TULSIDAS JAYANTI (10th August 2016)

Goswami Tulsidas, a great Hindu Saint-Poet and an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman, was born on Shukla Paksha Saptami in the month of Shravan. Believed to be an incarnation of Maharishi Valmiki, Tulsidas was an author to several incredible pieces of writings and was a saintly figure well known for his noble deeds. It is also alleged that he once met Lord Hanuman, followed by divine darshan of Lord Ram and it was Lord Hanuman, who helped him compose Ramacharitmanas (the Awadhi translation of Maharishi Valmiki’s Ramayana). Tulsidas Jayanti is celebrated throughout the country in the remembrance of this divine saint.

LIFE HISTORY OF SAINT TULSIDAS

• Childhood : Tulsidas was born in a Brahmin family in Rajpur, Uttar Pradesh as ‘Rambola’. Unlike other infants, he stayed in his mother’s womb for 12 months and at the time of birth, he was born with 32 teeth and looked like a 5-year old boy. It is believed that instead of crying, he uttered the name, “RAM” soon after his birth. However, his Astrological stars affirmed immediate death of his father and therefore, his Parents gave him away to their female servant. To add to his misery, his maid passed away after 5 and half years. Later, Narharidas (a Brahmin), adopted him and became his teacher, mentor and guardian.
• Education : Under the care and protection of Guru, Narharidas, Tulsidas got a strong hold on Sanskrit and Hindi literature and studied four Vedas, six Vedangas and Jyotish.
• Marriage : Tulsidas married Ratnavli and loved her to an extent that one day, out of excitement, she told him, “If you shall devote even half of the love that you have for me to God, you will surely cross the ocean of Sansara and become enlightened.” These words invoked sentiments and devotion for Lord Rama in his life. Sooner, he renounced the materialistic world and turned into an ascetic, wandering from one place to another, writing spiritual verses in praise of Lord Rama.
• Incarnation of Valmiki : Many believe that Goswami Tulsidas was an incarnation of Maharishi Valmiki (the composer of Ramayana). Lord Hanuman visited Valmiki several times to hear the Ramayana, however, Valmiki turned Him down saying that being a monkey He was unworthy of hearing the classic. After Rama’s victory over Ravana, Hanuman engraved a version of the Ramayana (Mahanataka Nataka) on the Himalayan rocks. The beauty of this Mahanataka frightened Valmiki, which in turn provoked Hanuman to toss the rocks into the ocean. Valmiki was told to take birth as Tulsidas and compose the Ramayana in the Awadhi dialect
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DEVOTIONAL WORKS

Tulsidas composed several spiritual works such as Ramacharitmanas, Hanuman Chalisa, Dohavali, Gitavali, Vinaya Patrika, Barve Ramayana, Hanuman Bahuk, Janaki Mangala, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak, etc.

Ramacharitmanas gives an account of Lord Rama’s ideal life that revolves around his family, kingdom and devotees, inspiring the readers to live a disciplined life with love, care, sympathy and feeling of unity amongst each other. His translated version of Ramayana strongly highlights the victory of good over evil.

RITUALS AND CELEBRATIONS

• Devotees visit temples of Lord Rama and Hanumanji to seek their Blessings.
• Devotees recite the Holy Ramacharitmanas with utmost sincerity and faith.
• People also invite Brahmins for meals on this day and donate in large amounts.
• School and Institutes conduct various seminars and Dohas writing on Ramacharitmanas to inspire and inculcate the teachings of this great epic in children.