 Sthapati attended Dr. Alagappa Chettiar College, Karaikudi, and graduated with a degree in mathematics.After his graduation, he became a "Sthapati" at Palani Murugan Temple, Palani, Tamil Nadu, India.He resigned this post after the death of his father, who had served as principal of the School of Architecture and Sculpture at Mamallapuram from 1957 to 1960.