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Tenali Ramakrishna is also known as Tenali Rama and Vikata Kavi. He was a poet, scholar and advisor in the court of King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century. He is famous for his wit, humour and intelligence, which he used to solve complex problems and advise the king on various matters. There are many folklore named as stories of Tenali Rama and Krishnadevaraya which are famous among the youth. But the question remains who is Tenali Ramakrishna? Let’s delve into this poet’s life and learn more information about Tenali Rama.
Table of Contents
Who was Tenali Ramakrishna?
Tenali Ramakrishna was a poet and scholar who hailed from a small village in Andhra Pradesh, India.
- He was born on 22nd September 1479.
- His father’s name was Garlapati Ramakrishna who worked as a priest at the Santhavuru’s Ramalingesvara Swami Temple and his mother’s name was Lakshmma.
- Due to his father’s death at a very young age, he had to shift to Tenali, his maternal uncle’s place.
- Tenali was not granted education because of his religious practices, but he was adept in several languages like Marathi, Kannada, Hindi and Tamil.
- He was known for his sharp intellect keen sense of humour, and ability to solve complex problems with ease.
- Because of his curiosity, he read many books and became a scholar via homeschooling.
- Later, he was married to Shardha Devi with whom he had a son named Bhaskar Sharma and a daughter Amruta.
Rise to Prominence
With his linguistic skills, he acquired the position of a poet and worked with the Bhagwat Mela Troupe reciting plays. The troupe conducted several programmes everywhere.
- Raja Krishnadevaraya spotted him and when the Mela went to the court to perform a play.
- Impressed with Tenali and knowing about him, Raja Krishnadevaraya appointed him as a court comedian poet.
- He was later also included in the Ashtadiggajas (The Eight Scholars) group.
- Tenali slowly also became a confidante of Krishnadevaraya and became a Special Advisor to the king.
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Literary Works of Tenali Rama
Tenali Rama was known for his intelligence and humour and was honoured with the title of “Kumara Bharathi” for his literary brilliance
Pandurang Mahtmyam
The Panduranga Mahatmyam, was authored by Tenali Ramakrishna. It is highly regarded for its Kavyas and is considered one of the Panch Maha Kavyas (five great Kavyas) of Telugu literature. The text is notable for its impressive phrasing and dignified tone.
The Panduranga Mahatmyam tells the legendary tale of a shrine in Pandharpur, dedicated to Vishnu as Panduranga, and established by Saint Pundarika. After wasting his life in debauchery, a Brahmin named Nigama Sharma dies in Pandharpur. Subsequently, the servants of Yama, the ruler of the underworld, and the servants of Vishnu dispute Nigama Sharma’s afterlife destination.
The servants of Yama argue that because of his wicked life, he should be sent to hell, whereas the servants of Vishnu claim that as he died in a sacred place, he deserves to go to heaven. Eventually, the verdict is given in favour of the servants of Vishnu.
Panduranga Mahatmyam is based on the Skanda Purana, and Tenali Ramakrishna embellished it with stories about the devotees of Panduranga. He created an imaginary character named ‘Nigama Sarma Akka’ and wove a story around her without giving her a name.
Udbhataradhya Charitamu
He was also known for composing serious works on religion during that time. Even today, three of his narrative poems are still in existence. One of his earliest works, Udbhataradhya Charitamu, is about the Shaiva teacher Udbhata and was based on Palakuriki Somanatha’s Basava Puranam. This poem also focuses on the holiness of Varanasi. Due to his inclination towards the Shaivite religion, Tenali Ramakrishna was also referred to as Tenali Ramalinga Kavi.
Additionally, Tenali Ramakrishna composed many extempore poems called ‘Chaatuvu.’
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What are some famous stories about Tenali Ramakrishna?
Some of the famous stories that our grandmother recited about this quick wit intelligent person are –
- The Brinjal Curry Test – In this story, Ramakrishna uses his wit to prove his innocence when accused of stealing a Brinjal curry.
- The Two Thieves – Ramakrishna outsmarts two thieves who try to rob him by playing a trick on them.
- The Wealthy Miser – Ramakrishna teaches a miserly man the value of generosity through a clever ruse.
In his later years, he died a year before Emperor Krishnadevaraya died in 1528. The main reason for his death was a snakebite, due to which he was not able to survive the poison. Historical accounts tell how Tenal, due to his cunning nature,e has saved the kingdom of Krishnadevaraya from the Delhi Sultanate. Even the Mughal Emperor Babur considered him a strong ruler of the south and never tried to annexe his kingdom.
Did Birbal Meet Tenali Rama in Real life?
No. In real life, Birbal never met Tenali Rama. Birbal served in Akbar’s court around the 16th century. On the other hand, Tenali lived in the Vijayanagara court earlier. The meeting is fictionalised in Indian folktales. Moreover, the stories are adapted into modern books and even TV shows. As per history, they both lived in different timelines and in different regions.
What Did Tenali Ramakrishna Write?
Tenali Ramakrishna is well known for writing poetry. He was also a Telugu scholar. For example, he wrote the poem Panduranga Mahatmyam. Moreover, he translated the Sanskrit works into Telugue. His writings showcase a mix of wit and devotion. He is popular for the promotion of devotional poetry. His literary style included folklore, humor, and religious themes.What are the
What are the Popular Tenali Ramakrishna Books?
Some of the popular Tenali Ramarishna Books are as follows. It is important to know that these books are available in multiple languages including These books are available in multiple languages including English, Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil.
| S.No. | Book Title | Author |
| 1 | Tenali Raman Stories | Various Authors |
| 2 | The Wit of Tenali Raman | Deepa Agarwal |
| 3 | Tenali Raman: Tales of Wit and Wisdom | Penguin India Team |
| 4 | Tenali Raman and Other Stories | Meera Ugra |
| 5 | Tenali Raman Stories for Children | Scholars Hub Team |
| 6 | More Tales of Tenali Raman | Swapna Dutta |
| 7 | Tenali Raman: The Wise Jester | Om Books Team |
| 8 | Tenali Raman: The Legendary Court Jester | Unknown |
| 9 | Tenali Raman’s Tales of Wit and Wisdom | Maple Press |
| 10 | Akbar and Birbal vs. Tenali Raman (Folktale Mashups) | Various Children’s Authors |
FAQs
Krishnadevaraya died first. He died around 1529 AD. On the other hand, Tenali Rama outlived him by a few years. As per Temali Rama’s historical records, he died around 1548 AD. Krishnadevaraya’s rule was a period of prosperity for the arts. On the other hand, Tenali was 1 of the 8 Ashtadiggajas in his court.
According to stories, Tenali used to give clever advice to people. In fact, at one point, he asked his wife to pretend that she was mad to avoid any robbers. Therefore, she pretended to be mad, and the thieves ran away. It is believed that he used to involve his family in his clever schemes. Moreover, he used humour to teach moral lessons.
The native place of Tenali Ramakrishna is Tenali. Tenali is a town located in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Tenali Ramakrishna got his name from the town he was born in. He was born in a Telugu-speaking Brahmin family.
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