

Getting this reply and on a closer look, the King could make out that the old man was none other than his very own advisor Tenali Raman. The old man replied back by saying that he was just a mere citizen of an empire whose king was chasing an impossible dream. Hearing that the king got angry and asked him how his dream could be a reality. To the king’s astonishment, the old man said he had a dream last night and he saw that he was looted and his family was murdered by the king and Chatur Pandit. The king enquired if he knew who did so and he said that he did know. The old man told the king that he had been a wealthy merchant till a week back when he was looted and his family members killed. Since the king was very just and honest, he promised the man that he would be given justice. One day an old man came inside the court of Krishnadevaraya and asked him for justice. He would ask the King a few more questions about his dream and then ask for more time and money. Tathacharya never covered his face from then on.ĭays went by, but every time the king asked about the project, Chatur would make excuses.

The king understood Tenali’s humour, and Tathacharya was ashamed of himself. The king asked Tenali what made him do so? Tenali told the king that he was paying his respect to Tathacharya’s ancestors and forefathers who had become donkeys after having sinned by looking at the face of Smarthas. On seeing them, he rushed towards the donkeys, and he bent down to salute them.Įveryone, including the king, was shocked to see that. When they were returning, he saw some donkeys on the way. Hearing this, Tenali found a way to teach Tathacharya a lesson.Īfter a few days, Tenali had accompanied the King, Tathacharya, and all the courtiers for a picnic. Tatacharya told him that Smarthas were sinners and if he saw their face, he would be a donkey in his next birth. Seeing this, Tenali asked him why he was covering his face in front of his disciple. As soon as he saw Tenali, he covered his face.

So, after listening to everyone, Tenali went to Tathacharya’s house to pay him a visit. So, the people and the king himself requested Tenali to solve this problem. Everyone, including the king, was angry because of his behaviour. Since he looked down on the Smarthas, Tathacharya always covered his face with a cloth while going out so that he may not have to see the face of any Smartha. He disregarded the Smarthas who were followers of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. The Royal teacher Tathacharya belong to Vaishnavite sect and worshipped Vishnu. Vidhyuulatha got angry and said, “what nonsense are you saying?” He further told her that now if she couldn’t pay the exact price of a handful grain, then she must give the thousand gold coins and also take off the board asking people to come for an intellectual argument with her. The man insisted that she did not understand what he had actually asked for.

Vidhyulatha agreed and asked him to dump the firewood at her backyard. The man hearing that said that he did not want to sell his firewood in exchange for money but for a handful grain. She came outside and asked him to sell her the firewood. When this went on for quite some time, Vidhyulatha got irritated. One day a man selling firewood was shouting on top of his voice just outside her house. Many scholars took the challenge but could not defeat her.ĭays passed but no one could defeat her. On the board, it was written that whoever would defeat her wit, intelligence, wisdom and knowledge in ancient books, she would reward that person with one thousand gold coins. One day she put up a board in front of her house. She was proud of her accomplishments in the field of fine arts and was arrogant too. There was a woman named Vidhyulatha in the Vijayanagara Kingdom. A Handful of Grain or A Thousand Gold Coins
