Tenali Rama
Tenali Ramakrishna (born Garlapati Ramakrishna; also known as Tenali Ramalinga, and Tenali Rama; 22 September 1480–5 August 1528) (Telugu: తెనాలి రామకృష్ణుడు) was an Indian poet, scholar, thinker and a special advisor in the court of the Vijayanagara king Krishnadevaraya, who ruled from 1509 to 1529 CE. He hailed from the village of Tenali and wrote poems in Telugu. He is generally known for the folk tales which focus on his wit. He was one of the Ashtadiggajas (The Eight 'world-rulers'), the eight poets, at the court of Krishnadevaraya.
| Tenali Ramakrishna | |
|---|---|
Statue of Tenali Rama | |
| Born | Garlapati Ramakrishna 22 September 1480 Tenali, Vijayanagara Empire |
| Died | 5 August 1528 (aged 47) Tenali, Vijayanagara Empire |
| Spouse | Sharada Devi |
| Issue | Bhaskaraysharma (Bhaskar) (son), Amrutadevi (Amruta) (daughter) |
| Father | Garlapati Ramayya |
| Mother | Lakshmamma |
| Religion | Shrouta Shaivam |
| Occupation | Telugu Poet (Main advisor and one of the Ashtadiggajas in the Vijayanagara court of King Krishnadevaraya) |
His father died when he was a child. To overcome the depression that Rama faced, his mother Lakshmamma took him to Vijayanagara where he became an advisor to Krishnadevaraya. He was a great scholar and poet of Telugu language. Tenali Ramakrishna was also a minister of the court.