Ramcharitmanas

Ramcharitmanas is an epic poem in the Awadhi language written by the 16th-century Hindu poet Goswami Tulsidas. It retells the life and deeds of Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, by drawing on the Ramayana while presenting a devotional interpretation that emphasizes bhakti to Rama. Composed in a vernacular dialect, the work employs popular meters such as doha and chaupai, making the narrative accessible to a broad audience.

The text is organized into seven cantos (kandas): Bal (childhood), Ayodhyakand, Aranyakand, Kishkindhakand, Sundarkand, Lankakand, and Uttarkand. Throughout these sections, Rama is depicted as an ideal king and a divine incarnation, with considerable emphasis on the devotion of Rama’s devotees, especially Hanuman and Sita. The narrative blends moral instruction with theological devotion, presenting Rama’s trials and triumphs within a framework of personal surrender and reverence.

Ramcharitmanas has had a profound influence on devotional practice in northern India and beyond. It popularized Rama-centered worship in the vernacular, shaping rituals, recitations, and performances such as Ramlila, the traditional dramatic enactment of Rama’s story. The text has inspired a vast body of commentaries, hymns, and musical adaptations, reinforcing Rama bhakti across generations.

Scholars view the work as a devotional reinterpretation rather than a historical account, notable for its linguistic clarity and poetic richness. While it does not replace the Sanskrit Valmiki Ramayana as a canonical source, Ramcharitmanas stands as a foundational text in the Ramayana tradition, expanding its reach through vernacular devotion and cultural practice.