# Tummalapalli Ramalingeswara Rao

Tummalapalli Ramalingeswara Rao (7 February 1921 – 16 October 1991) was a Telugu poet, novelist, literary critic, philosophical journalist, writer of English prose and an exponent of Mantra Shastra and tradition. His works covered a wide range of subjects like history, sociology, literature, philosophy, religion and spiritualism. His popular works include Sri Lalitha Sahasranama Stotra Bhashyamu, Sri Chakra Vilasanamu, Sri Chakra Pooja Vidhanam (Mantra Sastra, philosophy and spiritualism), Dharmanirnayam (social novel), Tikkana Somayaji (Historical novel), Sivanugrahamu Pitruyagnamu (Poetry) and Sringeri Revisited (Musings in Philosophy and mysticism).

## Personal life

Tummalapalli Ramalingeswara Rao was born on 7 February 1921 to the Telugu family of Tummalapalli Jwalapati and Mahalakshmamma in Gudivada, Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh. After completing his school education in Gudivada, he went on to study at the Government Arts College, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh and received his bachelor's degree in science. Ramalingeswara Rao married Visalakshi from Telaprolu in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh and with her had three daughters (Uma Devi, Janaki, Lakshmi Savitri) and a son (Dr. Jwalaprakasa Vidyapati). He worked in Revenue Department of West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh. He resigned the government job to join a mining company in Cuddapah, Andhra Pradesh and worked as a business executive. He shifted to Madras in 1961 and retreated into solitude of meditation and probe into the rationality of Indian spiritual and religious thought. He shed his mortal coil on the day of Durgashtami (16 October 1991) during Navaratri.

## Spirituality

Ramalingeswara Rao secured the grace of Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati Mahaswami, the 34th Pontiff of Sringeri Sharada Peetham and he was initiated into Sri Vidya by the Mahaswami. Guru’s grace made Rao's tongue the seat of the myriad faced literary muse. He authored several books on Mantra Sastra. With the divine blessings of Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswami (35th Pontiff of Sringeri Sarada Peetham) and Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswami (36th Pontiff of Sringeri Sharada Peetham), he served as Editor of Sri Sankara Krupa (a philosophical and spiritual Telugu monthly magazine of Sringeri Sharada Peetham) for more than two decades. After the demise of his wife, he embraced Sanyasa in 1988 at Sringeri. He was given the yogapatta (monastic name) Sri Adwayananda Bharati.

## Literary career

Tummalapalli Ramalingeswara Rao’s works include Social and historical novels, poems, books on Mantra Sastra and Darsana Sastra, books on literary criticism, essays, translations from English to Telugu, introductions and forewords, editing, short stories for children and radio talks. His books on Mantra Sastra got appreciation from Saints of Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Siddheswari Peetham,Courtallam and other scholars. His novels and literary criticism made landmarks in the history of Telugu literature. His social novel Dharmanirnayam was considered as one of the best ten novels in Telugu. Two of his works - Dharmanirnayam and Sringeri Revisited - were translated into Kannada language. His novels were the subject of study for doctoral level research in the field of Telugu literature.