Nawab tests RAyaru and loses
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Nawab tests RAyaru and loses |
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The Nawab had heard of RAyaru from Venkanna and had also heard about the honor and acclaim he had received in Bijapur. However, he was still skeptical about RAyaru and did not accept any authority other than Allah and his devotees. He wanted to test RAyaru and see if he was really as good as he was claimed to be. He secretly had meat prepared and placed on silver plates, but had them totally covered with silken clothes. He took this with him when accompanying Venkanna to the pUja. He offered his covered plates as naivedya for mUla rAma. RAyaru saw through his guile and sprinkled water from his kamanDala on the plates. Later, he ordered the clothes to be removed. The Nawab was waiting for this moment with bated breath. When the clothes were removed, they revealed plates full of fresh fruits and flowers! The Nawab was astounded and instantly realized the greatness of RAyaru, and the great sin he had committed by testing this divine personality. He immediately prostrated before RAyaru and with tears in his eyes begged his forgiveness. The kind and ever merciful RAyaru forgave him gladly.
The Nawab went back to his palace but was not satisfied with merely expressing regret. He wanted to make amends for his sin. So he sent Venkanna to RAyaru to offer some villages. RAyaru initially refused saying that he was a sanyAsi who had no desire for worldly things, but after Venkanna kept forcing him, he finally asked for the village of manchAle on the banks of the tungabhadra. Venkanna was surprised since that was barren land, yielding no crops or revenue. He tried to talk RAyaru into accepting more fertile land, but RAyaru would not accept anything other than manchAle. Finally, Venkanna went back to the Nawab and made immediate arrangements for ManchAle to be gifted to RAyaru.
On an auspicious day and time, RAyaru entered the village of ManchAle. He went to the temple of ManchAlamma and sought her blessings. He also had an icon of Lord Venkateshwara consecrated in ManchAle.