Tenali is a small town in Andhra Pradesh. Raman was
originally a simple Brahmin boy from this town. With his wit and intelligence,
he went on to become the Court Jester of Krishna Deva Raya of Vijaynagar (Hampi)
Empire. Krishna Deva Raya was one of the most famous and successful ruler of
Vijaynagar and he ruled between 1509 and 1529, much before even Babar
established the Mughal Dynasty. There are many incidents in the realms of wit
of Tenali Raman which corresponds to the wit of Birbal and hence my caveat in
every post of jokes "JOKES BEING UNIVERSAL SOME OF THEM MAY BE REPOSTS."
Raman of Tenali was well aware that if he had to progress in life, he had to move out of Tenali and move to the commercial capital of that time Vijaynagar. Once the Rajguru of Vijaynagar visited the temple of Kali at Tenali and Raman was told to come to Vijaynagar where the Rajguru would introduce him to the Emperor.
Now legend has it that in a dream he was told by Godess Kali to worship her at the temple on a particular new moon night. On that night Raman was in the Temple and the Godess appeared before him with her 108 heads and 8 arms. Seeing Her, Raman burst out laughing. The angry Goddess demanded why he was laughing at her. Raman replied, "I was thinking, when we get a cold and our nose runs, we find it difficult to manage one nose with two hands: and when I thought of how you could manage 108 noses with eight hands I found it very funny. Happy at his witty answer, the Goddess showed two bowls and said, "In the golden bowl is sweet milk of wealth and in the silver bowl the sour curds of knowledge and learning. You can have any one of them." Pretending to smell both, Raman took the two bowls simultaneously and swallowed the contents of both, and hence he was blessed with the wisdom of knowledge tempered with humorous wit and also plenty of wealth which he acquired in due course.
Raman left Tenali and came to Vijaynagar. The Rajguru obviously did not
recognise him. Raman reminded him of his promise and was given a royal
brush-off. Not to be deprived of his chance of meeting the Emperor Krishna Deva
Raya, one morning he waited near the river Tungabadhra. The Rajguru came for
his morning bath to the river. Once the Rajguru finished his bath, Raman jumped
on his back and told him to carry him. The Rajguru had no option as he didn't
want to create a scene. Some people who espied this, went and reported to the
Emperor. the emperor flew into a royal rage and climed into his chariot and
came to see and punish the culprit. However, Raman espied the royal entourage
from afar, and he nimbly jumped down from the Rajguru's shoulder and hoisted the
Royal Priest on his shoulders. When the Emperor saw this, he was impressed. He
patted Raman and asked him to meet him in the palace for receiving the Emperor's
appreciation and a gift. And from here starts the tale of Raman's Wit and the
saga of Tenali Raman.
Raman of Tenali was well aware that if he had to progress in life, he had to move out of Tenali and move to the commercial capital of that time Vijaynagar. Once the Rajguru of Vijaynagar visited the temple of Kali at Tenali and Raman was told to come to Vijaynagar where the Rajguru would introduce him to the Emperor.
Now legend has it that in a dream he was told by Godess Kali to worship her at the temple on a particular new moon night. On that night Raman was in the Temple and the Godess appeared before him with her 108 heads and 8 arms. Seeing Her, Raman burst out laughing. The angry Goddess demanded why he was laughing at her. Raman replied, "I was thinking, when we get a cold and our nose runs, we find it difficult to manage one nose with two hands: and when I thought of how you could manage 108 noses with eight hands I found it very funny. Happy at his witty answer, the Goddess showed two bowls and said, "In the golden bowl is sweet milk of wealth and in the silver bowl the sour curds of knowledge and learning. You can have any one of them." Pretending to smell both, Raman took the two bowls simultaneously and swallowed the contents of both, and hence he was blessed with the wisdom of knowledge tempered with humorous wit and also plenty of wealth which he acquired in due course.
Raman left Tenali and came to Vijaynagar. The Rajguru obviously did not
recognise him. Raman reminded him of his promise and was given a royal
brush-off. Not to be deprived of his chance of meeting the Emperor Krishna Deva
Raya, one morning he waited near the river Tungabadhra. The Rajguru came for
his morning bath to the river. Once the Rajguru finished his bath, Raman jumped
on his back and told him to carry him. The Rajguru had no option as he didn't
want to create a scene. Some people who espied this, went and reported to the
Emperor. the emperor flew into a royal rage and climed into his chariot and
came to see and punish the culprit. However, Raman espied the royal entourage
from afar, and he nimbly jumped down from the Rajguru's shoulder and hoisted the
Royal Priest on his shoulders. When the Emperor saw this, he was impressed. He
patted Raman and asked him to meet him in the palace for receiving the Emperor's
appreciation and a gift. And from here starts the tale of Raman's Wit and the
saga of Tenali Raman.
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