Who wrote Ramcharitmanas? Why did Tulsidas write Ramcharitmanas?

Ramcharitmanas is an epic poem written in the Awadhi language. This epic poem was written by a 16th-century Indian bhakti poet, Tulsidas. It draws inspiration from a variety of sources, the most notable of which is Valmiki's Ramayana.

Saint Tulsidas was a devoted follower of Lord Ram who yearned for a darshan from him. He would recite the Ramcharitmanas and chant Ram naam every evening on the Varanasi ghat back then. His chanting used to draw large crowds of people.

Tulsidas lived much of his life at Ayodhya and Banaras (now Varanasi). He is commemorated at the Tulsi Ghat on the Ganges in Varanasi. In Varanasi, he established the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, which is said to be located where he saw the god. The Ramlila plays, a folk-theatre rendition of the Ramayana, were initiated by Tulsidas. 

What is Ramcharitmanas? 

Ramcharitmanas is an epic poem in the Awadhi language, composed by the 16th-century Indian bhakti poet Tulsidas. Tulsidas started composing the Ramcharitmanas in Ayodhya and used vernacular Awadhi language to write this notable poem. It is believed that the main premise of the book is Valmiki's poetic depiction of the events of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana.

The work is also called Tulsi Ramayana, Tulsikrit Ramayana, Tulsidas Ramayana or simply Manas. Ramcharitmanas is considered one of the greatest works of Hindu literature. The work has been acclaimed as "the living sum of Indian culture", "the tallest tree in the magic garden of medieval Indian poetry", "the greatest book of all devotional literature" and "the best and most trustworthy guide to the popular living faith of the Indian people."

Here are some key points about Ramcharitmanas:

- Background: Tulsidas began writing the Ramcharitmanas in Ayodhya in 1574 CE.

- Language: The Ramcharitmanas is written in vernacular Awadhi language.

- Narrative: Ramcharitmanas is structured around three separate conversations.

- Bāl Kāṇḍ: Tulsidas begins the story with an invocation to various deities, his guru and saints who have preceded him and those who will succeed him in the future.

Who is Tulsidas?

On the seventh day of Shukla Paksha, the bright half of the lunar Hindu month of July–August, Saint Tulsidas was born. Although he is said to have been born in three different locations, the majority of academics pinpoint Soron in the Kasganj area of Uttar Pradesh, India.

According to legend, Tulsidas was born after a twelve-month pregnancy, having thirty-two teeth at birth, and looking like a five-year-old child. Rather than crying at delivery, he is said to have uttered Rama. For this reason, as Tulsidas himself says in Vinaya Patrika, he was called Rambola, which means literally, he who uttered Rama. 

At Ayodhya, Narharidas (his Guru) performed his Upanayana, or "sacred thread ceremony at a Rama pilgrimage site, when Tulsidas was seven years old. Tulsidas began his education in Ayodhya. After some time, Varaha, the boar avatar of Vishnu, was brought to a sacred location called Varaha Kshetra Soron by Narharidas, where he told Tulsidas the story of the Ramayana for the first time. This is mentioned in the Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas.

Here are some facts about Tulsidas.

- Born: 1543 in Rajapur, India

- Died: 1623 in Varanasi

- Occupation: Indian Vaishnavite poet

- Principal work: "Ramcharitmanas" (also known as "Sacred Lake of the Acts of Rama")

- Notable achievements: Tulsidas is regarded as an incarnation of Valmiki, the author of Ramayana written in Sanskrit. He is considered one of the greatest poets of Hindi and one of the most celebrated Bhakti poets in India.

- Other works: "Dohavali", "Ramagya Prashna", "Tulsi Doha Shatak" (lit. Hundred couplets of Tulsi), "Kavitavali"

Twelve works—six major and six minor works—are largely regarded by biographers being written by Tulsidas. The works have been categorized into two groups according to their language:

The works of Tulsidas in Awadhi are: Ramagya Prashna, Parvati Mangal, Janaki Mangal, Barvai Ramayan, Ramcharitmanas, and Ramlala Nahachhu.

Braja's writings include Vinaya Patrika, Sahitya Ratna, Dohavali, Vairagya Sandipani, Gitavali, and Krishna Gitavali.

In addition to the compositions described above, Tulsidas is credited with writing the Hanuman Chalisa, Hanuman Ashtak, Hanuman Bahuk, and Tulsi Satsai. 

Why did Tulsidas write Ramcharitmanas?

Here are the reasons why Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas:

- To make the Ramayana simpler to understandable for the average person: Tulsidas composed the Ramcharitmanas in the Awadhi vernacular, making the epic more readable for everyone.

- To make the wisdom included in the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas more approachable for all people: Tulsidas sought to simplify the information found in these works. 

- To convey the story of Rama, consider Ramcharitmanas, a poetic account based on the life of the royal prince of Ayodhya and the events of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana.

- To receive the story through his guru, Narharidas: Tulsidas states that he retained the story for a considerable amount of time in his memory prior to penning it down in the Ramcharitmanas.

Final Words

Saint Tulsidas is considered one of the best poets in Indian, Hindi, and contemporary literature. The influence of Tulsidas and his creations on Indian art, culture, and society is extensive and may be observed in the language used in everyday speech, Ramlila plays, Hindustani classical music, popular music, and television shows.