Sri Raghavendra Swamy was a great scholar and teacher of the Vedas and other scriptures. He was also a master of astrology and palmistry. He had many disciples and followers who revered him for his wisdom and devotion. He was also known for his miraculous powers and healing abilities.
One day, a Muslim ruler named Nawab Siddi Masud Khan visited Adoni, a town near Mantralayam. He was a cruel and arrogant man who oppressed his subjects and persecuted the Hindus. He heard about Sri Raghavendra Swamy and his fame and decided to test him.
He sent a messenger to invite Sri Raghavendra Swamy to his palace for a debate on religion. He also threatened to harm him if he refused to come.
Sri Raghavendra Swamy agreed to go to the palace, but he said that he would not debate with the Nawab, as he respected all religions and did not want to hurt anyone's sentiments. He said that he would only answer his questions and clear his doubts.
The Nawab was not satisfied with this answer and planned to humiliate and torture Sri Raghavendra Swamy in front of his courtiers.
He prepared a throne made of iron and covered it with silk cloth. He also installed a mechanism that would heat up the throne when a lever was pulled.
He then arranged for Sri Raghavendra Swamy to be seated on the throne, while he himself sat on another throne opposite him.
He welcomed Sri Raghavendra Swamy with false courtesy and asked him to sit on the throne. He then secretly pulled the lever and waited for Sri Raghavendra Swamy to scream in pain.
But to his surprise, nothing happened. Sri Raghavendra Swamy sat calmly on the throne, unaffected by the heat. He smiled at the Nawab and said that he was comfortable.
The Nawab was shocked and angry. He thought that there was some defect in the mechanism and ordered his men to check it.
They found that the mechanism was working perfectly and that the throne was red hot. They could not understand how Sri Raghavendra Swamy could sit on it without any discomfort.
The Nawab then realized that Sri Raghavendra Swamy was not an ordinary person, but a divine being with supernatural powers. He felt ashamed and afraid of his evil deed.
He fell at the feet of Sri Raghavendra Swamy and begged for his forgiveness. He said that he had seen the miracle of Lord Hari and Vayu, who had protected their devotee from harm.
He also confessed that he had seen a strange dream the previous night, in which he saw Sri Raghavendra Swamy sitting on a lotus flower in a lake, surrounded by five-faced Hanuman (Panchamukhi Anjaneya), Garuda (the eagle mount of Lord Vishnu), Sesha (the serpent bed of Lord Vishnu), Narasimha (the lion-man avatar of Lord Vishnu) and Sudarshana (the discus weapon of Lord Vishnu).
He said that these divine beings had warned him not to harm Sri Raghavendra Swamy, as he was their beloved servant and representative.
He said that he had ignored their warning and acted foolishly out of pride and ignorance.
Sri Raghavendra Swamy lifted him up and embraced him. He said that he was happy that the Nawab had realized his mistake and had changed his heart.
He said that the Nawab was a good person at heart, but he had been misled by his ego and greed. He said that the Nawab should always remember the grace and power of Lord and serve them with devotion and humility.
He also said that the Nawab should be kind and just to his subjects and respect all religions and faiths.
The Nawab thanked Sri Raghavendra Swamy for his kindness and wisdom. He said that he would dedicate his life to the service of God and humanity.
He also said that he would donate a large piece of land near Mantralayam to Sri Raghavendra Swamy for building a mutt (monastery) for him and his disciples.
Sri Raghavendra Swamy blessed him and his courtiers. He also gave them some prasadam (sacred food) from his mutt.
He then bid farewell to the Nawab and left for Mantralayam, where he established his mutt and continued his spiritual activities.
The moral of the above story is that we should not test or harm the saints and sages who are the messengers of God. We should also not be arrogant or cruel to others, as we may face the consequences of our actions. We should seek the guidance and blessings of the saints and sages who can show us the path of devotion and wisdom
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