Cover Story

Goswami Tulsidas-  Dr. Giriraj Shah

Tulsidas was born in Rajapur, in the district of Banda in Uttar Pradesh, in Samvat 1589 or 1532 AD. He was a Saryuparin Brahman by birth and is regarded as an incarnation of Valmiki, the author of Ramayana written in Sanskrit. His father’s name was Atmaram Shukla Dube and his mother’s name Hulsa. According to tradition he was born with thirty-two teeth and did not cry at the time of birth. His childhood name was Tulsiram or Ram Bola.

Marriage

Tulsidas’s wife’s name was Budhimati (Ratnavati). He was in immense love with his wife and a son was born to them who was named as Tarak. He was so much attached to his wife that he could not bear even a day’s separation. According to tradition, it is related that once his wife went to her parent’s house without informing him. Tulsidas went to see her at night at his father-in-laws house. This put Budhimati to great shame who in anger rebuked Tulsidas and told him, "My body is but a network of flesh and bones. If you would develop love for Lord Rama, even half the love that you have for my filthy body, you would certainly cross the ocean of sansar and attain immortality and eternal bliss."

"Ashti Charm Mum Deh Mayee, Jamey Jaisi Preet, Taisi Jo Raghunath Mahi, Hot Na Bhav-Bheet".

These words hit the conscience of Tulsidas and in great disgust, he abandoned his family and became an ascetic. For fourteen years, he visited all the holy places and met religious teachers from different walks of life.

© `Gurus, Philosophers, Mystics, & Saints of India’ published (2002) by Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. X-30, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II, New Delhi 110 020.

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