Ramadasu, originally named Kancharla Gopanna, was born in Nelakondapalli of Andhra Pradesh. His uncle, a minister of the Golconda King Taane Shah, appointed him as a revenue officer of Bhadrachalam. He was so much devoted to Rama that he spent a lot of the state money for the temple in Bhadrachalam. He was kept in jail for the offense, but he continued singing songs in praise of Rama known as Ramadasu Keertanalu. The legend says that Lord Rama came in disguise and repaid the money to Taneeshah, whereby Ramadasu was released. Most of his keertanas are in Telugu, and some are in Sanskrit. They are all full of bhakti rasa.