The Genius of Tulsidas

As the country celebrates Ramanavmi it may not the out of place to take a leaf or two out of Ramcharit Manas the classical work of Goswami Tulsidas. The voluminous text is the description of Lord Rama’s life and time, recording the incidents from the Treta era, the period during which Lord Rama was believed to be living. But the beauty of storytelling of Tulsidas extends much beyond that. The narrative power of Tulsidas can be experienced by reading the Ramcharita Manas with a little bit of concentration. Its significance lies in its contemporaneity as well as its futuristic relevance. Simple, yet full of lessons for living. More than a discourse on what is right and wrong, it offers practical tips on the art of living.

Interestingly, it also provides a rather real time description of the present era, the Kalyug. Particularly in the last section which gives an account of what happens in Kalyug in the conversation between Garuda and Kagbhushundi. The text is a treatise on Philosophy as well as Sociology. Divided into seven major sections RamCharit Manas can be read for learning how to live in peace in these turbulent times, how to cope with pressures, how to make strategies for successful life. The narrative teaches, illuminates as well as motivates the reader in a simple language and lucid manner. Written mostly in couplets the text is to be read with devotion or else the essence will be lost. Some of the couplets are eternal truths that transcend time and space. Universal and everlasting.

Though there are many lessons that can be learnt by reading the Ramacharita Manas a few golden ones are paraphrased below. The greatest lesson perhaps is about the role of providence in life. Call it destiny, call it luck or call it Karma. The implications are clear. Like the eternal Gita lesson that you have right only to your duty, the rest is in the hands of Lord. Tulsidas states this axiomatic truth in the couplet that says, ‘Only that will happen which the Lord desires. It is futile to reason and increase complexity.’ In yet another couplet Tulsi says, ‘Profit and loss, life and death, fame and infamy are all in the hands of the Lord. Providence is supreme.’ This is the golden lesson that sage Vashistha gives to Bharata, the younger brother of Lord Rama when the former is upset at the exile of Rama. In another couplet Goswami Tulsidas says that ‘This world is Karma centric, that is, you are bound to reap the fruits of your deeds.’ While there are many such lessons to be learnt on the role of destiny in the life of human being there are some insightful observations that have significant implications. Like the one that says that no matter how one may try to hide his real face under a mask, in the end the real face shows, like in the case of the demons Kalnemi, Ravana and Rahu. Then there is a classic explanation of Bhakti and love to the god in the stanzas describing the conversation between Lord Rama and the boat man when the Lord requests him to take Rama and his wife Sita across the river. And then in the case of Shabori offering berries to the Lord after biting the fruits to check whether they were sweet or sour. It makes sense to read Ramcharitra Manas even in the so called digital world.