MANI RAO is the author of eleven poetry books including Sing to Me, Ghostmasters and Echolocation. Her books in translation from Sanskrit include Saundarya Lahari and Kalidasa for the 21st Century Reader. She did immersive fieldwork among tantric communities in Andhra–Telangana for Living Mantra: Mantra, Deity and Visionary Experience Today. Mani has an MFA in Creative Writing and a PhD in Religious Studies. She lives in Bangalore and Puttaparthi.