RAMAN OF THENALI

                       Presence of mind is a key to success in life. Thenali Raman’s life is a good example of it.

                       Raman was a poor youth searching for a job in Vijayanagara Empire. His native place was Thenali. So he was called as Thenali Raman.

                       Once he went into a forest and lost his path. He don’t know how to come out of the forest. There he met an old saint who was chanting Kali Ma’s name. Thenali Raman saluted the saint, asked about his welfare. Saint told he was living in the forest. Saint was a Gnani(wise), he saw Thenali Raman’s bright future. Saint chanted Kali Ma’s mantra in front of Raman, asked him to chant the name daily. Thenali raman was pleased with saints grace, he bowed down to the saint and left to a nearby Kali Temple.

                       Thenali Raman was happy and he started chanting Kali’s Mantra continuously in the temple. Kali Ma was pleased with Thenali’s devotion; she appeared in front of him. Kali Ma had many heads and hands. Thenali saw Kali, thought for a while and started to laugh. Kali Ma was angry on seeing this. Kali told Thenali raman to stop laughing and asked for a reason. Thenali said, ”When I get cold, it is horrible for me, Oh Kali ! you have so many noses, what will happen when you get cold”. Kali Ma was continuosly laughing on hearing thenali’s statement.

                      Kali Ma had two golden cups, one cup was filled with honey and another cup was filled with milk. Kali Ma asked Thenali to select one among two cups, honey cup was wealth and milk cup was knowledge. Thenali said, “Oh Kali Ma! How will I be able to select among them without tasting a sip of two cups”. Kali Ma said, “Ok taste it and select it”. Thenali got two cups in his hands, thought a while, mixed milk with honey and drank it. Kali Ma didn’t expect this, she became angry. Thenali said, “ Kali Ma! Please be calm, when I get headache I can bear it but you can’t bear it, as you have many heads, so be calm and please forgive me”.

                      Kali Ma laughed again, she was pleased with his presence of mind, sense of humour and blessed him heartily. Kali Ma told You will become a great comic poet in King’s court, live happy and wealthy life. Thenali then became a great poet in King Krishna Devaraya’s court, became his close friend and led a happy life.

                      Moral of the story is presence of mind and sense of humour will always lead us to a successful life. So please develop these qualities.