Sant Tulsidas

Birth

In sixteenth century Rajapur—about 200 km east of Allahabad—in the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh, there lived a rather gullible brahmana couple: Atmaram Dube and Hulsi Devi. Tulsidas was born in the year 1532 after 12 months in his mother's womb and with a full set of teeth. He was born in a period of time known as 'Abhuktamula'. According to the then popular belief, a child born during abhuktamula was destined to bring death to its parents. The only remedy, it was believed, was for the parents to abandon the child at birth—or at least not to look at it for the first eight years!

The utterly poor father had nothing in his house for the celebration of the child’s birth or for the naming ceremony. Meanwhile, the mother died. Weighed down by circumstances and superstition, the father abandoned the child. Chuniya, the mother-in-law of the midwife who had helped during the birth of the child, wet-nursed him. Such was the child’s fate that Chuniya too died after five years and he was left wandering, looking for morsels of food here and there, taking occasional shelter at a Hanuman temple. 

Such was the turn of events when Narharidas, a descendant of Ramanand, was commanded in a dream to pick up an abandoned boy and instruct him in the timeless story of Sri Ram. He spotted the boy, who at that time went by the name Rambola, took him to Ayodhya, and completed his sacred-thread ceremony. From a reference to a tulsi leaf used during that ceremony, Narharidas named him Tulsiram, which later became Tulsidas. After about ten months of living in Ayodhya, guru and disciple left for Sukar-khet—or Sukar-kshetra, now known as Paska, near Ayodhya, at the confluence of the rivers Sarayu and Ghagara—where they lived together for five years. It was here that Tulsidas heard the fascinating story of Sri Ram. We can well imagine what fire must have been ignited in the boy Tulsidas when the immortal story of Sri Ram fell upon his pure heart. Another sadhu, Shesha Sanatana by name, now came into Tulsidas’s life and took him to Varanasi, the city of learning. It was here that Tulsi learned Sanskrit, including Panini’s grammar. We read that Tulsi was extremely bright, could remember texts after hearing them only once, and became adept in Sanskrit. 

From Family Man to Ascetic

Tulsidas’s wife’s name was Ratnavali. Tulsidas’s son’s name was Tarak. Tulsidas was passionately attached to his wife. He could not bear even a day’s separation from her. One day his wife went to her father’s house without informing her husband. Tulsidas stealthily went to see her at night at his father-in-law’s house. This produced a sense of shame in Ratnavali.
She said to Tulsidas,
Hada mamsa-maya deha mam, taso jaisi priti;
Vaisi jo sri-ram-mein, hot na bhav bhiti.
Meaning: “My body is but a network of flesh and bones. If you would develop for Shri Rama even half the love that you have for my filthy body, you would certainly cross the ocean of Samsara and attain immortality and eternal bliss”. These words pierced the heart of Tulsidas like an arrow. An apparently simple and innocuous expression of annoyance brought about a conversion in Tulsidas’s mind, which must have already been pure, well disposed, and awaiting the proper hint. Such inner volte-face is not an uncommon phenomenon; innumerable instances have been recorded in the lives of saints of all religions. Tulsidas renounced his house and wife and became a peripatetic monk. He travelled the length and breadth of India, visiting, as he went, the four dharmas and other holy places. 

Darshan of Sri Rama

Another legend tells us that Tulsi would pour some water at the base of a banyan tree when he passed that way after his morning ablutions. A spirit that was suffering the effects of past evil deeds lived on that same tree. Tulsi’s offering relieved the spirit of its agony. Wanting to express gratitude to Tulsi, the spirit asked him what he wished. What else would Tulsi want but the holy darshan of Sri Ram? The spirit replied: ‘An old man attends your discourses; he arrives first and is the last to leave. He will help you.’ The next day, Tulsidas identified the man who answered to the description and fell at his feet. The old man told Tulsi to go to Chitrakut, where he would have the darshan of Sri Ram. Who could the old man be but Hanumana himself? It is well known that Hanumana is always present wherever the name ‘Rama’ is being uttered.

Tulsi remained in Chitrakut, making sandal paste and giving it to the devotees who came there. One day, while he was making the paste, Sri Rama appeared in front of him and said: ‘Baba, give me some sandal paste.’ Tulsi was overwhelmed and went into samadhi. Sri Rama applied sandal paste to Tulsi’s forehead with his own hand. Tulsi remained in samadhi for three days. This was the first time he experienced samadhi—and that through the darshan of Sri Rama himself!

When Tulsidas visited Vrindavan

Once Tulsidas went to Vrindavan, the center of Krishna’s devotees. He was greeted and welcomed warmly by the holy men there. They said to him, “Sir, we believe that you are a matchless devotee of Sri Rama. Is it true you never sing of any gods other than Sri Rama?”

Tulsidas said, “No. It is not so. In fact, Sri Rama is Sri Krishna.” And then he composed on the spot a song on Sri Krishna and sang it.

“Kaha Kahun Chhavi Aaj Ki Bhale Bane Ho Nath,

Tulsi Mastak Navat Hai Dhanush Baan Leu Hath”

Meaning- ‘Oh my Lord! Today you are looking so beautiful and attractive, that I am not able to describe it in words, but oh Lord, my head will bow only when you carry bow and arrow in your hand.’

Though it was on Sri Krishna, the attributes were those of Sri Rama. The saints and sages gathered there were highly pleased. It is said that a miracle took place. Even as Tulsidas’s song ended the idol of Sri Krishna (with a flute in his hand) in the inner shrine appeared as the idol of Sri Rama holding a bow in his hand.

People who witnessed this sight stood amazed. They were full of praise for Tulsidas who showed that Sri Rama and Sri Krishna were one.

How he wrote Hanuman Chalisa

It is believed that the Mughal Emperor Akbar knew about Tulsidas and that they met at least once. Jahangir pressed Tulsidas to perform a miracle. Tulsi refused saying: ‘I know no miracles; I know only the name of Lord Rama.’ Annoyed at the answer, Akbar imprisoned him in Fatehpur Sikri. It was during this imprisonment that Tulsidas wrote Hanuman Chalisa. He wrote 40 verses of Hanuman Chalisa, and it is believed that on 40th day a miracle happened. An army of monkeys attacked the court and city and created havoc. It was suggested to Akbar that it is due to Tulsidas' prayer, and he must apologize to him. Akbar then apologized to Tulsidas. Tulsidas then ordered Akbar to leave Fatehpur Sikri and the emperor agreed.

The Ramayana

The Valmiki Ramayana was Tulsidas's inspiration. It is an epic that is broad in scope and provides guidance for all the stages of one’s life—incidentally, ayana means journey (of life).

Human life, in all its facets and fancies, twists and turns, ups and downs, is on display in the Ramayana. People of different spiritual states derive different light and meaning from the text in accordance with their need and understanding. Ordinary human life can be sublimated, and bhakti cultivated through a study of the Ramayana.

The Ramayana of Valmiki includes characters as they are and as they ought to be. Rama, Sita, Kausalya, Bharata, Hanumana, Janaka, and others are ideal characters. Dasharatha, Kaikeyi, Lakshmana, Shatrughna, Sugriva, and others have been presented as beings with mixed qualities. Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and other rakshasas are portrayed as personifications of abominable qualities. Rama plays the role of an ideal son, disciple, brother, master, husband, friend, and king. Subject to human emotions and weaknesses, Rama is a supernal god in human form—but he is also a human who has ascended to be an adorable god.

Rama’s bow and arrow symbolize a force that guarantees peace and justice. Rama’s is the ideal of ‘aggressive goodness’ as opposed to ‘weak and passive goodness’. Rama does not, however, kill or destroy; he rather offers salvation to those he slays in battle. This is technically called Uddhara.

He said that Shri Rama was the Paramatma, and that Sita was the Jivatma, and each man’s or woman’s body was the Lanka. The Jivatma which was enclosed in the body, or captured in the island of Lanka, always desired to be in affinity with the Paramatman, or Shri Rama. But the Rakshasas would not allow it, and Rakshasas represented certain traits of character. For instance, Vibhishana represented Sattva Guna; Ravana, Rajas; and Kumbhakarna, Tamas. These Gunas keep back Sita, or Jivatma, which is in the body, or Lanka, from joining Paramatman, or Rama. Sita, thus imprisoned and trying to unite with her Lord, receives a visit from Hanuman, the Guru or divine teacher, who shows her the Lord’s ring, which is Brahma-Jnana, the supreme wisdom that destroys all illusions; and thus, Sita finds the way to be one with Shri Rama, or, in other words, the Jivatma finds itself one with the Paramatman.

His Last Days

Towards the end of his life Tulsidas suffered from very painful boils that affected his arms. At this time, he wrote the Hanuman Bahuka, which begins with a verse in praise of Hanuman’s strength, glory, and virtue, and is followed by a prayer to relieve him of his unbearable arm pain. The disease was cured. He passed away in 1623[9] at Asighat, Varanasi. 

    

Sant Tulsidas is considered to be one of the greatest of the Hindu saints of India.  He is considered to be one of the most famous representatives of the Bhakti school of Hinduism. Goswami Tulsidas was a great devotee of Shri Rama.