SANT TULSIDAAS
1497 - 1623
Tulsidaas was born in Mool Nakshatra[i] and his father abandoned him at birth. It is believed that the father will die within a few years of the birth of a child born in Mool. Guru Narsimha was passing by and realizing the predicament of the baby, he took him to his ashram. There he was astutely taught by that great Guru and within a relatively short space of time, he mastered Sanskrit and all the other fields of study.
Tulsidaas was married to Ratnawali and never wanted to be apart from his wife. On one occasion, her parents wanted to see her so they sent her brother on that mission. On arrival, her brother discovered that Tulsidaas was not at home. Nevertheless, she accompanied him. It was very rainy and the river flooded its banks. When Tulsidaas got home and realized she had left, he went in search of her. He eventually found her. She told him, if he showed the same love he had for her to God’s feet, it would serve him well.
He returned to his inner thirst to write about Shree Raam. He was instructed to seek satsang with Shree Hanumaan in order to realise his goal. He wandered from village to village and during his travels, he encountered a prêt (a wandering soul) when he inadvertently made a tilanjali offering near the tree under which he slept. In exchange, he directed Tulsidaas to where Raam's katha was being recited.
He was given a clue to find Shree Hanumaan who is present wherever Raam’s katha is read. He was instructed that Shree Hanumaan will be the first guest to arrive and the last to leave. Persisting with this mission, Tulsidaas met Shree Hanumaan who directed him to Chitrakoot. Here indeed he had the privilege of placing chandan on the foreheads of Shree Raam and Lakshman when they appeared before him. He was able to see the entire leela of Shree Raam much like a video.
At the age of 77 years – long after most of us retire – Sant Tulsidaas had the drive to pen the Holy Raamaayan in the language of the people - Graam Bhaashaa. Its popularity grew among the masses but did not find favour with the aloof intellectuals. As expected, riots erupted which led to his incarceration for a period. He survived that because by that time, this profound book of literature found its rightful position among the top literary works in Hinduism.
Once he was passing by a Krishen Mandir and he did not acknowledge the murti. The people there were upset that such a great devotee would pass by and not acknowledge the murti. When confronted, he declared he was a Raam upaasak. They insisted that he should show respect to the murti by prostrating. He proclaimed “How handsome you look today, O Krishna, holding your flute in your hand. However, if I am to bow, I would so do only if you wield your famous bow and arrow.” As he said this the murti transformed to the form of Shree Raam and he prostrated before it.
His greatest example to mankind was HUMILITY. At the beginning of Raamaayan, he bows to the dust of his Guru’s feet because he did not think he was worthy of actually touching his Guru’s feet. This was a reflection of his humility.
He lived to 126 years.
SOME OF HIS WORKS:
1. ADHYAATMA RAAMAAYAN – This was the first Raamaayan he wrote. It was written in a philosophical vein in Sanskrit.
2. TULSIKRIT RAAMAAYAN – This was his greatest work. It was written in metre in the language of the common people and condensed in seven chapters(kaands). It consists of:
· 4606 Chowpaees
· 1167 Dohas
· 207 Chands
· 86 Sorthaas
· 27 Shlokas
3. HANUMAAN BAAHUK – He wrote this while incarcerated. The theme of the Hanumaan Bahuk, revolved around the concept that -
“PAIN IS INEVITABLE BUT SUFFERING IS OPTIONAL”
Karma dictates pain, whether it is sickness or other distresses or problems. Even though the process of pain has to go on, you, the individual, can choose not to suffer in the process.
4. VINAYA PATRIKAA – Essential teachings of the Vedas
5. GEETAAWALI - Essential teachings of the Vedas
6. DOHAAWALI – A book of metaphors
© Sanatan Vidwad Vidyalaya Hindu School of Theology