0 - THE FOOL
Literature: Tenali Raman's Panch Kavyas
Artist: Viraaj Mehta
Viraaj is all of ten years old and the youngest in this project. He has been learning tarot. A student of standard five he loves everything magickal and Tarot tops the list. According to him it is very interesting and easy to use. He has learnt how to meditate on it through the help of his mother and in his words, "Since then everyday is like living in a fairyland where there is only fun and happiness all around me. I think all schools must introduce Tarot to children with a little story for each card."
Description:
This Fool card depicts Tenali Raman - also called The King of Fools and is a character known from the classical literature Tenali Raman's Panch Kavyas. Tenali Raman was a Jester in the court of Krishnadeva Raja of the Vijaynagar kingdom. Tenali was a very clever and witty person who explained deep philosophies and solutions to problems in a very unique and funny way.
In one story a senior courtier retires from the court and this makes the kind very upset so that he too stops coming to the court. Observing this Tenali also stopped coming to the court and disappeared. Out of restlessness the king went to the bank of a river to enjoy the freshness of the water and he appreciated it so much that he came there repeatedly for three days. A sage who was watching him all these days came and asked the king why he was unhappy. The king relied the retirement of his courtiers was his concern. To this the sage said that everyday the king appreciated the flowing water whereas each day the water he had seen before had flowed away to be replaced by new, yet gave rise to the same feelings as the previous water. So the king realized that it is not the water which is beautiful but the beauty lies in the fact that the river keeps flowing, yet retains its freshness and clearness. Similarly those who retire from his court have not really gone. The coming and going of people in our lives is a natural, continuous process. But, their departure does not stop life as many new people fit into their shoes. The king was finally happy but happier to know that it was Tenali who was disguised as the sage.
The card shows Tenali Raman with his feathered cap and gives the message that people in our life may come and go but the Fool will always remain happy.