Tulsidas is an well-known name to the spiritual people of
Hinduism. He is also familiar as Goswami Tulsidas. He was a poet, saint
and philosopher. Tulsidas is considered to be an incarnation of Valmiki,
the sage who composed the original Ramayana, and is counted among the
foremost devotees of Lord Rama. He was born in Rajpur (or Rajapur) in
the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh. Biographers are not identical about
the year. Sometimes it is mentioned that He was born in 16th century
where some say it was 1497. Sometimes it is also heard that the year
could be 1532 or 1554 or 1589. Is is believed that He was born in Hindu
month Sravana (Srabon or Shraavana [July-August]).
His father's name was Atmaram Dubey(somebody mentioned as Atmaram Shukla Dubey ) and mother's name was Hulsi. He was a Sarayuparina Brahmin by birth, although some sources claim he was a Kanyakubja or Sanadhya Brahmin. His birth was a bit pathetic because he was born under the Abhuktamula constellation, which according to Hindu astrology causes immediate danger to the life of the father. That's why his parent abandoned him after couple of days of his birth. He was taken away by a servant to avoid inauspicious astrological event. It is heard that when born he did not cry rather he was chanting Sri Rama's name and therefore named Rambola (literally, he who utters Rama).
While he was growing up at the servant's house, one day Rambola met Narharidas, a descendant of Ramanand (Vaishnava saint). It is type of hearsay information that Narharidas is the fourth disciple of Ramanand. Narharidas took him to Ayodhya. Rambola was then only five years old. He was given Diksha(initiation) and Narharidas named him Tulsiram from a reference to a tulsi leaf used during that ceremony which later became Tulsidas. When Rambola was 7 years old, his Upanayana (a sacred-thread ceremony) was performed by Narharidas on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Magha [January - February]. After some days (may be couple of months), Narharidas took him to Sukar-khet (Sukar-kshetra or Varaha kshetra), now known as Paska, near Ayodhya. There he started his teachings. It was here that Tulsidas heard the fascinating story of Sri Ramchandra for the first time. Tulsidas then moved to Varanasi, another sacred city. There He met Shesha Sanatana. Shesha Sanatana was a friend of Narharidas. He was hailed from Pancaganga Ghat. He was a learned person and had vast knowledge in Hindu philosophy. Tulsidas studied Sanskrit grammar, four Vedas, six Vedangas, Jyotisha and the six schools of Hindu philosophy over a period of 10-15 years from guru Shesha Sanatana.
Tulsidas was married to Ratnavali. Ratnavali was a daughter of a Brahmin. Tulsidas was very much devoted or compassionate towards Ratnavali. Tulsidas worshiped Hanumanji by heart and oneday when He was in Hanumanji temple, Ratnavali went to her father's home with her brother. After coming from temple when Tulsidas did not find her at home, He began to search her and came to know that Ratnavali went to her parent's house. He quickly decided to meet her and then swam across the Yamuna river in the night to meet his wife. Seeing Him, Ratnavali was not pleased and she rebuked Him and remarked that if He had devotion towards God as much as He had towards her, He would have found God. Tulsidas was a devotee of Lord Rama from early childhood, and these words affected him deeply. Tulsidas left her instantly, renounced householder's life and and became a Sadhu (Hindu ascetic). He left for the holy city of Prayag. Tulsidas and Ratnavali had a son named Tarak. He did not live long and died as a toddler. Here controversy also lies as some biographers mentions that Tulsidas never married, He was a saint for time. He maintained celibacy from His childhood. They marks it as later interpolation.
After renunciation, He traveled the length and breadth of India, visiting Prayag, Ayodhya, and Chitrakuta and many more places, met different type of peoples, saints and sages. Perhaps the best known part of His spiritual traveling was the meeting of Sri Hanumanji and Lord Rama. Tulsidas had the habit of pouring some water at the base of a banyan tree when he passed that way after His morning ablutions. Oneday, on His return, He was pouring water as usual, a spirit that was suffering the effects of past evil deeds lived on a tree, quenched his thirst and got some relief. The spirit was pleased and in order to express gratitude, it appeared to Tulsidas and offered Him a boon. As Tuslidas was devotee of Sri Ramchandra, His only wishes was to see His Lord. The spirit replied this is beyond his capacity but he could guide Him. The spirit said you could take the help of Sri Hanumanji, He comes everyday in guise of an old to listen the hymn of Sri Rama, he is the first to arrive and last to leave. The next day, when Tuslidas recognized this old man, He bow down to the old man's feet and started lamenting, "I have come to know that who are you. Please bless me. I want to see my Lord Sri Rama."
Hanumanji was pleased and instructed Him. According to His advice, Tulsidas remained in Chitrakut and making sandalwood paste and giving it to the devotees who came there. One day, while he was making the paste, Sri Ram appeared in front of him and said: ''Baba, give me some sandalwood paste for Tilaka (a religious mark on the forehead)." Tulsidas was overwhelmed as He started to see His dearest Lord and went into samadhi. Sri Rama took some sandalwood paste and put it to Tulsidas's forehead with his own hand. Tulsidas remained in samadhi(transcendental meditation) for three days. This was the first time he experienced samadhi through the darshan(see) of Sri Rama Himself!
Ramcharitmanas is Tulsidas's one of great literary work. He is also the author of several other works including Vinaya Patrika, Gitavali, Dohavali and Kavitavali. His minor works include Baravai Ramayana, Janaki Mangal, Ramalala Nahachhu, Ramajna Prashna, Parvati Mangal, Krishna Gitavali, Hanuman Bahuka, Sankata Mochana and Vairagya Sandipini. Furthermore, he is the seer of the Hanuman Chalisa, a powerful and popular mantra for Hanuman, in 40 verses. Tulsidas died at the Ashi Ghat on the bank of the river Ganga in the year 1623.
His father's name was Atmaram Dubey(somebody mentioned as Atmaram Shukla Dubey ) and mother's name was Hulsi. He was a Sarayuparina Brahmin by birth, although some sources claim he was a Kanyakubja or Sanadhya Brahmin. His birth was a bit pathetic because he was born under the Abhuktamula constellation, which according to Hindu astrology causes immediate danger to the life of the father. That's why his parent abandoned him after couple of days of his birth. He was taken away by a servant to avoid inauspicious astrological event. It is heard that when born he did not cry rather he was chanting Sri Rama's name and therefore named Rambola (literally, he who utters Rama).
While he was growing up at the servant's house, one day Rambola met Narharidas, a descendant of Ramanand (Vaishnava saint). It is type of hearsay information that Narharidas is the fourth disciple of Ramanand. Narharidas took him to Ayodhya. Rambola was then only five years old. He was given Diksha(initiation) and Narharidas named him Tulsiram from a reference to a tulsi leaf used during that ceremony which later became Tulsidas. When Rambola was 7 years old, his Upanayana (a sacred-thread ceremony) was performed by Narharidas on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Magha [January - February]. After some days (may be couple of months), Narharidas took him to Sukar-khet (Sukar-kshetra or Varaha kshetra), now known as Paska, near Ayodhya. There he started his teachings. It was here that Tulsidas heard the fascinating story of Sri Ramchandra for the first time. Tulsidas then moved to Varanasi, another sacred city. There He met Shesha Sanatana. Shesha Sanatana was a friend of Narharidas. He was hailed from Pancaganga Ghat. He was a learned person and had vast knowledge in Hindu philosophy. Tulsidas studied Sanskrit grammar, four Vedas, six Vedangas, Jyotisha and the six schools of Hindu philosophy over a period of 10-15 years from guru Shesha Sanatana.
Tulsidas was married to Ratnavali. Ratnavali was a daughter of a Brahmin. Tulsidas was very much devoted or compassionate towards Ratnavali. Tulsidas worshiped Hanumanji by heart and oneday when He was in Hanumanji temple, Ratnavali went to her father's home with her brother. After coming from temple when Tulsidas did not find her at home, He began to search her and came to know that Ratnavali went to her parent's house. He quickly decided to meet her and then swam across the Yamuna river in the night to meet his wife. Seeing Him, Ratnavali was not pleased and she rebuked Him and remarked that if He had devotion towards God as much as He had towards her, He would have found God. Tulsidas was a devotee of Lord Rama from early childhood, and these words affected him deeply. Tulsidas left her instantly, renounced householder's life and and became a Sadhu (Hindu ascetic). He left for the holy city of Prayag. Tulsidas and Ratnavali had a son named Tarak. He did not live long and died as a toddler. Here controversy also lies as some biographers mentions that Tulsidas never married, He was a saint for time. He maintained celibacy from His childhood. They marks it as later interpolation.
After renunciation, He traveled the length and breadth of India, visiting Prayag, Ayodhya, and Chitrakuta and many more places, met different type of peoples, saints and sages. Perhaps the best known part of His spiritual traveling was the meeting of Sri Hanumanji and Lord Rama. Tulsidas had the habit of pouring some water at the base of a banyan tree when he passed that way after His morning ablutions. Oneday, on His return, He was pouring water as usual, a spirit that was suffering the effects of past evil deeds lived on a tree, quenched his thirst and got some relief. The spirit was pleased and in order to express gratitude, it appeared to Tulsidas and offered Him a boon. As Tuslidas was devotee of Sri Ramchandra, His only wishes was to see His Lord. The spirit replied this is beyond his capacity but he could guide Him. The spirit said you could take the help of Sri Hanumanji, He comes everyday in guise of an old to listen the hymn of Sri Rama, he is the first to arrive and last to leave. The next day, when Tuslidas recognized this old man, He bow down to the old man's feet and started lamenting, "I have come to know that who are you. Please bless me. I want to see my Lord Sri Rama."
Hanumanji was pleased and instructed Him. According to His advice, Tulsidas remained in Chitrakut and making sandalwood paste and giving it to the devotees who came there. One day, while he was making the paste, Sri Ram appeared in front of him and said: ''Baba, give me some sandalwood paste for Tilaka (a religious mark on the forehead)." Tulsidas was overwhelmed as He started to see His dearest Lord and went into samadhi. Sri Rama took some sandalwood paste and put it to Tulsidas's forehead with his own hand. Tulsidas remained in samadhi(transcendental meditation) for three days. This was the first time he experienced samadhi through the darshan(see) of Sri Rama Himself!
Ramcharitmanas is Tulsidas's one of great literary work. He is also the author of several other works including Vinaya Patrika, Gitavali, Dohavali and Kavitavali. His minor works include Baravai Ramayana, Janaki Mangal, Ramalala Nahachhu, Ramajna Prashna, Parvati Mangal, Krishna Gitavali, Hanuman Bahuka, Sankata Mochana and Vairagya Sandipini. Furthermore, he is the seer of the Hanuman Chalisa, a powerful and popular mantra for Hanuman, in 40 verses. Tulsidas died at the Ashi Ghat on the bank of the river Ganga in the year 1623.
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