Teaching
He taught that the world and Brahman do not exist apart: Brahman alone exists. He encouraged practice through single-pointed devotion, self-enquiry or other methods, and said that whichever path one follows, one arrives in the end at jnana, self-realisation. 3
Who it is for
For readers drawn to Ramana Maharshi's teaching who want it explained in simple talks by a later teacher from Andhra Pradesh.
Life and places
- In his own account he came from Jinnuru village in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, and was born on 23 September 1934 into a farming family. 4
- In his account, a dream in 1957 led him to Ramana Maharshi; he first visited Ramana Ashram in Tiruvannamalai in January 1959 and from then on devoted his life to spreading Ramana's message. 4
- Sri Ramana Kshetram in Jinnuru was built for his discourses in the 1980s; a Sri Nannagaru Ashram also stands in Tiruvannamalai. 2
- He died on 29 December 2017. 1
Where to start
- Brahmam Alone Exists (Sri Ramana Kshethram, Jinnuru, 2024), an English translation of the Telugu book Unnadi Brahmamokkate, records talks he gave in Kothagudem in February 2010. It is a free PDF on srinannagaru.com. 3
Works
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Words of Nectar: Sadhana for Taming the Mind
Book · 2007 · Sterling Paperbacks (Sterling Publishers), New Delhi
An English translation of his Telugu talks in eleven chapters, from love and devotion and the mind to Ramana Maharshi and the practice of sadhana.
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Unnadi Brahmamokkate (Brahmam Alone Exists)
Book · 2024 · Sri Ramana Kshethram, Jinnuru
Talks he gave in Kothagudem in February 2010 on the teachings of Ashtavakra, Janaka and Shankara, compiled by K. V. Ramana; the English translation appeared in 2024.
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Amruthavaakkulu (Words of Nectar)
Book · 2025 · Sri Ramana Kshethram, Jinnuru
His teachings arranged by topic, such as the Guru, the mind and liberation, compiled by K. Rama Rao; the preface quotes his own account of his life.
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Blueprints for Awakening: Indian Masters, Volume 2
Book · Open Sky Press
Interviews by John David with seven Indian teachers on the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, among them Sri Nannagaru and Thuli Baba.
The short summaries are ours.
In their own words
Short passages in the words of Sri Nannagaru, each with its source. Where the quoted text is not in the language of this page, a translation follows and says whose it is.
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The material world and Brahmam (the Ultimate Reality/Eternal Truth) do not exist separately. Brahmam alone exists! When we are in ignorance, Brahmam itself is seen as the world. When Brahmam is seen as Brahmam, there is no world.
Unnadi Brahmamokkate (Brahmam Alone Exists) · Epigraph before the contents, 1st English edition 2024 (PDF page 4) · srinannagaru.com Quoted translation: English translation from Telugu by the devotees Sunil and Sreedevi (Baby); the words in brackets are the translators' gloss. -
Irrespective of the path we pursue, we shall ultimately arrive at jnana (self-realization). You may think that you and God exist separately in the initial stage, but ultimately you will realize that everything is only God and you have no existence.
Unnadi Brahmamokkate (Brahmam Alone Exists) · Foreword by K. V. Ramana, quoting Sri Nannagaru on the purpose of the book (PDF page 14) · srinannagaru.com Quoted translation: Quoted by the compiler K. V. Ramana; English translation from Telugu by the devotees Sunil and Sreedevi (Baby). -
My dear Soulmates! God teaches different paths (yoga) to attain oneness with the divine, such as devotion, selfless work, meditation, enquiry and knowledge. However, if you ask me, efforts to understand his teachings is also a yoga.
Amruthavaakkulu (Words of Nectar) · Chapter 'Sri Nannagaru', first of the 'gems from Nannagaru's words' (PDF page 15) · srinannagaru.com Quoted translation: Compiled by K. Rama Rao; translated from Telugu by Ambica Udaynarayan. -
Instead of describing God as the embodiment of love, it is best to say that love itself is God. Devotion is similar to wealth. It is good to conceal one's devotion. Devotion is what strengthens our relation with God. Devotion is constantly keeping the mind in the self.
Words of Nectar: Sadhana for Taming the Mind · Chapter I 'Love and Devotion', section 1, p. 1 (PDF page 15 of the scan) · srinannagaru.com Quoted translation: Spoken in Telugu; English translation by Prof. M. Sivaramkrishna (Sterling Paperbacks, 2007).
Documented teaching relationships
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Personal encounter with Swami Sivananda Saraswati (Rishikesh)
A devotees' website says that Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh blessed the young Nannagaru, who visited holy places with his grandmother as a boy.
Stated by an institution · srinannagarusatsang.org
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Personal encounter with John David (formerly Premananda)
John David says he first sat with Sri Nannagaru at his gatherings at Arunachala in 2002, interviewed him and for seven years held his retreats in Nannagaru's ashram.
Self-reported · johndavidsatsang.international
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Personal encounter with Mooji
Mooji's website says that Mooji met Sri Nannagaru in February 2011, after holding a silent retreat at the Sri Nannagaru Ashram in Tiruvannamalai.
Stated by an institution · mooji.org
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Personal encounter with Swami Atmananda Udasin
The website of Ajatananda Ashram publishes a video interview of Sri Nannagaru by Swami Atmananda Udasin, recorded in Jinnuru on 7 January 2016.
Stated by an institution · ajatananda.org
Teaching relationships are documented statements. They confer no trust and do not attest realisation.
Sources
- About Nannagaru · Sadguru Sri Nannagaru (srinannagarusatsang.org) Devotees' website; biography in devotional language accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Ashrams · srinannagaru.com Devotees' website listing the ashrams connected with him; says it is not associated with them accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Brahmam Alone Exists, translation of Unnadi Brahmamokkate (Sri Ramana Kshethram, Jinnuru 2024) · PDF on srinannagaru.com Talks of February 2010 compiled by K. V. Ramana, edited by J. S. V. Prasad and K. V. Ramana and translated from Telugu by unnamed devotees; publisher's imprint accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Words of Nectar, translation of Amruthavaakkulu, ed. K. Rama Rao (Sri Ramana Kshethram, Jinnuru 2025) · PDF on srinannagaru.com Devotee's compilation; the preface quotes his own account of his life from the Telugu daily Andhra Patrika accessed 12 Oct 2026
Compiled by us from the sources listed. Last checked 13 Oct 2026.
This description is factual. It contains no recommendation, ranking or assurance. Statements about effects are those of the respective source.