Gosvāmī Tulsīdāsa
( तुलसीदास )
( तुलसीदास )
Gosvāmī Tulsīdāsa ( तुलसीदास ) was a great sage, poet, philosopher and more importantly unwavering devotee of Shri Ram,
who born in this Kaliyuga (in 15th century) to spread the divine knowledge and Shri Ram-Bhakti. Goswami Tulsidasa was like a sage who got
vision of Shri Ram himself in this Kali-age.Gosvāmī Tulsīdās was so pure saint that he was constantly able to meet with lord Hanuman, even Hanuman ji helped him to see Lord Shri Ram in front of his eyes. After getting motivation from lord Shiva, Tulsidasa complied such a great epic Śrī Rāmacaritamānasa ( श्रीरामचरितमानस) which is universally accepted and respected by devotees and saints. Even Lord Shiva approved this great epic poem Shri Ramcharitmanas as the most superior among sacred texts by leaving his sign (Satyam Shivam Sundaram) on the original copy of Ramcharitmanas.
Each and every Shlokas of Ramcharitmanas is accepted as divine powerful mantras.
The verse given below can also be taken as Pramaan (proof) which is from Buddha-kaushik Ram-raksha Stotra:
एकैकमक्षरं पुंसां महापातकनाशनम् || [- रामरक्षा स्तोत्र]
The exploits of Shri Ram has been described in form of 100 crore stanzas/verses. Each and every single word of stanzas describing divine exploits of Rama can eliminate the utmost grievous sins of this world i .e those letters are महापातकनाशनम्.
Gosvāmī Tulsīdās composed the great epic Rāmacaritamānasa ( श्रीरामचरितमानस ) in vernacular language i.e. Avadhi (Hindi) after instruction of Lord Shiva.
Authenticity of Shri Rāmacharitamānasa 1) Gosvāmī Tulsīdās ( तुलसीदास ) is told to be incarnation of Bhagvan Valmiki in Bhavishyottar Puarana by Lord Shiva himself. In Bhavishyottar Purana, Lord Shiva tells Parvati how Valmiki got a boon from Hanuman to sing the glories of Lord Śrī Rāma in vernacular language in the Kali Yuga. This prophecy of Lord Shiva materialised on the Shraavan Shukla Saptami, Vikrami Samvat 1554 when Valmiki reincarnated as Tulsidas. "वाल्मीकिस्तुलसीदासः कलौ देवि भविष्यति | रामचन्द्रकथामेतां भाषाबद्धां करिष्यति ||" -Bhavishyottar Purana, Pratisarga Parva, 4.20 Brahmarshi Valmiki will manifest himself as Tulsidas in the age of Kali. He will write the exploits of Ram in Vernacular language i.e Shri Rāmacharitamānasa. |  |
In aforementioned verse, Both Ved-Vyaas and Lord Shiva authenticated the authority of Shri Rāmacharitamānasa as same like Valmiki-Ramayana.
This verse is clearly stating the fact that Bramharshi Valmiki manifested himself in Kali-age as Tulsidas as it became hard to understand the Valmiki Ramayana in sanskrit by general public.
So Shri Ramcharitmanas is as much authentic as Valmiki Ramayana is. Valmiki Ramayana is Vedas itself.(-Agastya Samhita)
2) Parampara of Shri Rāmacharitamānasa:
रामचरितमानस मुनि भावन। बिरचेउ संभु सुहावन पावन॥
त्रिबिध दोष दुख दारिद दावन। कलि कुचालि कुलि कलुष नसावन॥5॥
भावार्थ:- यह रामचरित मानस मुनियों का प्रिय है, इस सुहावने और पवित्र मानस की शिवजी ने रचना की। यह तीनों प्रकार के दोषों, दुःखों और दरिद्रता को तथा कलियुग की कुचालों और सब पापों का नाश करने वाला है |
The holy and beautiful Ramcharitmanas is conceived by Lord Shiva, It is delight of sages. It uproots all evil practices and impurities of Kali-age.
It put downs the three kind of errors, sorrow and indigence.
संभु कीन्ह यह चरित सुहावा। बहुरि कृपा करि उमहि सुनावा॥
सोइ सिव कागभुसुंडिहि दीन्हा। राम भगत अधिकारी चीन्हा॥2॥
भावार्थ:-शिवजी ने पहले इस सुहावने चरित्र को रचा, फिर कृपा करके पार्वतीजी को सुनाया। वही चरित्र शिवजी ने काकभुशुण्डिजी को रामभक्त और अधिकारी पहचानकर दिया |
This ravishing tale was conceived by Lord Siva, who graciously communicated it to His Consort UmA. Siva imparted it once more to KaKbhusundi Ji(a sage in the form of crow), knowing him to be a devotee of Śrī Rām and one qualified to hear it.
तेहि सन जागबलिक पुनि पावा। तिन्ह पुनि भरद्वाज प्रति गावा॥
ते श्रोता बकता समसीला। सवँदरसी जानहिं हरिलीला॥3॥
भावार्थ:-उन काकभुशुण्डिजी से फिर याज्ञवल्क्यजी ने पाया और उन्होंने फिर उसे भरद्वाजजी को गाकर सुनाया। वे दोनों वक्ता और श्रोता (याज्ञवल्क्य और भरद्वाज) समान शील वाले और समदर्शी हैं और श्री हरि की लीला को जानते हैं |
It was Sage Yagyvalkya who received it from the latter (Kakbhusundi Ji) and narrated
it to Sage Bharadvaja. Both these, the listener (Bharadvaja) and the reciter (Yagyvalka), are equally virtuous; they view all alike and are acquainted with the pastimes of Śrī Hari.
Then the same tale went into Paramapara of Tulsidasa's Sadguru and he heard it from him.
मैं पुनि निज गुर सन सुनी कथा सो सूकरखेत।
समुझी नहिं तसि बालपन तब अति रहेउँ अचेत ॥ दोहा ॥
भावार्थ:-फिर वही कथा मैंने वाराह क्षेत्र में अपने गुरुजी से सुनी, परन्तु उस समय मैं लड़कपन के कारण बहुत बेसमझ था, इससे उसको उस प्रकार (अच्छी तरह) समझा नहीं|
Then I heard the same story in the holy Sukarkshetra* (the modern Soron in the western United Provinces) from my preceptor; but as I had no sense in those days of my childhood, I could not follow it full well.
Thus Parampara of Shri Ramcharitmanas is as follows-
Lord Shiva - Kakbhushundi ji - Yagyavalkya ji - Bhardwaj ji - Sanakadi ji/Narharyanand ji - Tulsidas ji.
संभु कीन्ह यह चरित सुहावा। बहुरि कृपा करि उमहि सुनावा॥
सोइ सिव कागभुसुंडिहि दीन्हा। राम भगत अधिकारी चीन्हा॥2॥
भावार्थ:-शिवजी ने पहले इस सुहावने चरित्र को रचा, फिर कृपा करके पार्वतीजी को सुनाया। वही चरित्र शिवजी ने काकभुशुण्डिजी को रामभक्त और अधिकारी पहचानकर दिया |
This ravishing tale was conceived by Lord Siva, who graciously communicated it to His Consort UmA. Siva imparted it once more to KaKbhusundi Ji(a sage in the form of crow), knowing him to be a devotee of Śrī Rām and one qualified to hear it.
तेहि सन जागबलिक पुनि पावा। तिन्ह पुनि भरद्वाज प्रति गावा॥
ते श्रोता बकता समसीला। सवँदरसी जानहिं हरिलीला॥3॥
भावार्थ:-उन काकभुशुण्डिजी से फिर याज्ञवल्क्यजी ने पाया और उन्होंने फिर उसे भरद्वाजजी को गाकर सुनाया। वे दोनों वक्ता और श्रोता (याज्ञवल्क्य और भरद्वाज) समान शील वाले और समदर्शी हैं और श्री हरि की लीला को जानते हैं |
It was Sage Yagyvalkya who received it from the latter (Kakbhusundi Ji) and narrated
it to Sage Bharadvaja. Both these, the listener (Bharadvaja) and the reciter (Yagyvalka), are equally virtuous; they view all alike and are acquainted with the pastimes of Śrī Hari.
Then the same tale went into Paramapara of Tulsidasa's Sadguru and he heard it from him.
मैं पुनि निज गुर सन सुनी कथा सो सूकरखेत।
समुझी नहिं तसि बालपन तब अति रहेउँ अचेत ॥ दोहा ॥
भावार्थ:-फिर वही कथा मैंने वाराह क्षेत्र में अपने गुरुजी से सुनी, परन्तु उस समय मैं लड़कपन के कारण बहुत बेसमझ था, इससे उसको उस प्रकार (अच्छी तरह) समझा नहीं|
Then I heard the same story in the holy Sukarkshetra* (the modern Soron in the western United Provinces) from my preceptor; but as I had no sense in those days of my childhood, I could not follow it full well.
Thus Parampara of Shri Ramcharitmanas is as follows-
Lord Shiva - Kakbhushundi ji - Yagyavalkya ji - Bhardwaj ji - Sanakadi ji/Narharyanand ji - Tulsidas ji.
As we have seen proof of Parampara of Ramcharitmanas from the verses of Ramcharitmanas itself.
Ramcharitmanas comprises all the six "वाद" or philosophies of Vedanta, namely Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Shuddhadvaita, Dvaitadvaita, Achintyabheda and Dvaita. But the main theme is Vishishtadvaita, which was propounded by the great Jagatguru Ramanandacharya ji. Tulsidasji's Sad-Guru, Swami Narharidas ji, was the fourth disciple of Jagatguru Ramanandacharya.
3) Guru-Parampara of Tulsidasa:
Garuda , Chakra , Shankha , Hanuman
| Each Parampara is started by god himself. Tulsidasa was the disciple of Narharidas, thus Tulsidas comes at the fifth in spiritual descent from Jagatguru Ramanandacharya who is regarded as incarnation of Lord Shri Ram by devotees of Ramanandi Vaishnava sect. Jagatguru Ramanujacharya belonged to lineage of Sri-Samprdaya started from Bhagvati Sita (Sri-Devi), from this very Samprdaay Jagatguru Ramanujacharya learnt the philosphy of Visistadvaita and propounded it in world. Jagadguru Ramanujacharya had been a famous teacher of Sri Sampradaya, who is regarded as Sesha-avtaar i.e. incarnation of Lakshmana (Rama's Anuja i.e. Ramanujacharya). While Jagadguru Ramanandacharya has been regarded as the incarnation of Lord Rama himself. . |
रामानन्दः स्वयं रामः प्रादुर्भूतो महीतले |
while Ramanuja taught a path of love and devotion only to Brahmins, But Lord Shri Ramananda took the more radical approach of teaching to all castes, and even to Muslims, declaring, "Let no one ask a man's caste or with whom eats. If a man is devoted to Hari, he becomes Hari's own.(जाति-पाती पूछे नहीं कोई, हरि को भजे सो हरि को होई |)" In doing so, Lord Ramananda played an important role in opening up the spiritual pathway to all people, no matter what their social station in life.
Thus, name of Sri-Samprdaay is also called as Ramanandi-samprday (The Samprdaay of Lord Ramanandacharya) or Ramavat Samprdaay). Jagadguru Ramanandacharya believed that everyone has right to worship Shri Ram without any caste barrier where Sri-Vaishnava samprdaya of Jagadguru Ramanujacharya was more focused on caste purity.
Jagatguru Ramananda had disciples of all castes, including Muslims. Most famous disciples of Jagatguru Ramanandacharya were Dhanna Bhagat, Kabirdas, Nabhadas, Pipa, Ravidas, Sain,etc.
Please read here about Sri-Samprdaay: Click here
Tulsidas had accepted 9 Gurus in his life, but his Sad-guru was Swami Narharidasa, the incarnation of sage Sankadi.
9 Gurus of Goswami Tulsidasa ji:
*First guru of Goswami Tulsidasa was his foster mother Chuniya who embedded Ram Naam and the love for Lord Ram in his heart. Tulsidas declared that the mother and father are gurus for everyone.
*Second Guru was his Sad-guru swami Narharidas ji who embedded Ram Katha and Ram mantra into Tulsi’s heart and soul. Hence, Naraharidasji was Tulsidas’ ‘Sadguru’.
*Third Guru of Tulsidasa was the grand scholar Shesanatanji who taught him Sanskrit and the Holy Scriptures in Kashi for a total of 15 years. Tulsidas declared that anyone who imparts knowledge to you is regarded as a Guru. Hence, Shesanatanji was Tulsidas’ Guru.
*Fourth Guru was his wife Ratnavali. Without her words of great wisdom towards Tulsidas at her parent’s house, the doors of his heart and mind would not have opened up to the devotion of Lord Ram. Hence, Ratnavali was Tulsidas’ Guru.
*Fifth Guru was the great Lord Hanumanji who had guided him towards Shri Ram’s Darshan initially and helped him in difficulty on numerous occasions.
जय जय जय हनुमान गुसांई । कृपा करहु गुरुदेव की नाई ।।
(हनुमान चालीसा)
“…Hail Hail Hail – Lord Hanumanji! I beseech your honour to bless me in the capacity of my Supreme Guru (teacher)…”
*Sixth Guru of Goswami ji was Lord Shiva because he was the personification of knowledge and wisdom (as described in Shri Ramcharitmanas) and secondly because he had been a great inspiration in Tulsidas’ life and motivating Tulsidas Ji for the compilation of the great epic poem Shri Ramcharitmanas.
Tulsidas has said in the Manas:
वन्दे बोधमयं नित्यं गुरुं शंकररूपिणम्।
यमाश्रितो हि वक्रोऽपि चन्द्रः सर्वत्र वन्द्यते॥3॥
भावार्थ:-ज्ञानमय, नित्य, शंकर रूपी गुरु की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ, जिनके आश्रित होने से ही टेढ़ा चन्द्रमा भी सर्वत्र वन्दित होता है |
I make obeisance to the eternal preceptor/Sad-guru in the form of Lord Shiva, who is all wisdom, and resting on whose brow the crescent moon, though crooked in shape, is
universally adored.
Hence Tulsidasa has accepted Lord Shiva as a guru.
*Seventh guru of Goswami Tulsidasa was the Ramcharitmanas itself. He believed that the Ram Katha was the eternal guide for mankind for walking in the right path in life with the examples set by Lord Ram. Tulsidas declares that for him and for the people of Kali-age, this very scripture is a guru.
He has said in the Manas:
सदगुर ग्यान बिराग जोग के। बिबुध बैद भव भीम रोग के॥
जननि जनक सिय राम प्रेम के। बीज सकल ब्रत धरम नेम के ॥ [1.32.2]
भावार्थ:- श्रीरामचरितमानस ( या राम-कथा ) ज्ञान, वैराग्य और योग के लिए सद्गुरु हैं और संसार रूपी भयंकर रोग का नाश करने के लिए देवताओं के वैद्य (अश्विनीकुमार) के समान हैं। ये श्री सीतारामजी के प्रेम के उत्पन्न करने के लिए माता-पिता हैं और सम्पूर्ण व्रत, धर्म और नियमों के बीज हैं॥
The narrative of Śrī Rām Ji or Śrī Rāmcaritmānas is Sad-Guru/eternal preceptor for knowledge, dispassion and Yoga (contemplative union with (God) and celestial physicians (Ashvinikumaras) for the fell disease of metempsychosis; parents of devotion to Sita and Rām ji and the seed of all holy vows, practices and observances.
Hence, Tulsidasa accepts the Śrī Rāmcaritmānas or the Śrī Rām-Katha as a Guru.
