Ganapati Muni, also known as Ganapati Muni or Kavyakantha, was a disciple of Ramana Maharshi. He was born in Kalavarayai near Bobbili, Andhra Pradesh, on November 17, 1878. After wandering and residing in various places, he earned the title "Kavyakantha" at an assembly of Sanskrit scholars in Nabadwip. He later visited Arunachala and met Ramana Maharshi, becoming his disciple in 1907. Ganapati Muni composed the devotional epic hymn "Uma Sahasram" and wrote other works like "Mahavidyadi Sutras." His teachings helped dispel prejudices about Tantra. One of his notable students was T.V. Kapali Sastry. Ganapati Muni passed away on July 25, 1936, in Kharagpur.
The literary works related to Kavyakantha Vasishtha Ganapati Muni include "Umasahasram" and "Śrīramaṇagītā." "Umasahasram" is an anthology of the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, along with English translations, and it is referenced in various sources such as "The Vedanta Kesari" and "Prabuddha Bharata." The book "Śrīramaṇagītā" is authored by Muni Gaṇapati and contains the teachings of Ramana Maharshi as well.
In addition to these literary works, there are several books about Kavyakantha Vasishtha Ganapati Muni himself. These include "NAYANA: Kavyakantha Vasishtha Ganapati Muni: Biography in Telugu" by Lakshmi Kantam Gunturu, "Ramana Maharshi and the path of self-knowledge: a biography" by Arthur Osborne, and "Nayana: Kavyakantha Vasishtha Ganapati Muni: biography" by G. Krishna. There is also a commemoration volume titled "Jayanti: Kavyakanta Ganapati Muni centenary commemoration volume" dedicated to Ganapati Muni.
Life span: 1878 – 1936
