Kaviraz Krishna Murthy Sastry, of Sripada family (29 October 1866 – 29 December 1960), a native of Devarapalli of West Godavari district, was the first poet laureate ((ఆస్థాన కవి Asţhānakavi)) of Andhra Pradesh. He composed more than a hundred works in Telugu. He composed ‘Sri Krishnasweeyacharitam’, an autobiography in Sanskrit.

Birth

Saastry was born to Sripada Venkata Somayajulu and Venkata Subbamma on 29 October 1866 at Ernagudem, West Godavar district of Andhra Pradesh.

Marriage

He was married to Venkata Ratnamba (వెంకట రత్నాంబ Venkataratnāmba), daughter of Kala Lakshminarayana and Kala Somidevamma of Nadipudi village near Narasapur in West Godavari district. Thus, he became co-brother of French-era politician of Yanaon, Bouloussou Soubramanion Sastroulou and brother-in-law of Kala Venkata Rao, former minister of Madras and Andhra Pradesh.

Awards and titles

His awards including Padma Sri in 1958, Suvarna Gandapenderam, Mani Kireetam, Mahamahopadhyaya insignia and medallions are preserved at the Visakha Museum, at Visakhapatnam. His titles include

Death

He died in Rajahmundry on 29 December 1960.