Long long ago in the village call Tenali, there lived a poor and weak lad called Ramalingam. Tenali was a part of Vijayanagar, which was ruled by a great king Krishnadevaraya. Ramalingam also called Raman was a clever man but did not like to work and whiled away his time by idling.
One day, as usual, when he was idling under a tree, a sadhu happens to pass by that side.
Sadhu:
"Aren’t you ashamed of yourself. When everyone is working, you are wasting your time doing absolutely nothing?"
Tenali:
"Sadhu, I would like to work but I can't because my health is poor. "
Sadhu:
"That’s really unfortunate. If that is the reason, I will help you. I will teach you a mantra to invoke the Goddess Kali. When she appears ask her to bless you with good health."
Being clever Rama learned the mantra soon.
Sadhu:
"You have learned the mantra in no time. Now go to the temple tonight, sit there before the idol and repeat the mantra a thousand and eight times. The Goddess will appear, and you can ask her a boon. "
Tenali:
"Thank you very much, sir. I will do as per your words. "
The same night Raman reached the temple. He closed the door, sat before the idol, and began to repeat the mantra. The moment he delivered the mantra for the last time a flash blinded his eyes for a moment. Raman heard a voice.
“My Son, I am pleased with your prayer. I will bless you."
The moment Raman saw her, he began to laugh uncontrollably. The Goddess became furious.
Goddess:
“Stop. How dare you laugh at me. “
Tenali:
"Forgive me, mother. But I can not stop this one nose from running when I get a cold. I wonder, how you would manage when your ten noses catch a cold. "
The goddess could not help being amused.
"It would certainly be funny. Hmm. You are a clever brave boy. May you always succeed in making people laugh. From now you will be called VIKATAKAVI. "
Tenali:
"Thank you, Mother. VI-KA-TA-KA-VI reads the same both ways. It’s a palindrome. But this boon makes others happy. How does it benefit me? "
She thought 'He is a bold, outspoken boy. I like him. Let me offer him one of my two most popular boons.'
"Ok, what you say is true my son. So let me offer you another boon."
Raman saw two cups in Kali’s Hand.
Goddess:
"This golden cup contains the sweet milk of learning/Knowledge, and this silver cup has the sour curds of wealth. One of them shall be yours. You can choose one now. "
Tenali:
"I should take both. Oh, mother. How can I choose without tasting both? "
Goddess:
"Hmm. That’s True."
Without thinking the Goddess held out the cups. Before she knew what was happening Raman gulped down the content of both cups. She again became furious. But Raman bowed humbly before her.
"Oh mother, Please forgive me. As you know, the one without the other would be useless. To lead a happy life, I had to have both. "
The goddess had calmed down with his answer.
"Now that you have both gifts, you shall be witty and wealthy."
Uttering these words Kali vanished. Raman was quite happy and returned home.
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