The Birth Of Tenali Raman
Ram Iyer-Lakshmi lived in a village called kalabadu in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh. They were very poor.
They lived in extreme poverty.
They had a son. His name was Ramalingan. It was the name of Ramalingaswamy who lived in Tenali.
The native of his mother was Tenali. On the third day of the birth of Ramalingan, his father died. Since there were nobody to support her. Lakshmi Ammal came to her brother's house which was in her native place.
She sent her son to school. But his interest in education was not so good. He used to indulge in jesting. He was very naughty and at the same time intelligent.
Ramalingan also known as Raman had no intrest in education. Not satisfied with him, his teacher sent Raman out of the School.
There was nobody to support him. He lived in poverty. But at the same time he had confidence. He always indulged in jesting and playful acts.
He married a woman named Kamala. After marriage also his position was not improved. Even at that stage he made his wife laugh. His mother was also with him.
Tennali Raman became...Pt-1
Tennali Raman Became Vikadakavi
Once there was a heavy drought inTenali. Without water the villagers suffered much. At that time an ascetic came to the village. On his arrival, it stated raining. All the ponds and lakes were were flooded with water.
The villagers thought that the arrival of the ascetic bought rain to their village. They praised his for this.
But Tenali Raman didn't agree with them. He said that it was incidental and there was no conection between his arrival and the rain. He also started laughing on seeing the attitude of the villagers.
The asscetic did not get angry on Tenali Raman. Instead he eulogised him for his intelligence and boldness. The ascetic took him to a secluded place and told him. "Rama! Even though young, you are very clever. You also have rational thinking. Keep it up".
Tenali raman said to him, "i thank you very much for your blessings".
The ascetic asked him, "Did you ever read any Purana?"
"Your Holiness! I'm not at all interested in it. I have a doubt. It is said that Goddess kali is having thousand faces.
Tennali Raman became...Pt-2
If we are caught by cold,two hands are not enough to us. But if Goddess Kali is affected by cold, how she will blow the nose with her two hands. Will not she be in trouble?", He said and laughed.
Ascetic was surprised to hear this and started thinking on this question.
The ascetic said, "Rama! Your talk makes me feel much and at the same time it is very interesting. Our forefathers combined their knowledge and imagination and wrote for the sake of satisfying the people. We need not go in detail into it. In your talk there are good thinking and jokes.
So it is apt to call you as a "Vikadakavi(jester). People will enjoy your rational thinking and jocular mood".
Then he left.
Tenali Raman spelt the word "Vikadakavi" and felt very happy to know that the word is a palindrome that reads the same backward of forward.
Challenges Rajaguru- pt/1
Tennali Raman Challenges Rajaguru
The vijayanagar Empire was ruled by Krishnadevaraya. Raman who was born in Tenali and got the name "Vikadakavi" wanted to meet Krishnadevaraya of Vijayangar as Tenali Raman.
After selling his properties he went to Vijayanagr by foot along with his mother, wife and children.
He made his family members halt in an inn and went to meet Rajaguru. Rajaguru. Thatthachariyar was an eminent personality.
The king had high regard for him.
So, it became a practice of every artist and employee to meet Rajaguru first. After going permission from him, one would meet the king. Due to this, there was a crowed in his house at all times. It was extremly difficult to meet him after bypassing the security cardon.
Telling that he was the first disciple of ragaguru. Tenali raman went inside. By this way he bypassed the security.
At that time somebody was talking to Rajaguru. From the dicussion, Tenali Raman understood that Ragaguru was very fond of self praise.
Challenges Rajaguru- pt/2
He paid respects to him and said, "Gurudev! You are a versatile genius! You are a philanthropist! You have a big heart to help the poor! I am your disciple. You must recommend me for the post of jester in the Court".
After hearing this, Rajaguru thought that the respects he enjoyed so far would diminish and said, "I do not know about this fool. Send him out."
The securitymen tried to sen Tenali Raman out. Everybody ridiculed him. Facing disgrace, GTenali raman said to the Rajaguru, "Since I came to see you first without going directly to the Court I'm a fool.
But I will prove that those who are here are fools."
After this challenge Tenali Raman went to the Court directly. For the disgrace he recived from Rajaguru, Tenali Raman aimed at tit for tat, and waited for a suitable time.
(In those days, the court used to have jesters. Jester is a person who entertains the King. As the pet child of the king he will talk with everybody.)
FAilure Of Jester - pt/1
The king was in the Court along with his ministers and other officers. A Jester recommended by Rajaguru made some feats in the court and made everybody laugh.
The King also enjoyed them. Due to pride the Jester said, "Nobody can equal me to do these feats. I know even if the King is ready to offer one thousand gold coins, Nobody is here to do such feats.
Tenali Raman who was in the court along with others, heard the Jester's sayings and accepted his challenge.
Tenali Raman Said, "Can you do a feat with your eyes opening, While i will do the same by closing my eyes? If you succeed in this
attempt you can take one thousand gold coins. If not, I will take the Prize amount."
The Jester Got angry.
FAilure Of Jester - pt/2
He said to Tenali Raman, "i have conducted feats in so many Courts and got Prizes. You are like a clown. The feat which is done by eyes closed by you, can be done by me opening the eyes easily"
The Jester accepted the challenge.
Tenali Raman sat in the midst of the court. He Closed his two eyes competly. He took two handful of sand and put them on to his eyes.
Everybody felt Surprised. After sometime TenaliRaman came near the Jester. And asked him, "Can you do the same feat by opening your eyes?"
Now he was shocked. He accepted the defeat.
All in the Court clapped hands in appreciation of the feat done by Tenali Raman. As per the agreement, The king gave Tenali raman one thousand gold coins. The king said to Tenali Raman, "Come to the court tomorrow also".
The Distress Of A Philosopher
Once a Philosopher came to the Court. He delivered a long speech on philosophy. He said, Everything which we do in ourday-to-day life such as seeing by eyes. Tasting by mouth, and smelling by nose are only illusion and not real".
So as to confirm that he was a Philosopher, he completed his speech ina confused manner. He also forced the audience to accept his opinion.
Tenali Raman watched these proceedings and asked him, "Whether eating the food is real or illusion? Is not there a difference between eating and thinking of eating."
"No" Replied the Philosopher.
Tenali Raman said "We will eat all the delicious food offered by the King. While the Philosopher without eating the food think of eating it."
There was full of chaos. The Philosopher felt ashamed of this. After enjoying the hummer, The king made him the Principal Poet.
As he was left with no alternative, Rajaguru also accepted the Proposal of the king.
THE CAT THAT DOES NOT DRINK MILK - pt/1
Due to the menace of mouse and bandicoot the people of Vijayanagar suffered much. They reported the matter to the king.
To wipe out the menace, the King Made arragements to import as many as 1000 cats from Persia.
He arranged to supply one cat to every family, so that they can escape the disturbance of the mouse. Since milk was needed for the cats, cow is supplied to all the houses.
In all the houses the cats lived by drinking the milk of cows and at the same time they chased, caught the rats. The people became weak.
But that was not the case of the cat which lived in the house of Tenali Raman. He and his his wife drunk the milk, without giving in to the cat. The cat starved.
After some months the King wanted to see all the cats and ordered everybody to bring the cat to the place. As per the order of the king everybody brought the cat to the place. All the cats were found healthy but the people who teamed them were found very weak.
THE CAT THAT DOES NOT DRINK MILK - pt/2
The King saw all the cats. One of the cats was very weak. He asked, "Whose cat it this?" Tenali Rman who was standing near by said, "It is mine". The King got angry and asked, "Why did not you offer milk to the cat. Why did you starve it?"
"Your Majesty! My cat does not drink milk. What can I do for this?" Asked Tenali Rman. The King ordered for milk and put it before the cat. As soon as the cat saw the milk, it started running. The securitymen caught the cat. They saw the mouth of the cat. It was found wounded.
The king got angry and said to Raman, "You are selfish. Did you give hot mil to the cat? So, it is running now. Its mouth is also wounded". "Your Majesty! Please forgive me. Instead of giving milk to the cats, it is the bunden duty of the king to take necessary steps to give milk and food for the people.
He should live for the welfare of the people". Said the Tenali Rman. On seeing the maganimity of the Tenali raman, The king felt happy and gifted him one hunderd gold coins. He also ordered to send all the cats to forest.
Fitting Reply For Avarice - pt/1
There was only three days to conduct the first death anniversary of the motor of the king. The priest came and reminded the king about this. The king ordered to make necesary arrangements for conduct of the rituals on a grand scale.
Later the king said to Rajaguru, "Before her death, my mother wanted to eat mango. She died before eating it. I could not fulfil her last wish. What can i do to satisfy her soul now?"
"Revered King! We can make amngoes in gold and offer them 108 Brahmins in a silver plate so that her soul would rest in peace", replied Rajaguru. The order was executed accoedingly. The Brahmans who got the silver plate and gold mango felt very happy.
Tenali Raman watched the avarice of the Brahmins. He said," My mother's death anniversary is to be held in two days. I request 108 Brahmans to come to my house and get the presentation I offer on that day".
On the particular day the Brahmans went to Tenali Raman's house. He asked them to wait in a room.
Fitting Reply For Avarice - pt/2
He asked his wife to take an iron rod and heat it. Then he asked to Brahmins to come out. They came one by one. He put a mark with that hot iron rod on everybody's hand.
Unable to bear the pain they went to the king and reported the matter. The king felt very angry and asked them to bring Tenali Raman.
The king asked, "is it not wrong to put a mark with hot iron rod on the Brahmins?"
TEnali Rman said, "Your Majestry! To satisfy my mother's soul i did it. I did not commit any mistake. You offered golden mango to the Brahmins to satisfy your mother's soul. My mother was affected due to fix.
Somebody suggested me to give this type of mark, So that she would get rid of the disease. Befor I bring the hot iron rod my mother died. I wanted to compensate this. At that time somebody advised me to give mark in such a manner to 108Brahmins to satisfy her soul. So i did."
The King not only understood the avarice of Brahmins but also his own ignorance. He later praised Tenali Rman for his power of reasoning.
The Suffering Of Rajaguru - pt/1
One fine morning Tenali Raman was on a stroll. He reached the banks of a river near Vijayanagar. On the branch of a tree some dresses were found hanging. He saw the river.
Rajaguru Thatthachariyar was talking bath there without wearing and dress. Generally women used to take bath at the place. Rajaguru did not see Tenali Raman.
HE took the dresses of Rajaguru with him and said, "Revered Rajaguru! vanakkam"
Rajaguru was in confusion as to what to do. He asked TenaliRaman, "Tenali Rama! What do you want? Don't say about this to anybody. Please return my dress to me"
Tenali Raman Said, 'I don't want to get anything from you. Just to check your pride I did this"
Rajaguru once again requested him to give the dress. Tenali Raman accepted to give him the dress on one condition.
He said, "You should wear your dresses and carry me on your shouldres through main streets. If not, I will inform everybody which happened here."
The Suffering Of Rajaguru - pt/2
Let with no other alternative, Rajaguru accepted the condition of TenaliRaman. It was early morning. The King was standing in his place. On seeing a person sitting on another person's shoulders the king ordered to bring the person who was sitting on the shoulders of another person, after beating him severely.
Seeing this, TenaliRaman got down from the shouldres of Rajaguru.
Then he said, "Revered Rajaguru! Please forgive me.
I gave you much trouble. Just to compensate this, Please sit on my shoulders"
Rajaguru sat accordingly. After sometime securitymen of the king , as per his order, pulled down the Rajaguru from the shoulders of Tenali Raman and gave hum servere beating. They took him before the King.
Rajaguru Said, "Your Majesty! Tenali Raman has fooled me. On the way he became unconscious. I offered him some water and then he became conscious. He said to me that he could not able to walk.
I took pity on him and carried me on my shoulders.
While nearing the Palace, he jumped down and asked me to climb on his shoulders. I did so." The king understood that TenaliRaman made some tricks and fooled Rajaguru.
According to TenaliRaman this was a tit for tat. The King knew from TenaliRaman what happened between him and Rajaguru earlier.
But the king said to TenaliRaman, "Rajaguru was an elder person. We should not send him out". By this way the king showed his magnanimity.
Loan was Over
Once TenaliRaman took a loan from the king for his urgent need. He did not repay it in time and made a trick. The King went to
TenaliRaman's house to collect the loan.
TenaliRaman's wife stood at the enterance of the house and said to king, "Your majesty! My husband became ill because of the burden of the loan.
Please tell him that the loan was over. If you tell my husband like this, His soul will rest in peace."
After hearing this, The king felt sorry. Then he said, "Tenali Rama! Your loan is over. There is no amount due to be received form you. you need not worry for it.
As soon as he heard the words of the king, Tenali Raman rose from the bed. He saluted the King and said, "Your Majesty! Unable to bear the burden of the loan, I was about to die. Now I'm saved".
He laughed.
The king enjoyed the technique of TenaliRaman.
Enough For Half Amount
The Palace servants were very angry with TenaliRaman and envied him, because of his presence of mind and his jocular mood. A Vaishnavite Acharya was in the Court of the King. He thought that if TenaliRaman was changed as a Vaishnavite, he would give proper respect to all.
One day he told about this to TenaliRaman. Acharya said, "if you become a Vaishnavite, i will give you whatever you like, from the king." TenaliRaman understood his technique and accepted the proposal. He said to the Acharya, "i want one thousand varagans from the king."
Acharya received one thousand varagans and gave them to TenaliRaman. with joy Tenali Raman Said, "Revered Acharya ! I wish to become a Vaishnavite. For the conduct of connected rituals, Please make necessary arrangements.
You have to bear all the expenses connected with it. As you are my teacher, I will gave one currency to you as offering." Acharya accepted the Plan and made all arrangements for the conduct of rituals.
The Function was on. Acharya took some materials from the firepit and put them on the TenaliRaman's Shoulder. Suddenly TenaliRaman's Sholuder. Suddenly Tenali Raman Said, "oh Acharya ! Will be enough for half money"
Then he started running. The assembly members laughed. Acharya was disappointed. Tenali Raman got a net profot of one thiusand varagans.
Intelligent Child Will Survive - pt/1
In the Palace garden there were more varites of flowers and trees. It was a beautiful scene. Tenali Raman's son entered into the garden without permission of the securitymen.
He picked some flowers and gave them to his mother. In due course, He made it as a hobby. One day the Boy was caught by securitymen.
TenaliRaman, who was searching for his son, came to the Palace. The Securitymen said to TenaliRaman, "Your son has stolen some roses and kept them in his pocket. As he commited the crime, we caught him."
TenaliRaman saw the room which was located in the garden. His son was standing there with fear. "Guards! If my son is claver, he will escape. He came to pluck the ayurvedic leaves for his mother" Said TenaliRaman in a loud voice.
Actually the boy was TenaliRaman's son. He heard the words of his father. Then he started eating all the roses.
Intelligent Child Will Survive - pt/2
Later, He was brought to the Assembly. "TenaliRaman's trick will not succeed now. It is a shame to him" said everyone. The King asked the boy, "Did you pluck the roses from the garden?"
"Your Majesty! I wanted to Pluck some ayurvedic leaves. At that time securitymen were found sleeping. i plucked some ayurvedic leaves. I'm keeping them with me." said the Boy.
He opened his pocket. There were no roses. Only ayurvedic leaves were found.
All in the Assembly were surprised. The securitymen too became stunned. TenaliRaman watched everything. The king felt angry on the securitymen for the dereliction of duty. And also for telling a lie about the boy.
Tenali Raman appreciated his son for his intelligence.
Bravery
Some soldiers were talking in the assembly in the presence of the king about their bravery shown in the larest war. On hearing them TenaliRaman said, "The Brave things done by you will not be equal to my one braving thing".
"What is the brave act done by you ?" Asked the King.
"In the battlefield, I amputated one leg of the Enemy commander", Said the TenaliRaman.
Everybody felt surprised and asked, "Why did you cut his leg instead of his head?"
"Because somebody had already cut his head and only the leg was remaining there. That is why i cut it". Answered TenaliRaman.
The Assembly laughed.
If Lost, Double Profit
TenaliRaman got a new horse and practised riding on it. But the horse was weak. One day the King and TenaliRaman were riding on their respective horses. On seeing TenaliRaman's horse, the king said, "Do you want to ride on your weak horse equally to my healthy horse?"
TenaliRaman said, "Your majesty! if you offer me 100 gold coins I will do a feat with my weak horse that cannot be done with your healthy horse" The king accepted the plan.
While they were crossing a bridge there was flood in the river. Suddenly TenaliRaman jumped from his horse and pushed it into the flood water.
The Horse went along with the flood in the river. TenaliRaman asked, "Your majesty! will you push your horse into the fllod water as I did?"
The king's horse was imported from Arabia. It was of high quality and its value was 1000 gold coins. "Rama! For winning the race you have killed yourr horse by pushing it into the flood" said the king.
The King thought that it would be better to give Tenaliraman one hundered varagans, instead of losing his costly horse. Tenaliraman Said, "Your Majesty! The Horse which could not be sold earlier for 50 gold coins, became worthy now!
Without much difficulty - by going to market and selling i got two times gold. I saved the maintenance cost also. As it died in the flood, I feel no sad for it.
The horse which you do not want to lose is less important than my horse which gave me more profit even after death.
The King praised TenaliRaman and gave him the agreed amount of 100 gold coins.
Freedom For Brother-in-law
The trees brought from the persia were very fertile. They added beauty to the palace garden. The king ate fruits of those trees daily.
The king said that if anyone stole the fruit they would be punished severly.
This was the order of the king. TenaliRaman's brither-in-law came to his house. On the way to the garden, He saw the fruits and ate them. The securitymen arrested him and informed the king.
On knowing this TenaliRaman's wife wanted to save his brother and get free. To fulfil the wish of his wife, TenaliRaman went to see the king.
On seeing TenaliRaman,The king said, "Rama! I knew that you would come. But Your plan will not work this time. I assure you that I will give punished to your brother-in-law which would be opposite to your thinking"
TenaliRaman Said, "Your Majesty! I know you will not withdraw your statement. I came here just to say that my brother-in-law who stole fruits must be punished. He should be sentenced to death.
Please do not show mercy on him. Just to inform this to you, i came to the Palace now"
The king was surprised about TenaliRaman's trick. His intelligence saved the life of his brother-in-law. The king said,"TenaliRama! I'm surprised to see that by making negative words into affirmative you succeeded in your attempt.
Your brother-in-law will be released soon. TenliRaman Thanked the king for having saved the life of his brother-in-law. The king said to TenliRaman, "rama! do not keep your brother-in-law with you. send him out of the town today itself".
TenliRaman sent him out of his house, as per the order of the king.
Unable To Carry Weight
TenliRaman wanted to travel on the war horse which was meant for the king. He expressed his willingness to ride the horse. The King thought that he could not ride that horse.
It would push him down and he would be wounded. The king wanted to fulfil the wish of TenliRaman. Tenali Raman sat on the horse back and travelled some distance. The horse pushed him down.
The king laughed at him. The person who were standing near the king also laughed. TenaliRaman Said, "Your Majesty! This horse took on its back the persons who are not so brave and weighty.
So your rode on it. As it was not in a position to carry me because of my weight, it pushed me down"
The parrots that found the cat
The king wanted to tame some parrots. He brought some beautiful parrots and kept them in a cage. The servants gave milk, fruits and sweets to the parrots daily.
The Palace servants taught the parrots to tell names of gods like Rama,Krishna, Govinda and narayana. The king enjoyed when the parrots told the names of god."
One day when the king and his ministers were in assembly, Rajaguru told with pride, "People do not have faith in god. But the parrots have".
Then Tenaliraman stood up and said, "Hon'ble majesty! Those who have rationality sense can have God faith and also cannot have it. Birds and reptiles do not have such sense. They told such words for milk, fruits and sweets offered by servants."
Ministers and rajaguru kept mum. The king said, "Rama! If it is true, will youprove?"
Your Majesty! I will prove it. In case I do not prove, You can punish me" Said the TenaliRaman.
Nextday, he came to the palace with a big bag. Every body listened carefully. He went to the parrot cage directly. He opened the bag and a cat came out of it with sound "meow", "meow".
Then it jumped across the parrot cage. All parrots made a sound "Keek,""Keek". They ran here and there.
They did not utter the names like rama and krishna. The king compelled the parrots to tell the words like rama, krishna and Narayana. But, they were in fear of cat.
The King told TenaliRaman with a smile, "TenaliRama! Do you need any prize for this?" TenaliRaman said, "Escaping from the punishment of the king itself is a big prize."
When the body will get pleasure? - pt/1
Once Ministers, and rajaguru ere having discussion with the king. There was a discussion on "When the body will get pleasure?"
Everybody told his opinion different from others.
Rajaguru said, "If we eat the feast given by our king, our body will get pleasure."
TenaliRaman did not accept this view.
Keeping tenaliRaman in mind Rajaguru Said, "Somebody will eat food like pig, but they will not feel the pleasure of the king's feast".
TenaliRaman stood and said, "after eating the feast, by going to toilet one can realise the pleasure of the body". Rajaguru did not accept this. in the palace, the feast was over, Rajaguru and the king had a disussion near a room.
Tenliraman thought that it was the right time and asked them to go into the room.
When the body will get pleasure - pt/2
They did not understand why he sent them into the room. Suddenly TenaliRaman locked the door from outside. They had to wait inside the room for many hours. Now it was time for them to attend nature's call.
They wanted to go to toilet. The king asked TenaliRaman to open the door and even warned him. It was of no use. later, TenaliRaman felt for them and opened the door.
urgently the king went to the toilet and returned. He said, "Oh! What a pleasure". He praised TenaliRaman, because it was true.
TenliRaman Told the king, "Your Excellency! Excuseme for the unease caused by me. I wanted you to understand the truth by experience." TenaliRaman Got the victory. Rajaguru krpt mum.
Dead Person Wokeup
TenaliRaman used to tell, "One should fully depend upon the kings who have diplomatic knowedge. He wanted to test the king's character.
"Your Majesty! I have kept the gold bags which I got as gifts in an iron box. I can not enjoy the wealth here after. A doctor told me that I would die within a week. If i die, who will take care of my iron box containing gold bags? Who will takecare of my family?
That is my great worry", Said TenaliRaman in a low pitch. "Rama! Don't worry, I will take care of them", Said the king. Later, like a patient he began to take rest in his house. After one week, message of death of TenaliRaman reached the palace.
During that time, Money was needed to strengthen the army. Ministers and Rajaguru said to the King, "Your Majesty! TenaliRaman got many golden bags which are given by you as gifts and made the exchequer empty.
He kept it in his home. We shall take the box from his house to the Palace. Later we can give some money to his family everymonth."
On hearing this idea the king ordered his servants to go to TenaliRaman's house to take the box. It was brought to the Palace. The king ordered to open it.
TenaliRaman came from inside the box. All in the assembly were shocked.
"i heard that you are died!", The king said surprisingly.
Tenali Raman said, "Your majesty! With many golden bags and my beloved family how i will die? Whom i can trust in my last days and die?
So, I survived. It is true that the king also should not be trusted".
Then he laughed. The king felt ashamed.
Here and There - pt/1
In the King's Assembly many poets and pandits used to come and sing in praise of the king and get gifts from him. Once, a Pandit wanted to sing in praise of the king and get a prize.
The Pandit saw TenaliRaman with a feeling of indifference and submitted his poem to the king. On the leaf, the words were written with minimum space and tenaliRaman found it difficult to read them.
In one of the leaves the last sentances of the poem was not found and so TenaliRaman took much trouble to read it. As there was no space to coninue the stanza, just a mark was given for identification.
In the sixth leaf the stanza continued with another identification mark. The pandit informed TenaliRaman about this and asked him to continue reading....
The Persons who have more knowledge used to confuse others. It is natural. TenaliRaman who was insulted by the Pandit wanted to take revenge. On the day nexday tenaliRaman cut his hair and kept them in his hand.
He kept just two or three hairs on his head here and there.
Here and There - pt/2
Before awarding the prize to the Pandit, the king wanted to know the opinion of the assembly members. Everybody praised. King asked especially to tenaliRaman, "How can we estimate the poem of the Pandit?"
TenaliRaman removed his cap, touched his head on which the tuft of hair was found earlier and said, "Oh King! when I think of the of the Pandit's poem, I remember only my hair.
Today, after shaving was over, I asked the barber to cut my hair. Later I came to a conclsion that I should not be wihtout hair. So, I asked him to put two or three hairs so as to rembember the tuft.
On the last stanza of the poem this pandit noted a mark and wrote the reelvant portion of the stanza in the sixth leaf. Based on this, I applied the same method to my hair also".
On hearing this everybody laughed. Pandit who was proud, felt ashmed.
Conspiracy Of the Spy - pt/1
The King of Golconda who was the rival of the king of Vijayanagar wanted to kill him and occupy the country. He sent a spy to Vijayanagar Empire. The spy understood the close relationship of TenaliRaman and the King of Vijayanagar.
The Spy came to TenaliRamn's House. He said to him, "i'm your relative". He gave many things to TenaliRaman's wife and children. By this way, The spy got a place in his house.
One day TenaliRaman went to his native village with his wife to attend some work. The spy was in the house of TenaliRaman at that time. He planned to kill the king. He wrote a letter in the name of TenaliRaman.
In the letter he said, "Oh King! If you come immediately to my house, you can see a rare thing here". On receipt of the letter the king came to TenaliRaman's house. TenaliRaman was not in the house at that time.
Suddenly, the spy attempted to kill the king. But the king caught the spy and made a noise. On hearing the loud noise, the people came and killed the spy.
Conspiracy Of the Spy - pt/2
Later, the king went to the place. Ministers warned the king, "Whatever important may be the king should go out with proper security." They also advised the king to award life term to TenaliRaman, for having given asylum to a spy in his house.
TenaliRaman who returned from his native came to know everything and prayed to the king, "My lord! As i thought that he was my relative I Gave a place to him in my house. I did not think that he would behave like this.I'm not guilty. Please pardonme."
The King said, "Rama, I cannot go against the law of the country. You cannot be pardoned. But i want to give a chance to you. You can die as you wish."
TenaliRaman accepted this proposal and said to the king, "My lord! I want to die after I become old". The king laughed at tenaliRaman. He said, "Okay, Done". TenaliRaman was released. Later the king came to know that he was not responsible for this.
Do not Show the Head - pt/1
The King Pardoned TenaliRaman When he married the daughter of the head of the Malainadu region. But he was angry with tenali raman. He was waiting for a chance to take revenge.
Once the king warned tenaliRaman, "Tomorrow you shoud not show your head in the assembly. If you did not obey this order you will get whipping from me".
Next day when the king was about to leave for the Assembly, he got a message that TenaliRaman was making everybody happy as a jester. There were many men around tenaliraman.
"Fool! He disobeyed my order", the king said angrily and entered the assembly. TenaliRaman Stood before the king with a pot covered over his head in an inverted manner.
Do not show the head - pt/2
Rama! What nonsense you're doing! in spit of my order you attended the Assembly. So you have to get the punishment for this. You cannot escape from me this time, said the king.
"Your Majesty! Do not get angry. your ordered me not to show my face. I obeyed your order. So i closed my head with a pot. Can you see my head now?, Asked the tenaliRaman.
The King tryed to control his laughter. He also thought that there was no use of getting angry with a mad man and a jester.
A palace was set up for the king, for use during summer. There was an art gallery in it. An artist came from the North India has drawn more pictures of female figures and episodes from Ramayana and Mahabaratha.
The King went to see the paintings with his ministers. TenaliRaman accompanied them. When the king was seeing all the figures one by one, the painter said, "Your majesty!
I Painted all these figures naturally. Nobody from South can paint such type of paintings?". Suddenly TenaliRaman Asked?, "You are Praising your painting as natural. But Some painting have only front side.
What about the back side of those paniting?" "You do not have asethetic sense. By imagination you can see the backside of the figure ", Replied the painter.
"Rama! You can crack a joke. But you do not have the painting Konowledge. You must have knowledge and imagination to enjoy the arts", replied the king as if he accepted the painter's words.
Morden Painting - pt/2
TenaliRaman Kept mum. After some time he said, "I learnt the art of the painting and I can draw paintings which will be better than these paintings. He got the permission of the king to remove the paintings of the north Indian.
He draw some new paintings. They were somewhat exceptional. There were somewhat exceptional. There were one leg, One hand, One shoulder, one hip, one half face etc..., They did not have any connection with one another.
He invited the king to see his paintings. Ministers, artists and the North Indian painter came to see the paintings of TenaliRaman along with the king.
All the paintings were unfinished. "Rama! Are all the paintings incomplete? Where are the other parts", asked the king. "Your majesty! They are hidden. The person with artistic knowledge can see the other parts" replied TenaliRaman.
The King relaised it. He felt angry and also lughed. Without expressing them, the king felt much sorry for tenaliraman for having wasted the art gallery. He orderd to behead TenaliRaman for this.
The Head is Saved
To Execute the order of the king two soldiers went with TenaliRaman. These two soldiers earlier got whippings from the King because of the trick of TenaliRaman.
As the two soldiers had a chance they would not leave him, thought TenaliRaman. TenaliRaman prayed to the king, "Your Majesty! A last request at the end of my life. I did not worship the sun so far. Atleast now i want to do it.
While executing the death sentence, I may be permitted to stand in the water upto my neck level enabling me to offer prayer, So that my wish will be fulfilled."
The King granted permission. The Two soldiers with sword in their hand went to the river along with TenaliRaman. He stood in this water in neck deep and said, "Soldiers! Stand on both sides by keeping the swords.
At the end of my worship i will tell and at that time you must cut my head." He started praying. The Soldiers were waiting for the completion of the prayer, So that they could cut his head.
TenaliRaman acted for nearly one hour as if offering prayer in the water. Later he said "Cut me." Suddenly he lowered his head. Due to crossing of the swords, both of them cut each other and died.
The king was in a happy mood next day. TenaliRaman went to him and said, "Your MajestY! The Head of a person is more important than the wall of the art gallery. That is why I escaped now?"
"How i did you escape?" Asked the king surprisingly. "The soldiers sent by you were fools. They were also found of bribes. So, they temselves cut their hands and died", He explained to the king everything in detail.
The King became happy and pardoned him.
Sand OR Sugar
On seeing something the king used to like it. On knowing this a Minister, gave tasty sugar which was received by him form Iran. The King tasted the sugar and sent it for his queens.
As the sugar was eaten by ants, and many ants were found in it, it was kept in the sunlight. TenaliRaman came there and asked, "What is this?" The king said Jocularly, "It is a new kind of sand imported fron Iran."
The king went inside and said to the queens, "i fooled TenaliRaman Saying the suagr as sand. He also accepted it". "Why did you say this ?", asked the queens.
"If he demands for new type of sugar what can i do? So, I said like this ", said the king. During this time the queens saw outside. They saw...
TenaliRaman eating the suagr which was kept under sunlight. the queens reported the matter to the king. The king asked TenaliRaman., "What are you doing?"
"Your majesty! The calf of the buffalo which i tamed was dead. So i'm eating this new type of sand", Said TenaliRaman. "TenaliRama! Nobody can cheat you!" said the king and ordered to keep the sugar inside.
"It is very tasty" Said the TenaliRaman And laughed
One Who Does not Yawn - pt/1
One day when the king was with his queen Thimalambal Devi at the palace, She yawned. on seeing this he felt uneasy. "Due to laziness or getting not fully awaken yawing takes place",
Said thee queen to satisfy the king. He did not accept this and left from the room. For so many days he did not go near the queen. She sent this mesage to the TenaliRaman through her intimate friend.
She also asked that if she could change the mind of the king by writing a poerty based on the Parijatha episode in Krishnaleela which happened between Rukmani and Bama.
"I don't know to write poems but I can make him happy", Said TenaliRaman. One day the king was explaining about a plan to increase the rice cultivation in the drought are of Rayalaseema, with the Ministers and others in the asembly.
One Who Does not Yawn - pt/2
TenaliRman came there. He showed a small bag and said, "This is a new type of grain. It is Cultivated inThanjavur which is a prosperous part of Tamil nadu. If we cultivate this type of grain we can gain more.
BUt the man who sow, irrigate and harvest this grain should not yawn." "What a foolishness! Can there be a man like this?" Asked the king.
"Your Majesty! What my ignorance! You aptly remined me in time, Which i hope will be useful. For an act of foolishness, i was to be pardoned by the queen Thirumalambal Devi," Said TenaliRaman as if he did not know anything.
The Ministers in the assembly did not know what TenaliRaman was saying. But the king understood that TenaliRman was doing like that Just to inform the incident which happened between the king and queen.
The queen gave reward to the TenaliRamn through her intimate friend.
Facility for Getting Warmed
Once the Soldiers were camping at Ramathurukkam. By riding the horse, TenaliRaman came to that place. As he was wet due to rain, he was affected by cold.
The officials were sitting near the fire and eating the meat, in a particular place which was meant for them. "My horse is very hungery. Can you gives some pieces of meat to it?", asked TenaliRaman.
"Will your horse eat meat?", Asked the officials with surprise. "You go and give. You will automatically know about it", Said TenaliRman. With some pieces of meat four or five officials went near to the place where the horse was tied.
TenaliRaman sat comfortably and was making himself warm. After sometime the officials came and said, "We tried our best. But Your horse did not eat the meat."
"AS the owner is getting warmed himself, it might have thought of getting the grass as usual. So i think it did not eat the meat", Said TenaliRaman Jokingly.
For grtting warm TenaliRman used a Trick like this.
Only The Sufferer Will Know the Pain - Pt/1
One day TenaliRaman and the King were on a stroll. on their way TenaliRaman put his leg on a waste Substance which was on the side of the street. Suddenly he run towards a stream, washed the thumb of his legs and returned.
"However you wash the thumb of your leg, it will not vanish. There is only way. You have to cut the thumb of your leg for removing the dirtiness", Said the king.
"I cleared it neately," Said TenaliRaman. "Even though you wash your thumb very clearly, A small quantity will go inside the body. You should not come inside my bedroom with this thumb," Said the king.
"Your Majesty! We cannot destroy the waste completely which is found in our body. What do you feel about it ?" Asked TenliRaman.
"That is their own waste. But I'm speaking about the waste of others," Said the king.
"Your Majesty! Your thinking is wrong.You will automatically know about it. I'm waiting for a chance," Said TenaliRaman
Only The Sufferer Will Know the Pain - Pt/2
Some months have passed. TenaliRman did not forget anything while the king forgot everything. tenaliRman brought some plants with beautiful roses and put them in a dirty pit. He put sand and grass around them.
The king went with him.
He felt happy on seeing the flowers. He went to pluck the flowers and fell into the pit. He found it difficult to come out.
"Rama! Please lift me up from the pit," the king asked TenaliRaman.
Your majesty! Please wait. I'll bring a knife," Said TenalIRman.
"Why?" asked the king.
"I'll cut the dirty parts. You already told me about it. Do you remember?", Asked TenaliRaman.
"Rama! Now only i think of ot. Here after i will change my mind. Better we can wash the dirty parts. There is no need to cut. Before anybody see this, lift me up" Said the king.
TenaliRman lifted the king from the pit.
The king went to TenaliRman's house, took bath and changed his costumes. Within a short time, the costumes for the King came from the palace and then he left.
Sentence Of Death By Hanging - Pt/1
The men engaged in the construction work told the king that there was a demon in the bridge and if human sacrifice was done, The construction of the Brodge would be completed without any difficulty.
Athough the King had faith in God, he was against human sacrifice. He considered offering of human being was very cruel. Human sacrifice was totally abolished in the Vijayanagar.
"How to do it again?" The king was in a sad mood.
TenaliRaman came there and said to the king, "Your Majesty! Do not be sad. I have a plan that will be accepted by one and all".
Sentence of Death by Hanging - Pt/2
"If your idea is acceptable by every one, i will give you a gift of one thousand gold coins" Said the king.
"Is it not the duty of the king to enquire the criminal who commits the crmie? While giving the punishment to the criminal by way of hanging under that bridge,
The punishment will be executed. By this way human sacrifice and hanging could be done at the same time. There will not be any loss to the bridge", Said TenaliRaman.
Everybody including the king and his Ministers accepted the plan of tenaliRman and it was executed.
As promised, the king gave one thousand gold coins to TenaliRaman.
A famous wrestler from Delhi came to Vijayanagar. He said, "Is there anybody in vijayanagar Empire to fight with me?"
Nobody in Vijayanagar was willing to challenge him, because all were afraid of him.
To save the dignity of Vijayanagar, TenaliRaman came forward and accepted the challenge of the wrestler. On the nextday TenaliRman arrived on the stage. On seeing tenaliRaman the wrestler asked, "Whether this weak person is going to fight with me?.
"Wrestler! How you are doing wrestling? Whether through strength or Sastra? If a person has the knowledge of wrestling Sastra, He can easily face anybody. Do you know about this?" asked TenaliRman.
The wrestler said that he knew the sastra of wrestling. tenaliRman replied, "Okay. If you know that i will show some signs based on the Sastra. If you give explanation about these Signs, We shall start the competition."
left with no alternative, the wrestler accepted the proposal of TenaliRman.
Wrestling Sastra - Pt/2
Suddenly tenaliRman made some tricks by folding the hands of the wrestler, Pushing them over his chest, lifting them upto the Shoulder, Circling the head with his left hand, Showing upside down his right hand and asking "What does it mean?"
The Wrestler was not in a position to understand the meaning of those signs and said to Tenaliraman, "i will tell the meaning for these signs tomorrow".
Nextday TenaliRman arrived at the Place in time. But the wrestler did not coame. people went to the house where he was staying. he was not there. Later it was learnt that he went to Delhi the previous night itself.
The king was Surprised. He asked TenaliRaman, "What is the meaning of the sign which you showed yesterday?" TenaliRman said, It did not convey any meaning at all. What i actually meant was if he fought with me.
I would be killed any my family would be in trouble and nobody would be there to take care of my family. This is the meaning for them. I also wish to inform that there is no such Sastra".
The king was surprised to see that the animal strength of delhi was won by the intelligence of Vijayanagar.
Only a Genius Will Know - Pt/1
After seeing the sculptures Hajar Rama Temple, The king said "They are lively". How did the Temple get the name Hajar Rama Temple?" asked Rajaguru.
"hajar means thousand" answered the king. "There is only one rama. How came thousand Ramas?" asked rajaguru. "Each devotee has one rama. There are many differences between the Rama seen by Sita, by Hanuman add by you" Said TenaliRaman.
But TenaliRama! Lord Rama seen by you is totally different from the Ramas found by others," Said the king with a smile. "Why the king is saying like that?" asked Rajaguru.
"Vedas say that God has thousand faces. That thousand doesnot refer to the number. Since they are countless they are reffered to as thousand. Here counting does not matter," Said TenaliRaman.
God is sitting in it. answered TenaliRaman.
"If that is the case why he is not seen by us?", Asked Rajaguru.
"Yes. What is the reason for that?, questioned Rajaguru.
"Without change either in quatity or in taste the lord is eating our offerings, Which is invisible to us. However virtuall they maybe the power which cannot be had by human beings is processed by god.
The god is taking the food in the way that cannot be understood by us. One should possess the knowledge of finding activeness in the inactivity.According to Gita, Only a genius can understand it," Said TenaliRman.
On knowing the ignorance of the Rajaguru, everybody including the king Laughed. It is the aim of tenaliRaman to put a check on the activity of Rajaguru.
The king was very much interested to do anything creative or partake in any of the problems. One day in the assembly, There was an argument on the following: "Whether the quality of nature can be changed?"
"It can be done", Answered somebody.
"One cannot make the tail of dog straight. Like that , Quality of a character cannot be changed", Said others.
"Nature is stronger than artificial. Even if ,we change our character, we cannot change the quality of nature," Said somebody. "If a dog's tail can be made straight, it is possible to change the quality of man.
If that cannot be done even this cannot be done", Said the king. "by giving proper training one can make the dog's tail to become straight", Said a person. Ten persons came forward and said, "It can be done within six months."
The king gave each of them a high quality dog and ten gold coins for giving practice to it. TenaliRaman was one among the ten.
The nien members trued more to straighten the tail of the dog.
Natural And Artificial - Pt/2
One Person hung a stone on the tip of the tail of the dog. Another man made a copper tube and fit it to the tail of the dog. One used to pull the tail of the dog everybody.
Another man continuously asked the dog evryday to keep the tail straight. Like this way, the nine persons tried to keep the tail of the dog straight. But tenalirman kept the dog starved. After six months, the king ordered them to show the dog. no difference could be seen in the tail of the nine dogs.
"Rama! Where is your dog?", Asked the King.
The dog of TenaliRaman struggled for survival. But the tail was seemed to be straight.
"Your Majesty! i made the tail of my dog stright", Said Tenaliraman . On seeing the dog the king said, "You fool! You starved this dog and nearly killed it. it has no strength even to move its tail".
"Your majesty! Only throught starvation we can make the tail of the dog straight, which is against nature", said tenaliRman. The king realised the Truth.
Become Great Through Knowledge - Pt/1
The king woke up. He saw his face on mirror. He saw that his face was shining. The King became happy and aksed to bring the barber.
He feared that the king would gey angry on him for having shaved him during his sleep. He feared for the punishment which would be given by the king.
The king appreciated him and asked, "What is your wish?"
"Your Majesty! Make me a brahmin . The allow me to dine with genius persons, brahmins and Saivites. This is my long time wish", Said the barber.
The king ordered to fulfil his wish and said to the Brahmins, "Revered Brahmins! The royal baber should be made as a brahmin. Please bring him up so as to dine with genius, Brahmins and Savites within six months. If you do not obey this order, the grants offered to you by the government will be confiscated.
Become Great Through Knowledge - Pt/2
All the brahmins together went to see TenaliRaman and said about the order of the king. TenaliRman Said, "Do not feel sorry for this. I will mange it". It is the last day of the six month. The king said that he would be vivisting the alms-house.
On his way to the alms-house the king saw this incident and became struck. He asked TenaliRman, "Rama! What are you doing here?"
"Your Majsty! I'm going to make this black dog into white.
If a barber can be changed into a brahmin, why not a black dog into white?", Asked TenaliRaman.
The king understood the meaning behind it and went to the palace. He asked to bring the barber and said, "Your wish cannot be fulfilled. one man can be changed by self only and not by others.
Try to come forward through your own knowledge".
The king offered him some money and advised him to come forward by self effort. Brahmins satisfied and praised TenaliRaman for his knowledge and also thanked him.
0 comments:
Post a Comment