The Invisible Garments

One day, there came a damsel to the court of Tenali Ramalinga Stories Sri Krishna Devaraya. She attracted everyone with her fine dress and address:

She wore a saree that could be fitted into a small chest that one kept one’s earrings. Removing a saree from the chest she held on her hand, and said to the king:

"My great lord, I have with me a team of weavers who are producing the garments of which one I am placing before the court. They can even perform the miracle of weaving the invisible garments that angels wear. What they need is support from you the great patron of art."

Sri Krishna Devaraya, hearing her words, immediately granted funds for a year to carry on the research and development of the art.

The damsel and her men enjoyed life on the royal patronage, which went on for a year. But the king and the court were yet to see the miracle garments that angels wear. The king deputed some officials to find out whether the work was on or not. So they went to her place of work for investigation.

The damsel received the officials most cordially, and she took into the hall where her weavers were busily at work. There they found no looms, no threads, but only empty work of the weavers with their empty hands. The officials looked at each other; then all of them looked askance at her. She answered them in a low hymnal voice;

"He who is holy, including his own parents, shall see these invisible garments our weavers weave."

Hearing these words from her, none dared to make any complaint. He came forward to say in one voice:

"What a wonderful piece of work it is!"

The men went to the king, and reported the same. The king was eagerly waiting to see the garments that angels wear.

The day had finally come, and the art-piece, the invisible garment, was put in the great exhibition primarily arranged for its display. The Damsel with her assistants was displaying the angelic invisible garment to everyone that came, with the following words:

"It is a miracle of rare device in art, the garment that angels wear. Invisible to the person who has a dubious and unchaste life, even if his parents had it."

The king came with Tenali Ramalingam to see the garment that angels wear. When he heard her, he was reeling with a doubt and he expressed that to Ramalingam whisperingly:

"Am I at fault or my parents, that I see nothing there?"

He responded: "Nothing comes out of nothing, Prabhu."

‘What do you mean to say?" Said the king in great suspicion.

Ramalingam, then, replied:

"I mean, my great sovereign, the damsel is fooling both our eyes and minds." Thereby, the king asked him to disapprove her. Looking at the damsel in a pretended wonder, Ramalingam said:

"What a fine piece you have on your hand!

Our king is eager to find in you an angelic beauty in the invisible garment."

The damsel felt that Ramalingam Kavi outwitted her. She can’t disobey the king’s order that came from Ram lingam’s lips; and at the same time, she can’t face the shame of being nude before the king and his team. So she fell to Sri Krishna Devaraya’s feet and asked for pardon. However, the glorious name of the garments that angels wear (devata vastramulu) have permanently stamped to signify the nude-figure, san-garments.