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A court jester of the Vijayanagara Empire, Tenali Rama is a famous Indian folklore character known for his humor, quick wit, and wisdom. He was also well-respected by the citizens and the King of Vijayanagara for his intelligence. Here is a collection of short stories, Tenali Rama’s Secrets of Happiness, which are instances from his life. Each story teaches us a valuable life lesson apart from providing joviality.
Key Pointers
- Tenali Rama’s stories provide not only entertainment but also knowledge and wisdom.
- Tenali Rama teaches us to be happy with the little things in life through his stories.
- His stories teach us how to look beyond our desires.
1. Be Happy And Live In The Moment
One pleasant day, Tenali Ramakrishna and his friend decided to go to the seashore. As they were relaxing and enjoying the cool sea breeze, Rama noticed a broad cheerful smile on his friend’s face.
“What makes you smile, my friend?” Tenali Rama asked.
The friend said with delight, “I am thinking of the day I will be truly happy. The day I will have a big house by the seashore, ample money in my safe, a pretty wife, four sons who would be wealthy and educated…” Ramakrishna interrupted his friend and asked, “What will you do after achieving all that?”
His friend replied, “I would lie down with bliss on the seashore and enjoy the cool sea breeze.” Hearing this, Tenali Ramakrishna nudged his friend and said, “Aren’t you doing that right now?”
2. Be Content With What You Have
One day, as Tenali Rama was traveling to a nearby village, he spotted a man carrying a large shield on his head.
Puzzled, Rama asked, “My good man, what are you doing?”
The man instantly recognized Rama and said, “Great Rama, I am trying to hide from the sun; it is too splendid for me.”
“You need not take so much pain to do that,” said Rama, and he picked up a handful of sand and blew it into the man’s eyes. Immediately, the man dropped the shield and started to rub his eyes due to the pain.
After the pain subsided, the man asked Rama why he had done such a thing.
Rama replied, “My friend, you are too caught up in your wants and desires that you are not able to appreciate the small things in life. These desires and wants are like the small sand particles in our eyes. They blind us to what we already have in our lives.
In your desire to hide from the sun, you are taking the pain of lifting this heavy shield, but you are missing out on this fantastic view of the valley from here.”
The man then looked around and realized what he was missing. He thanked Rama for enlightening him and teaching him the lesson of contentment. This story teaches us that we should find satisfaction and comfort in what we have.
3. Do Lot Let Desires Blind Your Judgment
One day, Tenali Rama and his wife decided to paint their house with enthusiasm. They were contemplating which color to choose.
“I want the whole house to be colored pink,” said his wife.
To this, Rama replied, “You must be joking; we cannot paint the whole house pink; we need to have another color that goes with pink.”
“It has to be all pink. I have made up my mind, and nothing else can make me happy now.” the wife persisted. Observing his wife’s stubbornness, Rama thought of a way to make her see the reality of the situation. He handed her a pair of pink glasses and said, “Fine then, wear these glasses. Not only the walls, but I too would appear pink.”
He then made her sit and began explaining, “Look dear, you cannot let your desires blind your judgment. You were so obsessed with painting the house pink that you could not visualize how ugly it would be. Look for yourself through these glasses.”
After looking through the glasses, Rama’s wife realizes her mistake.
4. Look On The Bright Side
One day, Tenali Rama and his wife were heading towards a friend’s house to attend a wedding. Rama’s wife wore one of her best sarees. She felt immense joy and pleasure by the way she was looking that day.
As they were walking, a bullock cart suddenly came heading towards them. Immediately. Rama pulled his wife, but they were unable to balance themselves and fell into a pit.
Upset that her attire was ruined, Rama’s wife said, “What have you done? You spoiled my beautiful saree.” “Well, it’s time to buy you a new saree then.” Said Rama, and he thanked Goddess Kaali for saving their lives.
This collection of Tenali Rama short stories offers amusement and glee to its young readers while instilling valuable life lessons. In addition to emanating a sense of jubilation and gaiety, these stories enhance the reader’s understanding of the true essence of happiness. Furthermore, they promote feelings of ecstasy, serenity, and solace, which are crucial for maintaining mental peace and harmony.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What were Tenali Rama’s views on happiness?
Tenali Rama believed in embracing the present moment and cherishing life as it is, instead of yearning for a distant dream, causing us to overlook happiness in the present.
2. How do the stories of Tenali Rama on the secrets of happiness relate to modern life?
The stories of Tenali Rama about the secrets of happiness are still relevant in our modern lives as we are often busy chasing our never-ending dreams and desires, neglecting to express gratitude for what we have or to acknowledge the beauty of the present moment. The stories also encourage us to remember that true happiness does not come from material possessions or achievements but from within. In the fast-paced nature of modern life, we tend to forget these timeless lessons, and these stories remind us to live in the present.
3. What techniques does Tenali Rama use to teach life lessons in his stories?
Tenali Rama was renowned for his cleverness, intellect, and knack for imparting valuable life lessons. In addition, he adeptly employs humor, skill, satire, and compassion to create situations that expose hypocrisy and promote moralities. You may want to introduce your child to more Tenali Rama stories for kids that exemplify these.
Give your child the confidence to solve different problems through tales of Tenali Raman. Watch this video for an engaging tale that’ll blow their minds.
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