THE VOICE WITHIN

Garlapati Ramakrishna was born in the village Thumuluru in modern Andhra Pradesh during the later part of the 15th century. He was very young when his father, a Saivite temple priest, passed away. His mother Lakshamma returned to her native place in Tenali to live with her brother.

Growing up in his uncle’s village, Garlapati came to be known as Tenali Ramakrishna. He had a carefree childhood, much popular among naughty boys for his razor-sharp wit. He also had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and read whatever he could on his own. But when the time came to receive a formal education, Tenali found the doors of local scholars closed as they were Vaishnavites who would never accept a Saivite as a disciple.

At a loose end this, Tenali met a sage, who advised him to worship Goddess Kali. With utmost devotion, Tenali began to chant a mantra continuously to please the Mother Goddess. Finally, She appeared. Taking one look at Her, Tenali paid obeisance at her feet and began to laugh uncontrollably.

When the Goddess asked Tenali the reason for his laughter, he replied in all innocence: “Divine Mother! It is hard for us to keep wiping our nose with two hands when we catch a cold. If the same happens to You, I wonder how You with a thousand visages would manage to keep your nose clean!”

Marveling at his fearless sense of humour and lovely smile, the Goddess blessed him and offered him two goblets, one filled with milk and the other with curd. “If you chose milk, great knowledge would be yours. If you settle for curd, you shall be blessed with abundant wealth,” the Goddess said.

Thinking swiftly, Tenali replied he would like to take a closer look at the goblets. Trusting him, the Goddess handed him the two goblets, both of which he then gulped down in a trice!

As the Goddess frowned in annoyance, Tenali fell at her feet and said: “O Mother! Life can be complete only if one attains knowledge and also acquires wealth and renown.”

Pleased by his presence of mind, Goddess Kali blessed him accordingly. Tenali soon became learned in many scriptures, languages and fine arts. In due course, he took his place in the court of the great king Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagara. As a peerless jester poet, he became famous as Tenali Raman the ‘Vikata Kavi’, and also as a strategist, scholar, and theologian par excellence.

the harbinger