14,54 €
Mehr erfahren.
- Herausgeber: V&S Publishers
- Kategorie: Ratgeber
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018
Seek solutions to social, personal and family problems the Tenali Raman way
Sie lesen das E-Book in den Legimi-Apps auf:
Seitenzahl: 244
Ähnliche
Published by:
F-2/16, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002 011-23240026, 011-23240027 • Fax: 011-23240028Email: [email protected] • Website: www.vspublishers.com
Regional Office : Hydrabad
5-1-707/1, Brij Bhawan (Beside Central Bank of India Lane) Bank Street, Koti, Hyderabad - 500 095040-24737290Email: [email protected]
Branch Office : Mumbai
Jaywant Industrial Estate, 1st Floor - 108, Tardeo RoadOpposite Sobo Central Mall, Mumbai - 400 034022-23510736Email: [email protected]
Follow us on:
© Copyright: ISBN 978-935-05724-3-6
DISCLAIMER
While every attempt has been made to provide accurate and timely information in this book, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, unintended omissions or commissions detected therein. The author and publisher make no representation or warranty with respect to the comprehensiveness or completeness of the contents provided.
All matters included have been simplified under professional guidance for general information only without any warranty for applicability on an individual. Any mention of an organization or a website in the book by way of citation or as a source of additional information doesn't imply the endorsement of the content either by the author or the publisher. It is possible that websites cited may have changed or removed between the time of editing and publishing the book.
Results from using the expert opinion in this book will be totally dependent on individual circumstances and factors beyond the control of the author and the publisher.
It makes sense to elicit advice from well informed sources before implementing the ideas given in the book. The reader assumes full responsibility for the consequences arising out from reading this book. For proper guidance, it is advisable to read the book under the watchful eyes of parents/guardian. The purchaser of this book assumes all responsibility for the use of given materials and information. The copyright of the entire content of this book rests with the author/publisher. Any infringement/ transmission of the cover design, text or illustrations, in any form, by any means, by any entity will invite legal action and be responsible for consequences thereon.
Dedication
ToMy mother and fatherThe light house of inspiration and morality
Acknowledgements
For me, ‘Fix Your Problems – The Tenali Raman’s Way’ is a dream come true. Now that my dream has taken shape, I want to acknowledge the precious support and strength I received from all those who rejuvenated my mental faculty to serve up this book with the right recipe, the right ingredients and the right flavour that suits the palate of every reader. Among the many people who helped me with this book, my special thanks to my parents for encouraging me and showing keen interest in the progress, to both my elder brothers and sister-in-laws for philosophical discussions, to my wife who listened to the contents, and to my toddler son Aryan and my nephews who at their tender age, have sacrificed many hours which we could have spent together.
I am grateful to my senior colleague Sh. G.S.Bains, Chief Manager, PSWC, from whom I silently drew inspiration.
I am also grateful to Shri Ram Avtar Gupta, the Chairman of Pustak Mahal for having great confidence in me and for rekindling my passion. I have truly found a mentor in him and to Shri S.K. Roy, the Executive Editor, for taking care of me during the initial legwork and in giving the final shape to this book with beautiful illustrations and pleasing cover which in itself speaks a lot, and the entire production team for supporting me to the fullest.
My special thanks go to Shri Walter Vieira, a profound Management Guru and a practitioner of management discipline, who very selectively helped to suggest the key lessons and morals at the end of each anecdote.
Finally, I would like to thank that all of them who knowingly or unknowingly have contributed to this book.
Vishal GoyalChandigarh, 1st February’2010
Reverence To Raman (A Prospective)
Now onwards, this book will aptly narrate some of the selectively collected popular stories about the life style, combination and co-ordination of King Krishnadeva Raya and Tenali Raman in and out of the Imperial Court. These stories enlighten, advice, motivate, encourage, entertain and spread the message of intellect, time-tuning, and strategic stroking besides having a lip smacking flavour of lively wit and humour that can be precisely applied to all ordeals, trials and problems in context to every day life. Apart from this, each story of this wordly-wise man of yesterday Tenali Raman contains a deep meaning and has a lesson ingrained into it which needs to be assimilated by every reader for his personal growth and development.
Though, it is a herculean task to define the personality of a character of the stature of Tenali Raman, However, a brief functional resume of Tenali Raman can be attempted to portray the qualities and traits possessed by him, which can be imbibed by anyone.
Personal Profile
Name: Garlapati Tenali Ramakrishna popularly known as Tenali Raman or Tenali Ramalinga.
Family Background:
• A Brahmin who lived during early 16th century A.D.
• Originally hailed from Tumuluru village near the coastal town of
Tenali (Guntur District of present day Andhra Pradesh).
Employment Profile
One of the eight poets called the ‘ashtadiggajas’ (the eight elephants serving as pillars) of King Krishadeva Raya’s Royal Court – the Bhuvana Vijayam (Global Victor).
Tuluva Sri Krishna deva Raya (1509-1529 CE) [a.k.a Krishna Raya; Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana; Mooru Rayara Ganda and Andhra Bhoja], was the famed Emperor of Vijayanagara Empire (modern day Karnataka State) who devolved a ‘Golden Era’.
Profile of Qualities
Great scholar of several languages (including Marathi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Sanskrit)
Poet of knowledge, acute wit, intelligence, shrewdness and ingenuity.
Intelligent advisor to King Raya.
Special Skills
Tenali Raman was a witty and intellectual person who adorned the Royal Court of King Raya. Tenali possessed all the Critical Success Factors (C.S.Fs) to win and sustain competitive advantage. He judiciously adopted the ‘F.A.C.T.S.’ strategy for an effective recognition programme in and out of the Imperial Court. This ‘F.A.C.T.S.’ strategy is understood to simply contain traits as:
Fairness to achieve high performance;
Appropriateness to enhance tacit (implied) knowledge;
Consistency to think and act;
Timeliness to establish parameters;
Sincerity towards the State (Country).
General Profile
He wrote some of the greatest poetic works and devotional texts such as:
Udbhataradhya Charitramu (based on the story of Udbhatta, a monk)
Panduranga Mahatmyamu (one among the Panch Kavyas) and
Ghatikachala Mahatmyamu (on Ghatikachalam, a place of worship for God Narasimha near Vellore).
TITLES:
Stern and sarcastic in his wit and instrumental in protecting King Raya’s prestige many times by coming to his rescue in critical situations, that Tenali Raman earned himself titles such as
Vikata Kavi (clown-jester-poet);
Kumara Bharathi; and
Andhra Paris.
These traits can be easily understood by a close analysis of the following acronym which corresponds to the name of this great witty character –T.E.N.A.L.I. - R.A.M.A.N:
Talent development through leveraging resources and achieving ‘strategic fit’.
Effective collaboration of different types of knowledge, wit and humor.
Nurture open, honest and effective communication.
Accumulating resources through mining experience in order to achieve faster leaning and capabilities.
Leadership qualities to be displayed in all crucial circumstances. Leadership is a guiding vision involving self knowledge, candour and maturity. Leadership is daring, is curiosity and is a passion to achieve results.
Inspiring a shared vision to practice visible Management.
Realistic focus on extrinsic as well as intrinsic vision.
Align S.M.A.R.T. objectives for the Kingdom (Country) and individual aspirations for promoting mutual benefits.
Modelling the way enabling others to act.
Appraise personal performance to embed vision.
Need to control everything very carefully.
Ofcourse, in this technology driven era, Tenali Raman can be described as guru of all gurus which make us immediately remind of what John. F. Kennedy once said, “Man is still the most extraordinary computer of all”.
Prologue
India is the world’s most ancient civilization and a land of manifold interests. India is so extensive that other countries are not equal a hundredth part of it. All of us, who wear cotton cloth, use the decimal system, enjoy the taste of chicken, play chess or roll dice, love mangoes and elephants, and seek peace of mind, tranquility or good health by standing on our heads or through meditation feel indebted to India.
Ancient wisdom enshrined in the Vedas, Upanishads, Smritis, Sudras, Dharamshastras and the witty folklore witnessed during the mighty ruling dynasties, is the chief solvent of old ideas in India and infact the chief source from which new ones are generated. This voluntary character of the thoughts and feelings of the people who made the unique Indian social, political and economic fabric down the ages, needs to be strikingly illuminated not only to each of the millions of Indians but amongst the world populace.
Sailing, say to India, from Britain down through the Atlantic, close by the coast of Portugal and Spain, and then, within the Mediterranean, skirting the coast of Algeria, and so on, one can see the land inhabited by human beings displaying peculiar and impeccable signs of life and the tragedies and comedies that are daily being enacted by the humane Indians in their homes, that constantly generates unmatched wisdom.
The ineffable fascination of modern India is a product of the complexity of its many ages of coexistent reality. Nothing is ever totally forgotten in this land of reincarnation. Paradoxically, the so-called Westerners’ assertion of cultural superiority define everything of India as mystical, unscientific, traditional, group-oriented, other-worldly, and autocratic and identify themselves superior in all endeavours. This deep-rooted prejudice about the qualities, traditions and religions of India has been pervasive and marked characteristic of Western thought in recent centuries who totally forget the rich ancient culture and valour of India and the intellectuals such as Birbal, Chanakya, Manu, Tenali Raman, and similar breed that proliferated in India and adorned the palaces of some of the mightiest rulers of the Indian soil.
For this reason, it is foolish to maintain the inertia of blind modernism and shut one’s eyes to these pleasant facts about India’s historic grandeur and to hide it from the public. Here, in the present book, an effort is made to discuss one such imperial character that prevailed during the 16th century A.D. in the Vijayanagara Empire down the Southern India.
The Vijayanagara Empire also referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was a South Indian Empire based in the Deccan Plateau. The city was built around the original religious centre of the Virupksha temple at Hampi. Vijayanagara now stands as a ruined city in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. As the prosperous capital of the largest and the most powerful kingdom of its time in all of India, Vijayanagara still attracts people from all round the world. The ruined city is a UNESCO World Heritage site (where it is called the ‘Ruins of Hampi’). In recent years, there have been concerns regarding damage to the site at Hampi from heavy vehicular traffic and the construction of road bridges in the vicinity. Hampi is now listed as a “threatened” World Heritage Site, and is included in the ‘UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger:1999’.
It is widely believed that Vijayanagara was the largest city in India and the 2nd largest in the world at the end of the 15th century with 5,00,000 inhabitants. The city flourished between the 14th century and the 16th century, during the height of the power of the Vijayanagara Empire. During this time, the empire was often in conflict with the Muslim Kingdoms which had become established in the Northern Deccan, and which were often collectively termed the Deccan Sultanates.
When the mighty sultans of Delhi – Alla-ud-din-Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq repeatedly invaded the Deccan Hindu Kingdoms, two hindu princes popularly called the Sangama brothers — Hakka (Harihara) and Bukka Raya founded an independent Kingdom known as the ‘Vijayanagara Empire’ in the region between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra during 1336 in order to check the progress of Islam in the South. Hakka and Bukka were sons of Sangama – one of the chiefs at the Court of the Hoysala ruler.
Hakka became the first ruler of the Vijayanagara Kingdom and after his death, his brother Bukka Raya succeeded. The successive rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire caused decades of conflicts, invasions, annexations and internal rebellions which resulted the Vijayananagra dynasty to decline during the late 15th century until serious attempts were made by commander Saluva Narasimha Devaraya during 1485 and by general Tuluva Narasa Nayaka during 1491 to reconsolidate the Empire. After nearly two decades of conflict with rebellious chieftains, the Empire eventually came under the rule of Tuluva Sri Krishnadevaraya, son of an army commander Tuluva Narasa Nayaka and Nagala Devi.
In the following decades, Vijayanagara empire dominated all of southern India and reached its peak during the rule of Krishnadevaraya when the Vijayanagara armies were consistently victorious. The empire annexed areas formerly under the Sultanates in northern deccan and territories in the eastern deccan, including Kalinga, while maintaining control over all its subordinates in south India. Krishnadeva’s rule was of long sieges, bloody conquests, and victories through relentless clashes with the constant threats of the Gajapatis of Orissa, the Bahamani Sultans, the feudatory chiefs of Ummatur, Reddys of Kondavidu, Velamas of Bhuvanagiri and invasions of Bidar, Gulbarga, Golconda, Kovilkonda and Bijapur.
Krishnadeva Raya (1509-1529) was one of the great emperors of India who also earned the titles of Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana; Mooru Rayara Ganda (meaning King of three kings) and Andhra Bhoja. King Raya was not only an able administrator, but also an excellent army general who presided over the empire at its zenith and is regarded as an icon by all Indians and especially the Tuluvas, Kannadigas amd Telugus.
The empire went into slow decline regionally after King Raya. The rule of Krishnadeva Raya is a glorious chapter in Vijayanagara history when its armies were successful everywhere. It was a ‘Golden Era’. King Raya is still considered par excellence to Ashoka, Samudra Gupta and Harsha Vardhana. Recently on 27th to 29th Janaury’2010, the Government of Karnataka celebrated the 500th year of coronation of this great emperor under whose rule, the pomp and gaiety of the Vijayanagara empire reached its zenith.
The writings of medieval European travelers such as Domingo Paes, Fernao Nuniz and Niccolo Da Conti, the literature in local vernaculars and archeological excavations reveal the empire’s power and wealth. The empire’s patronage enabled fine arts and literature to reach new heights and the empire created an epoch in south Indian history that transcended regionalism, by promoting Hinduism as a unifying factor. The rule of Krishnadeva Raya was an age of prolific literature in many languages. Numerous Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada and Tamil poets enjoyed the patronage of the emperor. Eight poets known as Ashtadiggajalu or ashtadiggajas (eight elephants in the eight cardinal points such as North, South and so on) were part of his Imperial Court (known as Bhuvana Vijayam). According to the Vaishnavite religion, there are eight elephants in eight corners in space and hold the earth in its place. Similarly, these poets were the eight pillars of his literary assembly and it is popularly believed to include – Allasani Peddana (honoured with the title of father of Telugu poetry), Nandi Thimmana, Madayyagiri Mallana, Dhurjati, Ayyalaraju-Rama Bhadrudu, Pingali Surana, Rama Raj Bhushanudu and Tenali Ramakrishna. Although the ashtadiggajas were regarded as the pillars of the literary assembly, Tenali Raman remains one of the most popular figures in India today, a quick witted courtier ready even to outwit the all powerful emperor.
Garlapati Tenali Ramakrishna popularly known as Tenali Raman and Tenali Ramalinga was a Brahmin who originally hailed from Tumuluru village near the coastal town of Thenali (Guntur District of present day Andhra Pradesh). A devotee of goddess Kali, Tenali Raman became the court jester of King Raya with his wit and intelligence and shined among the ashtadiggajas and other courtiers as a precious gem in the diamond studded crown. Tenali Raman added feathers to the crown of reputation of King Krishnadeva Raya. Tenali became instrumental in protecting the emperor’s prestige many times by coming to his rescue in critical situations.
Tenali Raman was a populist philosopher and a wise man, remembered to this day for his stories and anecdotes laced with wit and intelligence. The anecdotes attributed to Tenali Raman reveal a satirical personality with a biting tongue that Tenali was not afraid to use even against the most tyrannical rulers (the Delhi Sultans) of his time. The anecdotes were used to express certain ideas by Tenali, allowing the bypassing of the normal discriminative thought patterns.
This book is a wealth of concise, useable, quote-worthy wit and wisdom revealed by the stories, toasts, snippets and anecdotes of Tenali Raman whether in King Raya’s Royal Court or in the civilian life of the Vijayanagara Empire, that lie, waiting to be used, on every page. Much of Tenali’s actions can vividly be described as bizarre yet normal, simple yet profound, natural yet sharp, straight yet logical, and prompt yet rational. What adds even further to his uniqueness is the way, Tenali got across his messages and the uncanny situations in unconventional yet very effective methods in a profound simplicity. The book brings together a broad range of items and verses on common themes, providing the readers with an overview of thinking how to overcome the everyday precarious situations. This arrangement of fables impregnated with several ‘layers’ of meaning allows you to find those perfectly appropriate motivational ways to beat a given scary situation. These fables purvey a pithy fold wisdom that triumphs overall trials and tribulations. Perhaps, here Oscar Wilde’s 1892 comment can inspire a demoralized and defeated reader: “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” Paging through “Tenali Raman”, you’ll find yourself armed with abundant supply of distilled thought stockpiled in front of you. The tales of Tenali deal with concepts that have certain timelessness. The themes in the tales have become part of the folklore that is found to fit almost any occasion. Superficially, most of the Tenali stories may be told as humorous anecdotes, yet they are engrossed with management maxims and lessons which are favourably told and retold endlessly in the teahouses of Southern India and can still in heard in homes and educational institutes. But it is inherent in a Tenali story that it may be understood at many levels. There is an anecdote, followed by a management lesson or moral – and usually the little extra which brings the consciousness of the potential mystic a little further on the way to realization. You’re bound to find that snippet of inspiration that objectifies the thinking process or snappy comeback you need to win your own personal skirmishes.
So don’t forget that as, Sir Francis Bacon wrote in 1597, “Knowledge is power.” Turn the page and become empowered.
TheSunrise
Garlapati Tenāli Ramakrishna, popularly known as Tenāli Raman was a simple Brahmin, who lived during the early 16th century and hailed from Tumuluru village near the coastal town of Tenāli in Guntur District of present day Andhra Pradesh.
Tenāli Raman later became one of the eight poets called the ‘ashtadiggajas’ (eight strong pillars) of the Royal Court (the Bhuvana Vijayam) of the famed Emperor of Vijayanagar — Tuluva Sri Krishnadeva Rāya — where he earned himself the titles of Vikata Kavi (jester-poet, strange poet), Kumara Bharathi and Andhra Paris.
Tenāli Raman lost his father at a tender age. He grew up as a carefree and a vagabond child. From morning till night, he remained in the company of mischievous village boys. An easygoing kid, he always found excuses to dodge studies or avoid helping his poor mother.
One day, Tenāli Raman met a sage who advised him to pray goddess Kali. Accordingly Tenāli went to the old Kali temple of the village and respectfully chanted the ‘mantra’ taught by the sage. As soon as he completed the recitation of the holy ‘mantra’ a lakh times, goddess Kali appeared before him.
Goddess Kali had a thousand faces and she looked terrifying. But Tenāli was not scared by her fearsome appearance. On seeing the goddess, Tenāli touched her feet and then burst into laughter.
This act of Tenāli aroused Kalika Devi’s curiosity. She ordered him to explain what made him laugh.
“Forgive me for laughing, divine Mother! But a funny thought came right into my mind the moment I saw You. I have great trouble in managing my one nose with two hands when I catch a cold and my nose runs. I wondered what you would do with your thousand noses and just two hands if You catch a cold and all your thousand noses ran? This thought made me laugh. But please do forgive me Mother, if I have been impudent,” Tenāli replied and saying so fell at her feet.
“It would be very funny!” the goddess agreed with a smile. “You are bright and witty. I bless you with the fine gift of making people laugh. You shall be called a Vikata Kavi or the jesting poet and will attain fame!”
“A good word which can be read both ways — VI-KA-TA-KA-VI!” Tenāli exclaimed, “But divine Mother, it won’t really give me anything!”
“Hmmm!” the goddess nodded, “I’ll grant you another boon. Here are two cups. The golden cup in my right hand has the milk of learning and the silver cup in my left hand has the curd of wealth. Choose whichever cup you want!” the goddess said.
‘I must have both cups because one won’t be of any use to me without the other,’ Tenāli thought to himself. He scratched his head as if he was puzzled.
“Oh, Mother! How can I choose without tasting each cup?” he asked.
“That’s true!” the goddess agreed and held out her both hands.
In a flash, Tenāli drank the content of both the cups!
The goddess was angry when she found that Tenāli had tricked her.
“I’m sorry, Mother,” Tenāli said humbly, “but I had to have both cups because what is the use of mere learning to me without the comfort of wealth?”
“What you say is fair. But your wit and prosperity will win you both friends and enemies. So, be careful in future!” the goddess Kali blessed Tenāli and vanished.
So, Tenāli mastered everything and became famous as a great humourist, an impressive poet and a great scholar of several languages that included samskrit, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil and Kannada.
Soon Tenāli Raman became well aware that if he has to make progress in life, he had to move out of Tenāli and go to Hampi, the commercial capital of Vijayanagara Empire. Tenāli was also aware that King Rāya was a great patron of arts and learning.
Once Thathyacharya, the Rajaguru (Royal priest and teacher) came to stay at Sringeri, a short distance from Tenāli. Tenāli took a collection of his selected poems and went to see the Rajaguru. Tenāli recited a few of his poems before him which impressed the Rajaguru. The Rajaguru invited Tenāli to the Royal Court.
To grab the opportune moment, Raman sold all his possessions in Tenāli and went to Vijayanagara with his wife Agarya, his younger brother Tenāli Annayya, baby son, and his old mother.
The Rajaguru obviously did not recognise him. Raman reminded him of his promise but was given a royal brush-off and deprived of his chance of either meeting the emperor or enter the Royal Court.
But Tenāli with a boon from goddess Kali managed to meet the emperor with his perseverance and grit and showed his talent to make a place in the King’s court. From thereon, he to reached the pinnacle of success.
Tenāli started his journey from rags and went ahead to accumulate riches; sure enough he completed it from childhood to adulthood and from the innocent village boy to an ashtadiggaja and proved that ‘SUCCESS IS THE OLD ABC— ABILITY, BREAKS AND COURAGE.’
LIFE’S LESSON
“Honesty is the best policy. And you must communicate what you honestly feel without causing resentment — if you communicate with sincerity, honesty and empathy.
To achieve success in any field, you need to develop the ability to grab the right opportunities, think fast and take quick decisions. The pursuit of learning is important, but not enough. You have to support it with perseverance and persistence to achieve your goals.”
Wise Cracks
Be truthful and honest!
Dedicate all your deeds to Gods and goddesses!
Obey your elders!
Be firm and yet humble!
Be truthful and honest!
Quotable Nuggets
“Vidya Dadati Viniyam. Knowledge makes one humble”
Niti Vakya
TheProdigy
Tenāli Raman was a great devotee of Kalikadevi, bestowed with immense wit and intelligence. When he was a boy and lived in Tumuluru near Tenali, his neighbour Rajamouli once took him to the house of a well-off landlord named Nagendra Rao.
“This boy is Tenāli Raman. He is a genius,” Rajamouli told Nagendra, “I’ve never seen a brighter boy than Tenāli. He has an answer for everything!” Rajamouli continued to tell Nagendra.
Nagendra was an arrogant and snobbish man full of pride who thought himself to be the only intelligent person in the whole Empire. He was not at all delighted to hear Tenāli’s praise from Rajamouli.
“He doesn’t look very intelligent,” Nagendra said glancing at Tenāli, “In any case the more intelligent a boy is, the more dull and gloomy he becomes a man!”
“Is that true, Sir?” asked Tenāli innocently, “Then, Sir, as a boy you must have been even more intelligent than I am!”
Nagendra stood awestruck and defeated at Tenāli’s quick and witty reply.
LIFE’S LESSON
“The truly greats are generally humble. They know how little they know. However as Josh Billings says, ‘Most men are like eggs, too full of themselves to hold anything else.’ Pride goes before downfall.”
Wise Cracks
Pride (vanity) is the general root of all harm.
Pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes which makes men silly.
All other passions do occasional good, but whenever pride puts in its work, everything goes wrong.
Man can get better only if he guards himself against pride, otherwise he has to face ridicule and insult.
Quotable Nuggets
“Pride, like the magnet constantly points to one object, SELF, but unlike the magnet it has no attractive pole, but at all points repels.”
C. Colton
Rendezvous withKing Raya
The Vijayanagar Empire had a prominent place in the pre-independent deccan India. King Sri Krishnadeva Rāya, among the rulers of Vijayanagar Kingdom, transformed his regime into a golden era.
Garlapati Tenāli Ramakrishna popularly known as Tenāli Raman, the simple Brahmin and scholarly poet from Tumuluru near Tenāli fell upon such hard times that he was no longer able to feed his family. Hearing that King Rāya greatly encouraged talent and was famed for his generosity, Tenāli set off for the Royal Palace in Hampi.
