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The
original Ramayana was written in Sanskrit by Rishi Valmiki. Several other
great saints and poets also wrote the Ramayana in the various Indian
languages. The most popular one in northern India is the Ramacharita Manas
by Goswami Tulasidas. It is considered auspicious to recite it at home.
Reciting of several chapters is recommended as a remedy for various
malefic influences and to get various benefits. For example reciting of
Sundara kanda is recommended for better health and also to ward off the
negative effects of Saturn and for getting children the Bala kanda is
recited.
Tulasidas
was born in the year 1532 in a Brahmin family in the town of Rajapur near
Varanasi. He lost his parents at an early age and was neglected by his
relatives. He lived in a Hanuman temple, in Varanasi and ate whatever was
given to him. Naraharidas, his guru, spotted him and instilled in Tulasi
the love for Sri Rama. Tulasi grew up and became a scholar in Vedas and
Upanishads.
Tulasidas
married Ratnavali, who was a very intelligent and pious lady. Tulasi loved
his wife, and could never stand even a moment’s separation from her.
Once he crossed a flooded river to see his wife, who was visiting her
parents. Ratnavali got angry and said "What do you get by loving this
mortal body? If you were to love Lord Sri Rama like this, you would get
mukti."
These
words rekindled his love for Sri Rama, he renounced family life and
started traveling across north India, preaching Sri Rama’s life. In
Chitrakoot, he wrote the masterpiece Rama Charita Manas. He wrote in one
of the Hindi dialects known as Avadhi spoken around Ayodhya region.
Tulasidas employed "doha", "chowpayee", "swaratae"
and other meters in his poem. The entire story is given as narrated by
Siva to Parvati. His other works are other works Gitavali (1571),
Kavitavali (1612), Barvairamayana (1612) and Vinaya Patrika (request to
Rama). He authored 22 different works.
Once
king Jahangir offered him money to the performance some miracles. Tulasi
retorted 'Who needs money when one has the love of Rama and of what use
are the miracles before his glory ?'
In
Kashi, he became the head of the monastery in Lolarka Kunda and was
designated the title 'Gosain.' or "Goswami". Tulasidas
passed away on the third day of the dark fortnight in the month of
Shravana in 1623.
Click
to read Ramacharita Manas
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