๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ & ๐ก๐๐ช๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐
|| SRI GURU RAGHAVENDRA AND NAWAB OF ADONI ||
● Siddi Masood Khan, the Nawab of Adoni, was enjoying himself in the company of his wives. A messenger interrupted them, “Dewan Venkanna" has come to meet you.” The wives left the room.
"A messenger of God has come from heaven.”
“Who? Has Mohammed Paigambar come?”
“No, Guru Raghavendra Swami.”
“Ha, ha, ha! Not all saints are great souls. Anyway, give him something and send him away.”
The visitor, the Dewan explained, was not an ordinary mortal. He had, he noted further, rid many people of their difficulties. “You must see him once and get his blessings. That’s all I wish for.”
The Nawab scoffed at the suggestion. “You Hindus are quick to believe…. Anyway, arrange for a meeting tomorrow. I will test his powers!”
The following day, the Nawab came to greet Sri Raghavendra. “Please accept the salaam of Nawab …. Khan.”
“Narayana! I am delighted to meet you,” the saint said.
The Nawab asked if he would accept a gift. Sri Raghavendra replied, “Sri Rama will accept anything given out of devotion.”
The Nawab’s servant placed a tray covered with silk cloth on a low table in the centre of the room.
Sri Raghavendra turned to the Nawab, “Please do not conceal the gift that you have offered with love. Remove the cloth.” The Nawab stepped forward and lifted the cloth away. The tray was laden with pieces of meat. Sri Raghavendra’s followers were shocked at the sight. The saint though was unmoved. He calmly sprinkled some water on the tray. The tray was laden with fruits! Everyone in the room was amazed.
“Did you see, Nawab? Allah knows how to respect our God better than either of us. He will keep correcting us whenever we err, isn’t it?” The Nawab begged his forgiveness. “Allah, please punish me. Swamiji, please ask your God to punish me too!”
The epic encounter of Sri Raghavendra with the Nawab of Adoni is at bottom a morality tale. The Nawab’s contempt for a “Hindu” religious figure and “kaffirs” gives way to great generosity. Sri Raghavendra expects that his God be recognized without an insistence on the superiority of his faith. And, however varied its narrative style, the episode is unambiguous that the religious faith of each other ought to be respected.
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