Cultural Samvaad| Indian Culture and Heritage

Goswami Tulsidas (1532-1623)

Goswami Tulsidas

 

चित्रकूट के घाट पै, भई संतन की भीर ।

तुलसीदास चंदन घिसै, तिलक देत रघुबीर ।।

Tulsidas – the author of Shri Ramcharitmanas (श्रीरामचरितमानस) was a prolific author and composer, one of the most famous saints of the medieval Bhakti movement and an ardent devotee of Rama (he is frequently referred to as भक्त शिरोमणि – the crown jewel among devotees). Generations of Indians and Hindus have had and continue to see SiyaRam (सियाराम) through his eyes and know him through Tulsidas’ mellifluous words in Awadhi. His highly acclaimed works include Dohavali (दोहावली), Gitavali (गीतावली), Krishna Gitavali (कृष्णगीतावली) and Vinaya Patrika (विनयपत्रिका).

The popular couplet quoted above, refers to the story of his darshana of Shri Rama and Lakshmana. Tulsidas alludes to a miracle at Chitrakuta in Vinay Patrika and folklore goes thus…On the advice of Hanumanji, Tulsidas went to Chitrakuta. Every single day, he sat at the ghats of the Mandakini river, rubbing sandalwood and waiting patiently for his Lord to arrive. Lo and behold, bhagwana had to come to meet his bhagata (devotee). Tulsidas experienced Rama’s grace. This is the message of भक्ति.

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