• Source: Tenali Rama

Tenali Ramakrishna (born Garlapati Ramakrishna; also known as Tenali Ramalinga and Tenali Rama; 22 September 1480 – 5 August 1528) was a Telugu poet, scholar, and advisor in the court of Sri Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire. Hailing from Tenali, he earned acclaim as one of the Ashtadiggajas, a group of eight celebrated Telugu poets in Sri Krishnadevaraya's court, and is best known for his sharp wit and humour. His literary contributions include the notable work Panduranga Mahatmyam, which is regarded as one of the five great Telugu Kāvyas. He is often referred to by the title "Vikatakavi," meaning "jester poet," reflecting his unique ability to blend humour with wisdom. Tenali Ramakrishna's legacy continues to inspire various cultural adaptations in literature and media.




Early life


Tenali Ramakrishna was born in a Telugu-speaking Brahmin family in the village of Tenali in the Vijayanagara Empire. His father, Garlapati Ramayya, was a priest at the Ramalingeswara Swami Temple in Santharavuru. After the death of his father during Ramakrishna's childhood, his mother Lakshmamma took him to Vijayanagara.
Despite not receiving formal education, Ramakrishna's thirst for knowledge led him to become a renowned scholar. As per popular legend, after being rejected by Vaishnava scholars for being a Shaiva, he wandered aimlessly until he met a sage who advised him to worship the Goddess Kali. According to the tale, Kali blessed him for his devotion and wit, predicting he would achieve greatness as a poet.




Vijayanagara court


Tenali Ramakrishna was appointed as an advisor and poet in the court of King Krishnadevaraya. He earned the title "Vikatakavi" (jester poet) due to his sharp wit and humour. He was one of the Ashtadiggajas, a group of eight celebrated poets in the Vijayanagara court, and became an important figure in Krishnadevaraya's administration, assisting the king in various matters.He was very close to the royal family and Prime Minister Timmarusu.




Literary works


Tenali Ramakrishna's most significant literary contribution is Panduranga Mahatmyam, considered one of the five great Telugu Kāvyas. This work narrates the legend of Panduranga, an incarnation of Vishnu, and focuses on devotion and the afterlife. Additionally, he composed Udbhataradhya Charitamu, a narrative poem about the Shaiva teacher Udbhata, influenced by the work of Palakuriki Somanatha's Basava Puranam. Through his works, Ramakrishna demonstrated his deep connection to Shaivism while gaining recognition for his literary prowess.




Later years and death


Tenali Ramakrishna is believed to have died in 1528 due to a snakebite, a year before the death of Krishnadevaraya. Although historical records of his final years are scarce, he is said to have played a significant role in assisting Krishnadevaraya in state matters and was regarded as the king's close friend.




In popular culture


Tenali Ramakrishna's life and wit have inspired numerous cultural works:

The 1956 Telugu film Tenali Ramakrishna, starring A. Nageswara Rao
The 1956 Tamil film Tenali Raman, starring Sivaji Ganesan
The 1990 Hindi television series Tenali Rama (1990) aired on Doordarshan
The 2003 animated series The Adventures of Tenali Raman was produced by Cartoon Network
The Sony SAB series Tenali Rama (2017–2020) is also based on his legendary tales.
Tenali Ramakrishna's character appears in various Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films and series.




References






Further reading


Rao (1989), Indian Heritage and Culture, Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd, ISBN 8120709306
Goyal (2015), Fix Your Problems – the Tenali Raman Way, V&S Publishers, ISBN 978-9352150748




External links


Media related to Tenali Ramakrishna at Wikimedia Commons

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