Parasara Bhattar was the son of Kurathalwan, Sri Ramanuja's closest disciple, and of his wife, who was also named Andal. According to tradition, one rainy night the couple received prasadam sent from Sri Ranganatha's own kitchen, and soon after their son was born. Sri Ranganatha and Sri Ranganayaki Thayar are said to have treated him as their own child. Sri Ramanuja named him Parasara, fulfilling one of Alavandar's wishes, and asked Embar to bring him up.
Even as a little boy Bhattar was quick and fearless. The tradition tells of a proud scholar who passed through Srirangam with a grand procession. Little Bhattar, playing in the street, held up a fistful of sand and asked him how many grains it held. When the scholar could not answer, the boy smiled and said he could at least have said "one fistful". The scholar's pride melted away.
Bhattar grew into the leading teacher of his day, and his lectures at Srirangam overflowed with joy in the Lord's qualities. Ramanuja had wished that the great Vedanta scholar Madhava of Thirunarayanapuram be brought into the sampradaya. Bhattar went there and won him over, in debate and by his gentle grace, and Madhava became his disciple, Nanjeeyar.
Bhattar wrote the Sri Rangaraja Stavam in praise of Sri Ranganatha, the Sri Guna Ratna Kosam in praise of Thayar, the Bhagavad Guna Darpanam, his commentary on the Vishnu Sahasranamam, and the Ashtasloki on the three rahasyas.