Generosity and Branding .

- "She had terrible back pain. She believed branding the back with hot iron would relieve the pain. That was the old remedy in those days. Sadly, she died before she could be branded. So she died repeating 'brand, brand.'

- "Your minister Tenaliram has turned cruel and wicked! He tortured us with hot branding rods!"

T enaliram is often called the Birbal of the South. He had earned the title of Vikata Kavi - a title that, no matter how you read it - forward or backward - always pointed to his clever and sharp wit. In fact, 'Vi-ka-ta-ka-vi' reads the same both ways! Tenaliram was highly intelligent and way ahead of his time. He disliked old superstitions and outdated customs, and especially disliked the lazy priests who expected to be fed for doing nothing.

One time, it was the death anniversary of the queen mother. A full year had passed since her passing. Earlier, during the 13th day rituals after her death, the Brahmins had been generously fed and well rewarded. But their greed knew no bounds.

When the king brought up the upcoming anniversary, the Brahmins pounced on the opportunity. They reminded him that the queen mother had passed away during mango season - in fact, they claimed she died chanting "mango, mango." According to them, her soul still lingered in the mango. Only if the king donated golden mangoes to the Brahmins would her soul find peace. Otherwise, she would suffer in the afterlife.

So the king summoned the royal goldsmiths and ordered golden mangoes to be made.

When Tenaliram heard this, he was outraged. He thought, "Of course the king can afford golden mangoes. But what about the poor? What would they do? Would their loved ones be denied peace just because they can't afford such donations?"

Tenaliram believed that a person's destiny in the afterlife depended on how they lived, not on gold or rituals. And more than that, he believed once a person died, they were gone. There was no moksha (salvation) or punishment waiting afterward.

But right now, the question was about golden mangoes-and Tenaliram was furious at the Brahmins' manipulation. Instead of honoring the dead with good deeds, they were using the moment for personal gain.

Then Tenaliram remembered that his own mother's death anniversary also fell around the same time. So he invited the Brahmins too.

Since Tenaliram was the royal minister, the Brahmins assumed his offering would be grand. The mango-loving Brahmins came running.

But Tenaliram didn't give anything in public. Instead, he told them, "My mother's pain was personal, so her donation will be private. Each Brahmin will receive his gift alone."

The Brahmins didn't mind. In fact, they thought the private donation must be something truly valuable.

Here's what happened: One by one, each Brahmin entered a special room to receive his "gift." But no one saw what the others received.

And yet, each Brahmin came out screaming in pain!

Why?

Because Tenaliram had arranged for each Brahmin to be branded on the back with a hot iron rod!

In the secret donation room, a fire blazed and iron rods glowed red. As each Brahmin entered, attendants lifted their robes and pressed the hot brand to their back. Screaming in pain, each Brahmin ran away without looking back.

Eventually, the Brahmins regrouped and decided to file a complaint. They stormed into court and told the king, "Your minister Tenaliram has turned cruel and wicked! He tortured us with hot branding rods!"

The king summoned Tenaliram and asked, "Did you brand the Brahmins? Do you confess?"

Tenaliram replied, "Your Majesty! I was simply offering donations on my mother's death anniversary. If giving donations on such a day is wrong, then even you are guilty - you donated golden mangoes for your mother!"

The Brahmins shouted together, "He's lying! He didn't donate anything-he branded us!"

The king asked, "Tenaliram, is this true?"

Tenaliram calmly explained, "Your Majesty, you know very well that rituals are done according to the person's last wishes. Even the Brahmins say so. Now, your mother passed away saying 'mango, mango,' so you gave golden mangoes. But my mother... she died saying 'brand, brand.'"

Everyone gasped. "Did your mother really say 'brand, brand' while dying?"

"Yes," Tenaliram said. "She had terrible back pain. She believed branding the back with hot iron would relieve the pain. That was the old remedy in those days. Sadly, she died before she could be branded. So she died repeating 'brand, brand.'

Now tell me, Your Majesty-if your mother's last wish deserves golden mangoes, don't I owe my mother a branding in her honor? Should I let her soul suffer just because the donation looks bad?"

The Brahmins and even the king went silent.

The Brahmins quickly backed away. None of them stayed for the king's mother's anniversary either-because now they knew: if they wanted golden mangoes, they'd also get red-hot branding rods!

What a clever move by Tenaliram!

Using such bold methods, Tenaliram fought against old superstitions and challenged blind faith with wit and reason.