Maniratnam was born on 6 January 1936[REF][REF] at the remote hamlet of Seethapuram in Tiruvalur of the undivided Andhra Pradesh, India, to Rangaiah Naidu and Mangamma [REF].
Muniratnam, a recipient of DLitt (Honoris Causa) from Sri Venkateswara University,[REF] lives in Tirupati where RASS has its headquarters [REF].