Goswami Tulasidaasa's Raamcharita Maanasa

Introduction

Goswaami Tulasidaasa was born in 1532 A.D. in a village in Uttar Pradesh, India. Being one of the foremost of Raam-bhaktas in medieval India, he traveled extensively throughout the subcontinent disseminating the message of Bhakti. His devotional and philosophical interpretations of Dharma flowered into beautifully eloquent poetry, found in the twelve surviving works of the innumerable books he is credited as having authored.

The magnum opus of Tulasidaasa is his Raamacharitamaanasa. It is the modified version of the life story of Raama as narrated by Vaalmiiki in his Raamaayana. Written in the Awadhi language, this work reflects the poet's well-settled views on life and religion. It is an immaculate combination of art and thought ; it is devotion presented in a supremely aesthetic way. The language used is simple and yet elegant, and the choice of words show a love of rhyme and rhythm. Very few writers have couched high philosophical truths in simple expressions, idioms and rhymes as Tulasidaasa. He sets a standard and reaches a height in this respect which no subsequent writer of this theme has been able to surpass. It is for this reason that Grierson has described Tulasidaasa as the greatest public leader after Buddha.

Besides its literary excellence, the Raamacharitamaanasa is a brilliant and popular treatise on devotion to God. The highest virtues such a truthfulness, patience, non-violence, forgiveness, generosity, detachment, control of the senses, purity and service to humanity, which are the components of Indian ethics and culture have found their rightful place in this great epic.

Tulasidaasa tried, though the Raamacharitamaanasa, to inculcate the feeling of tolerance and love in the hearts of people adhering to different faiths and beliefs. He sought to do this by portraying the magnificent personality of Raama in whom he combined all the noble characteristics emphasized by Saivites, Vaishnavaites and Shaktas, who constituted the principle religious divisions of that time. There is no character in this great work which is not imbued with spirit of sacrifice for higher ends. Being of the highest caliber, these characters serve as models of society for people's inspiration and emulation. Therefore. though essentially a poet, Tulasidaasa is a great devotee and a builder of society. His own life and the Raamacharitamaanasa molded the thinking of society to create the effects of harmony and religious tolerance. Indian historians have expressed the view that Raamacharitamaanasa can be counted among the important influences which mould people's destiny.

Places in Benares

• Benaras: Tulsimanas Mandir is a sacred temple celebrating the famous poet-saint Tulsi Das and it is situated in Benaras.
  
• Benaras: Sankatmochan temple is famous as the site where Tulsi Das was visited by Hanuman, also known as Sankatmochan, "the reliever of difficulties."
  
• Benaras: The new Vishwanath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Lord of the world.
  
• Benares: On the banks of the most sacred river Ganges at Benaras.
  
• Benaras: Steps on the Ganges, the waterfront leading up to the palaces and temples which were founded at various times by various princes.
  
• Benaras: Manakarnika is the large cremation ghat on the river Ganges in Benaras.
  

Template to write Raam Naam

Raamcharita Maanasa (Mool Paath)

1. Bal Kanda (PDF)
2. Ayodhya Kanda (PDF)
3. Aranya Kanda (PDF)
4. Kishkindha Kanda (PDF)
5. Sundar Kanda (PDF)
6. Lanka Kanda (PDF)
7. Uttar Kanda (PDF)

Raamcharita Maanasa (with English Translation)

1. Table of Contents (PDF)
2. Bal Kanda 1-97 pages (PDF)
3. Bal Kanda 98-165 pages (PDF)
4. Bal Kanda 166-198 pages (PDF)
5. Bal Kanda 199-264 pages (PDF)
6. Bal Kanda 265-315 pages (PDF)
7. Bal Kanda 316-350 pages (PDF)
8. Ayodhya Kanda 351-401 pages (PDF)
9. Ayodhya Kanda 402-480 pages (PDF)
10. Ayodhya Kanda 481-500 pages (PDF)
11. Ayodhya Kanda 501-563 pages (PDF)
12. Ayodhya Kanda 564-600 pages (PDF)
13. Ayodhya Kanda 601-646 pages (PDF)
14. Aranya Kanda 647-710 pages (PDF)
15. Kishkindha Kanda 711-744 pages (PDF)
16. Sundar Kanda 745-804 pages (PDF)
17. Lanka Kanda 805-889 pages (PDF)
18. Lanka Kanda 890-948 pages (PDF)
19. Uttar Kanda 949-1022 pages (PDF)
20. Uttar Kanda 1023-1101 pages (PDF)

Raamcharita Maanasa Audio (Download All)

1. Baal Kaand 1 Download
2. Baal Kaand 2 Download
3. Baal Kaand 3 Download
4. Baal Kaand 4 Download
5. Baal Kaand 5 Download
6. Baal Kaand 6 Download
7. Baal Kaand 7 Download
8. Baal Kaand 8 Download
9. Baal Kaand 9 Download
10. Baal Kaand 10 Download
11. Baal Kaand 11 Download
12. Baal Kaand 12 Download
13. Baal Kaand 13 Download
14. Baal Kaand 14 Download
15. Baal Kaand 15 Download
16. Baal Kaand 16 Download
17. Baal Kaand 17 Download
18. Baal Kaand 18 Download
19. Ayodhya Kaand 1 Download
20. Ayodhya Kaand 2 Download
21. Ayodhya Kaand 3 Download
22. Ayodhya Kaand 4 Download
23. Ayodhya Kaand 5 Download
24. Ayodhya Kaand 6 Download
25. Ayodhya Kaand 7 Download
26. Ayodhya Kaand 8 Download
27. Ayodhya Kaand 9 Download
28. Ayodhya Kaand 10 Download
29. Aranay Kaand 1 Download
30. Aranay Kaand 2 Download
31. Kishkindha Kaand 1 Download
32. Kishkindha Kaand 2 Download
33. Sunder Kaand 1 Download
34. Sunder Kaand 2 Download
35. Lanka Kaand 1 Download
36. Lanka Kaand 2 Download
37. Lanka Kaand 3 Download
38. Lanka Kaand 4 Download
39. Lanka Kaand 5 Download
40. Uttar Kaand Download