Panuganti Lakshminarasimha Rao

Panuganti Lakshmi Narasimha Rao (Telugu - పానుగంటి లక్ష్మీ నరసింహా రావు) (b. 2 November, 1865- d. 1 January, 1940) was one of the famous modern Telugu writers. He was born at SeethaNagaram, East Godavari District. Most of his education was in Rajahmundry. After his education, he became a teacher in Peddapuram High School. Later he moved to Pitahpuram as 'Asthana Kavi' for the Pitahpuram Rajah's kingdom.

He brought "essay" into prominence in Telugu literature. His contribution to Andhra literature is stupendous and outstanding. He is popularly known as "Andhra Shakespeare" and, "Andhra Edison". He was awarded 'Abhinava Kalidas' by Venkata Sastry. He was one of the three famous writers of those days - Chilakamarthy Lakshmi Narasimham, Koochi Narasimham and Panuganti Lakshmi Narasimham - popularly known as 'Simha Trayam'.

Literary works

*"Sri Vishnu Naama Maala Strotram" (1899)
*"Narmada Purukutsiyam" (1902)
*"Saarangadhara" (1904)

*"Raadhakrishna" (1904): It is based on the tenets of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. He was inspired to write this play by Ashutosh Mukherji’s Lord Gouranga. The play depicts the stages of development of Radha’s simple bhakti growing into Mahabhava, its highest culmination usually associated with only Radha by vaishnava scholars. It is sought to elevate the image of Radha to Krishna's consort in Goloka, the heaven. The Sage Narada was used as an initiator and promotor of this dramatic action.

*"Prachanda Chanakyamu" (1909)
*"Pattabhanga Raghavamu" or "Paadukaa Pattabhishekhamu" (1909)
*"Kokila" (1909)
*"Vijaya Raghavamu" (1909)
*"Vanavasa Raghavamu" (1909)
*"Vyjayanthi Vilasamu" or "Vipranaaraayana Charitra" (1909)
*"Buddha Bodha Sudha" (1910)
*"Vruddha Vivahamu" (1910)
*"Mano Mahima" (1911)

*"Saakshi" (1913-1914; 1920-1922; 1927-1928; 1933)

*"Kalyana Raaghavamu" (1915)
*"Kanthaabharanamu" (1917)
*"Kathalahari" (1917)
*"Hasyavallari" (1917)
*"Prakeershopanyasamulu" (1918)
*"Saraswathi" (1920)
*"Poornima" (1922)
*"Mudrika" (1923)
*"Veeramathi" (1923)
*"Chudamani"
*"Padmini" (1929)
*"Malatheemala" (1929)
*"Sarojini" (1930)
*"Raati Sthambhamu" (1930)
*"Vichitra Vivahamu" (1931)
*"Gunavathi" (1948)
*"Manimala" (1948)
*"Subbaraju" (1948)
*"Paraprema" (1948)
*"Ramaraju" (1948)
*"Chinna Natakamu" (1948)

References

*Panuganti Lakshmi Narasimha Rao: Makers of Indian Literature, Mudigonda Veerabhadra Sastry, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, 1993.(ISBN - 8172014996) [http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/Library.nsf/(docid)/53DA17A5DD0326C7E52568530026BD54?OpenDocument&StartKey=Panuganti&count=10#top]
*Radhakrishna: Panuganti Lakshmi Narasimha Rao, English Translation by Mudigonda Veerabhadra Sastry, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, 2002.(ISBN - 8126013907)
*Kalyana Raghavamu: Panuganti Lakshmi Narasimha Rao, 1915. [http://www.archive.org/details/KalyanaRaghavamu]
*Narmadapurukutsiyam: Panuganti Lakshmi Narasimha Rao, 1973 [http://www.archive.org/details/Narmadapurukutsiyam] .
*Raathi Sthambhamu: Panuganti Lakshmi Narasimharao,1930 [http://www.archive.org/details/RaathiSthambhabamu] .