Kapilavai Lingamurthy; 31 March 1928 – 6 November 2018) was an Indian Telugu poet and writer from Mahabubnagar District of Telangana.^[1]

Kapilavai Lingamurthy was born on 31 March 1928 in Jinukunta, Mahabubnagar district of Telangana state (formerly Hyderabad state). His father Kapilavai Venkatachalam died when Lingamurthy was 3 years old. Following this, he moved to his maternal uncle's home. It was here he developed the interest in literature from his maternal uncle^{[clarification needed]} Chepooru Peddalakshmaiah from Amrabad near Achampet.^[2][3]

Lingamurthy graduated from Osmania University-Hyderabad with a Master of Arts in Telugu literature. He was a teacher and lecturer by profession.^[4]

Lingamurthy joined as a teacher in Nagarkurnool national high school on 11 July 1954 and later trained in MOL (Master of Oriental Learning). He joined in Sri Venkateshwara Oriental College, Palem, as a history lecturer on 19 August 1972. He retired on 28 February 1983.

In 1944, he married Chinthapatla Meenakshamma, who was originally from Nagarkurnool.

Lingamurthy died in Hyderabad, Telangana on 6 November 2018, at the age of 90.^[5]

Lingamurthy was a prominent writer and researcher in Telugu, and his services continued to be in demand three decades after his retirement.

Lingamurthy was well-versed in both Telugu poetry and prose. He wrote more than 100 books in the Telugu language. Among his books, the most popular are:

• Palamoor zilla Devalayalu (పాలమూరు జిల్లా దేవాలయాలు)
• Paamara Samskritam"" (పామర సంస్కృతం) ^[6]
• Saalagramashastram (సాలగ్రామ శాస్త్రం)
• Aarya shatakam (ఆర్యా శతకం)
• Maangalya shastram (మాంగళ్య శాస్త్రం)
• Sri Mathprathapagiri khandam (శ్రీ మత్ప్రతాపగిరి ఖండం)
• Someshwara Kshetra Mahatyam and Charitra (సోమేశ్వరక్షేత్ర మహత్యం, చరిత్ర)
• Sundaree Sandeshamu (సుందరీ సందేశం)
• Padya kathaa Parimalamu^[7] (పద్యకథా పరిమళము)
• Sri Rudraadhyaayamu (శ్రీ రుద్రాధ్యాయము) written with D.Chandrashekar reddy^[8]

Lingamurthy wrote Umamaheshwara Kshetram, a history of the temple of Umamaheswaram, known as the northern gateway of a pilgrimage route to Srisailam.

Lingamurthy received an honorary doctorate^[4] from Telugu University-Hyderabad in August 2014.

Six scholars conducted their doctoral research on Lingamurthy's body of work.^[relevant?]

Kapilavai Lingamurthy created the following titles:^[9]

(translation in brackets)

• "Kavitha Kalanidhi" – 1992 – (Kavitha Kalanidhi)
• "Research Panachana" – 1992 - (Parishodhanaa Panchaanana)
• "కవి కేసరి" – 1996 – (Kavi Kesari)
• "వేదాంత విశారద" – 2005 – (Vedanta Vishaarada)
• "గురుశిరోమణి" – 2010 – (Guru Shiromani)
• "సాహిత్య స్వర్ణసౌరభ కేసరి" – 2012 – (Sahithya Swarnasourabha Kesari)

Apart from the titles mentioned above, he received the awards listed below:^[3]

• Pratibhaa Puraskaaram from Telugu University-Hyderabad
• Burgula Ramakrishna Rao Prathibha Puraskaaram
• Charles Phillip Brown Sahitya Puraskaaram
• Nori Narasimha Sastri Puraskaaram
• Kandukoori Rudrakavi Peetam Puraskaaram
• Paalkuri Somanatha Peetam Puraskaaram
• Palagummi Padmaraju Shata Jayanthi Puraskaaram
• TeNA Telangana Renaissance Awards, 2014, for Kaloji Narayana Rao Award (literature)^[10]