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The Life and Works of a Multifaceted Man

Satguru Sri Sivananda Murty was born on 21

December 1928 (the intervening midnight between 20th
and 21st Dec) in a family whose fortunes were fast declining
from extraordinary wealth and aristocratic tradition. Values
like charity and purity survived, in the first decade of his
life. The traditional life-style of affluence continued and
then further decline started. He was exposed to teaching
with no schooling and values were imbibed from the parents
and other learned men. Concern in the family for the
conditions of the country with a wide range of contacts
filled the young mind besides a religious life-style.
Spirituality entered into him by certain events unveiling a
different consciousness. Wide reading, wide travel and
contacts acquainted him with the country, its past and present and the pulse of the people.
The delayed formal education culminated in a degree in Physics in 1949. Higher studies not
pursued, he left home for the sake of further exposure, for a small job in the Government
leaving behind a wealth that was still of a considerable size. Thus, the hunger for knowing
ground realities of the common man’s life was satisfied by his four decades’ life around
Hyderabad in Telangana besides his extensive tours in the length and breadth of India to
meet with the tribals and the poor which is the real world as opposed to the golden cages of
riches. As a loved father and Guru to many he took along with him thousands of families
over the decades and showed them what is India – its past and present. His love is India and
breath is Divinity.

Religious traditions are also taken care of without obsession. Thus, he performed
more than 700 havans in the company of tribals and the learned for common welfare. He is
attached to the values of the ancient India without rejecting the obvious modernity. He
believes in religion as a moral regulator in public life while spirituality is meant for only one
in many to reach God.

On the side of culture of our land, he is responsible for the creation of the Sanatana
Dharma Charitable Trust which is honouring men of eminence from different fields for
over a decade by now. The other institution founded with his inspiration is the Andhra
Music Academy which has completed ten years serving the cause of taste for good music and
dance. There are as many as six annual occasions (Srirama Navami, Krishnaastami,
Gurupournami, Maha Sivaratri, Ugadi, Birth-day Celebrations in Dec), besides very frequent
Chamber Music recitals at his residence in Bhimli. Under his directions, a grand structure,
Saptadham, in Warangal is constructed and dedicated to serve the cause of Hindu culture
and spirituality. Inspired and guided by him, his devotees are taking up various social service
activities and serving the poor and the downtrodden in various ways at Balusupadu.

Besides extending support to many authors both morally and materially, he also
authored a book of Yogic analysis of the Kathayoga (recognised by His Holiness Sri
Shankaracharya of Sringeri Matt and other scholars in India and abroad as original and
outstanding, being the only one of its kind). He also authored Maharshula Charitralu (two
volumes) on the lives of 41 sages of ancient past. He contributed more than 500 articles on
contemporary and traditional subjects which were published in Andhra Bhoomi , a Telugu
daily and some other journals being published from Chennai. Other works include
Suvarnabhoomi (Travelogue of Indonesia), the life of Trailinga swamy, on the life and work
of Lalladevi of Kashmir etc.

Recently, he authored the script on the life of the Buddha in his own style resulting in
the production of a full length feature film Tathagata Buddha in Hindi and Telugu which
received the prestigious Nandi Award from the Government of Andhra Pradesh. He authored
Mana Katha on the origin and ancient history of the Andhra people which was produced by
Doordarshan (2007). This also won the Nandi award for its script.

His talks on Dharma, Values, Patriotism and Music and Culture, Science, Astronomy
are received with devotion by the public on various TV channels or on academic and public
platforms.

He was honoured with a D.Litt by Potti Sriramulu Telugu University Hyderabad in

2005 and also the Chadrasekharendra Eminent Citizen Award for his propagation of Dharma.
On his religious side, he is the present Peethadhipati of Sri Saiva Mahapeetham whose
tradition is a thouosand year old. (He is also the present Mathadhipati of Sankaraaradhya
Matham appointed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.)

He has constructed a grand temple for Adyaadi Sri Mahalakshmi at Bheemunipatnam

where he lives. He is the Chairman and patron for Uttaraandhra Veda Vidya Parishad for
over a decade by now. He has inspired cow-protection at three places where hundreds of
cows on the way to abattoir are purchased and protected. He asserts that natural death is the
birth right of every living creature.

He is a loving friend of all beyond the limits of religion, caste or nationality. He has a
very large extended family even beyond the borders of India whom he loves and is loved.

Yoga is his path and Patriotism is his way of life.