Chaganti Koteswara Rao

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Chaganti Raja Veera Venkata Basava Koteswara Rao
Chaganti Koteswara Rao in August 2015.JPG
Chaganti Koteswara Rao in August 2015
Personal
Born
Chaganti Koteswara Rao

(1959-07-14) 14 July 1959 (age 65)
Religion Sanatan Dharma
SpouseC. Subrahmanyeswaryi
ChildrenC. Shanmukha Charan, C. Naga Srivalli
Parents
  • Chaganti Sundara Siva Rao (father)
  • Chaganti Suseelamma (mother)
Organization
Philosophy Advaita Vedanta
Website sriguruvaani.net
HonorsSaradaa Jnana Puttra, Pravachana Chakravarti
QuoteBhava Sankara Desika Me Saranam (భవ శంకర దేశికమే శరణం)

Chaganti Koteswara Rao is an Indian speaker known for his discourses on Sanatana Dharma. [1] [2] An exponent in puranams , his discourses are widely followed and are telecast over television channels such as Bhakti TV and TTD and is quite popular among Telugu-speaking people all over the world. [3] He was also appointed as cultural adviser for the government of Andhra Pradesh in 2016. [4] He was also one of the 10 ambassadors Swacch Andhra Corporation. [5] He is also hired for state government activities. He was bestowed with titles like Pravachana Chakravarti (Emperor of discourses), and Sarada Jnana Putra (son of the Goddess of knowledge Saraswati). [6]

Contents

Early life

Chaganti Koteswara Rao was born on 14 July 1959 to the couple Chaganti Sundara Siva Rao and Chaganti Suseelamma in Eluru, Eluru District, Andhra Pradesh. His father was a staunch follower of Hindu Dharma. During his student days in Eluru, he used to participate in essay writing and elocution competitions on ancient Indian wisdom. [7]

Family

Chaganti Koteswara Rao with his wife Chaganti Koteswara Rao with his wife in August 2015.JPG
Chaganti Koteswara Rao with his wife

He is married to Subrahmanyeswari and has two children Shanmukha Charan, and Nagavalli. Both are engineering graduates. [8] He worked for Food Corporation of India in Kakinada and retired as of August 2018. [8] [9] His wife is a state government employee in Agricultural department. [9] [10]

Religious discourses

Chaganti Koteswara Rao regularly gives religious discourses on various Hindu epics like Bhagavata, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and various Puranas. [11] These are broadcast on various radio and TV channels. Some devotional TV channels set aside special slots for airing his discourses. [9] He does not accept any remuneration for delivering a discourse except his traveling expenses. [10]

He has several distinctions for delivering discourses. He completed the discourse on Ramayana in 42 days, Bhagavatam in 42 days, Siva Puranam in 30 days, and Sri Lalita Sahasra Namam in 2-3 months. [9]

Discourses about Films

He also delivered spiritual discourses based on musical films Sankarabharanam (1980) and Shrutilayalu (1987). [12]

Positions

Chaganti was appointed as cultural adviser for the government of Andhra Pradesh in 2016. [4] He was also one of the 10 ambassadors Swacch Andhra Corporation. [5] Chaganti Koteswara Rao was appointed Adviser (Students, Ethics and Values) for the government of Andhra Pradesh in 2024. [13] Earlier he worked as TTD dharmic adviser in 2023 in Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government.

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/andhra-pradesh/tdp-led-nda-appoints-noted-spiritual-guru-chaganti-as-government-advisor-with-cabinet-rank-3269810

Awards and honours

Controversies

On 5 March 2016, devotees of Shirdi Saibaba staged a protest against Chaganti Koteswara Rao's remarks about worship of Saibaba during a discourse in 2012. Pending case against him is brought to notice of the government. Later on, clarification of his discourses holding huge respect significantly, the protest was withdrawn. [16]

He also faced protests from All India Yadava Mahasabha because of his remarks on Lord Krishna. [17] Later, the representatives of the community went to his residence. He clarified that he held respect for their community and did not intend to hurt any community. [18]

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References

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  13. The Hindu (9 November 2024). "Andhra Pradesh government releases list of 62 persons nominated to various corporations". Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
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