Hanumath Upasaka Sundardasu Janardhana Polapragada

Founder, Sundarakanda USA

Polapragada Venkata Naga Janardhana Rao is the eldest son of Dr. Polapragada Sri Rama Rao and Ms. Venkata Naga Sorojini Devi, born on June 11th, 1968 in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Sri Rama Rao's work took the family to Calcutta, and his mother had to accompany him there — so Janardhana was left, as a day-old baby, with Late M.S. Rama Rao and grandmother Laxmi Sambrajam at the Nava Bharath Gurukulam owned by Taneeru Bulla garu.

He was raised by his grandparents and became an adopted son to M.S. Rama Rao garu. M.S. Rama Rao garu, who wrote, tuned, and sang Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarakanda in Telugu, took him to all his performances from the age of five and trained him in Karnataka and Hindustani music.

M.S. Rama Rao garu moved to Hyderabad in 1970 along with Janardhana. Janardhana's guardian was M.S. Rama Rao, and all of his education from fifth grade through graduation took place in Hyderabad. He went on to a career in Information Technology, coming to the USA in 1998 and returning in 2000.

He travelled to several countries — China, USA, Canada, Pakistan, KSA, UAE, and countries across Africa — during his career, and currently works in the USA as an Architect with RitePros Inc.

He never left his grandfather's devotional path, and started a foundation called Sundarakanda MS Rama Rao Memorial to promote the Ramayana and Hanuman Chalisa for future generations.