THE WIT OF TENALI RAMAN

[Rakhi Suresh]

Jokes are universal with local variations.  Most of us have heard of the wit of birbal as Akbar and Birbal jokes.  We have the Mulla Naziruddin jokes.  And we have the Jokes of Tenali Raman.  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 relams of wit of Tenali Raman which corresponds to teh 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 Godess 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 Godess 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." Prentending 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 humourous 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.

I shall start posting instances on this thread from tomorrow and if any of the FOTNians have anectodes of Tenali Raman they are welcome to add to this thread, earn my heartfelt gratitude and also appreciation.

[Rakhi Suresh]

Digressing from the story of Tenali Raman, I quote a Sri Lankan folk tale.

Many Hens and A Cock

Andare used to tease the village girls.  One day the girls got together and decided to challenge him.  Each girl hid an egg in her clothes and went to the village pond to take a bath.  The girls got into the pond with the hidden eggs and called out to Andare:

"Andare! Andare! Come to the pond! Can you produce an egg? We can!"

An Answer

Andare wondered what to do.  He stood on the bank and watched the girls splash about.

"Are you afraid! Jump in! Produce an egg!" challenged one of the girls, as she dived in and came out with an egg, "Like this!"

Another girl did the same.  And another. And another.....

Andare could no longer stand on the bank and watch.  They were all teasing him, laughing and egging him on.  He jumped in.  the girls watched.

After a few seconds underwater he came out flapping his elbows, making a noise with his palms tucked in his arm-pits, "pak-pak-pak-pak...."

"I am a cock! Naturally I don't lay eggs like all you hens!"  he declared, pretending to look indignant.

The girls gave up and enjoyed his witty answer.

[Rakhi Suresh]

I posted this folk tale to illustrate the universality of jokes.  It was only recently that I learnt this is a folk tale.  But I have heard it during my schooldays as the witty repartee of Birbal.

The fondness of Emperor Akbar for Birbal cause a lot of jealousy amnogst the other courtiers.  Akbar was always game for practical jokes. The courtiers plotted to shame Birbal and accordingly approached the Emperor with this plan.  Each of the courtiers would hide an egg in his clothes, jump into the palace pool and come out with it.  Only Birbal would not have an egg and when he dived into the pool and came back empty handed, he would be shamed.

Emperor Akbar had great faith in Birbal's quick wit and decided to go ahead with the plan.  Next day, Akbar suggested that since it was very hot indoors they go to the Palace's biggest pool.  all the courtiers agreed, and at the poolside the courtiers sought the Emperor's permission to cool themselves in the pool.

One by one the courtiers dived into the pool and came out with an egg in hand.  the Emperor in the spirit of the game ordered Birbal to dive into the pool and come out with an egg.  Birbal thought that the Emperor had placed the eggs at the bottom of the pool and hence the courtiers took one each and came out.  Birbal dived into the pool.  He was a good swimmer and for a long time he searched underwater but could not find any egg.

He came out, put his head to one side and crowed, "Cock-a-doodle doo!  Cock-a-doodle- do!"

The Emperor and the courtiers were astonished.  Emperor akbar asked, "What is all this Birbal?  Where is your egg?"

Birbal replied, "Jahanpanah, only hens lay eggs!  I came out and crowed just to show everybody that I am a cock!"

Akbar was very pleased with the witty reply and rewarded Birbal well.

Is the copy of the story apparent. This is a completely similar story because of the closeness of our and Sri Lankan culture. A little search would reveal similar anectodes from various parts of the world.

[Rakhi Suresh]

Now back to the saga of Tenali Raman and how he met Emperor Krishna Deva Raya and was rewarded with the post of the Court Jester.  I am sure most of you would have heard of it or read a similar tale.

As desired by the Emperor, Raman went to the Palace.  At the gates the guard stopped him and said that to-day was not the day for commoners and he could not go in.  Raman told the guard that the Emperor had summoned him to the Palace and if he came to know that the guard had stopped him, then the guard would be severly punished.

The guard said, "If the Emperor has summoned you today, he is going to give you some reward.  If you agree to give half of the reward, I will let ou go in.  Raman agreed to teh deal.

Just outside the Hall where the Emperor held his court, another guard stopped him.  On being told of his summons, this guard also demanded half the reward.  Raman explained that already he had give half to some one.  The guard agreed to accept half of what was left and Raman was ushered into the Emperor's presence.

The Emperor praised Raman for his manners and said, "The respect you gave the Raj Guru is of the highest order.  Ask for any reward and you shall have it."

Raman said, "Your Majesty give me one hundred whip lashes."

The courtiers felt Raman was mad and the Emperor too was slightly annoyed.  He tried to amke Raman change his mind and when he failed, he ordered the one hundred lashes to be given. 

When he had received twenty five lashes, Raman asked that the whipping be stopped.  The Emperor was annoyed and asked, "What the problem was?"

Raman replied, "Your Majesty I have promised the remaining reward to two others in your employ!'

The Emperor was amzed and asked him to explain.  Raman said, "When I came to the palace, teh guard stopped me and allowed me inside only if I would part with half of the reward I got.  So he should get fifty lashes.  Just outside your chamber, Your Majesty, the guard there wanted half of teh remaining reward.  Hence he should get twenty five lashes."

Emperor Krishna Deva Raya was astounded at the remarkable wit of this villager from Tenali.  He immediately had the two guards brought before him, ordered one lashes to each and imprison them for life.

He rewarded Raman with one hundred gold coins, which Raman was not willing to accept. On being pressed, Raman told the emperor he would rather be employed by such a glorious ruler, than receive a one time reward.

Krishna Deva Raya immediately announced that henceforth Raman would be the Court Jester and gave him a paltial house near the palace with large tracts of land and asked him to come the next day clad as a courtier.

[Anand VP]

Rakhi you are a womderful story teller.
This is what came out of it for me
K added

[mahi here]

good job rakhi, me from andhra but dnt know much abt tenali ramakrishna(raman), please keep posting

[Manu Angel]

good job K+ dear

[Nadeeshani]

 
+K added

[4fun]

+K Rakhi..... Good Job....

[Rakhi Suresh]

Rakhi you are a womderful story teller.
This is what came out of it for me
K added

Thnx Anand dear for your very encouraging comments and add.