Tenali Ramakrishna who was known as Vikatakavi is a Telugu poet who hails from the present Andhra

Pradesh region. Tenali Ramakrishna composed works on religion in Telugu.[2] Tenali Ramakrishna was one of
theAshtadiggajas or the eight poets at the court of Krishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagara emperor. He is generally
known for his wit and humor.[2]
Contents
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1 Birth and Existence

2 Literary Works

3 In popular culture

4 See also

5 References

6 External links

Birth and Existence[edit]

Tenali Ramalinga was born in a Telugu Brahmin family as Garlapati Ramakrishna. His father was Garlapati
Ramayya, who served as a priest in the Ramalingesvara swami temple in Tenali. [3][4]
Tenali Ramakrishna was born in a village called Garalapadu in Andhra State during the early part of the
sixteenth century while it is widely believed that he was born in Tenali. His father Ramaiah died when
Ramakrishna was very young. The boy was deprived of his fathers love. His mother Lakshmamma returned to
her native place Tenali to live with her brother. Ramakrishna grew up in his uncles town and so came to be
known as Tenali Ramakrishna.[5]

Literary Works[edit]
Tenali Rama was noted for his brilliance and wit. [6] Tenali Ramakrishna's work, Panduranga Mahatyam,[7] is
dedicated toPanduranga, a form of Lord Vishnu. He took the theme for Panduranga Mahatyam from
the Skanda Purana and enhanced it with many stories about the devotees of GodVitthala. [8] [9]
Tenali Ramakrishna attained the status of a Folk hero when he was the court poet of Shri Krishnadevaraya, but
at the same time he composed serious works on religion. Three of his narrative poems are available today. His
first poem, Udbhataradhya Charitamu about the Shaiva teacher Udbhata which is based on Palakuriki
Somanatha's Basava Puranam. Udbhataradhya Charitamu also deals with the sanctity of Kashi. Because of
Tenali Ramakrishna's affinity towards Shaivite religion, he was also known as Tenali Ramalinga Kavi. [2]
[10]

However, he has great devotion for Vaishnavism aswell which is reflected in his work Panduranga

Mahatyam .

Tenali Ramakrishna's great work Panduranga Mahatyam is a Kvya of high merit, remarkable for its sonorous
dignity of phrasing, and is counted as one of the Pacha Mah Kvyas (the Five Great Kavyas). [11]