Tenali Raman grew up without his father, who died when Raman was a child. So, he was happy to avoid school and caused much worry to his mother with his constant mischief.
Then one day, he met a wise old sage. The sage gave him a ‘mantra’ and told him to pray to goddess Kali.
Tenali went along to the Kali temple and chanted the ‘mantra’ one lakh times as instructed by the sage. As a result, Kali appeared before him in her most fearsome form with hundreds of heads. Tenali Raman, instead of being frightened, burst out laughing. Puzzled by his laughter, goddess Kali asked him why he had laughed.
“Mother, I have a problem with one nose if I have a cold. How do you manage when each of your noses has a cold? And you have just two hands to deal with all of them,” he asked.
Mother Kali was very amused and blessed Raman with the gift of making people laugh. “You shall be called VIKATAKAVI, the jesting poet.”
“Thank you, Mother; that’s a fine name. It can be spelt forwards and back-wards alike. VI-KA-TA-KA-VI. But it won’t give me any benefit, will it?”
“Fine; I’ll grant you another boon. Here are two bowls: one contains learning, the other one wealth. Choose one of them,” she offered, holding out a bowl of glowing liquid in each hand.
“Mother, may I please taste them first before deciding? How can I decide without tasting them?” asked Raman.
“You’re right. So, try them,” she said.
Tenali Raman quickly drained the two bowls. Mother Kali was furious at first realizing that she had been tricked.
“Forgive me, Mother. But I needed both learning and wealth to live my life. One without the other is of little help to me, don’t you agree?” said Tenali Raman, looking suitably humble. Then goddess Kali laughed aloud at his cleverness.
“You shall have them, Raman! But remember one thing; when you have both, you will have many friends and enemies too. So, take care of this fact and use my gifts wisely!” And with that, Mother Kali vanished.
Tenali Raman went on to become a very witty yet wise man in Krishnadeva Raya’s court. And this brought him a lot of wealth, many friends and many jealous friends too as Kali had prophesied.
