaswamy was endowed with Tapas shakti and Mantra shakti. He shunned all materialistic approaches, never expected any money or title from any organization/mutt. For him Bhakti meant devotion and passionate love for the Divine. Moksha, or liberation from rebirth was not so much from societal ordering but it was through simple devotion to the Divine; singing verses extolling God with attributes or form, namely, 'saguna' bhakti to reach the Almighty.