Tulsidass

Tulsidas, also known as Tulsidass, was a Hindu poet-saint who played a central role in spreading Rama devotion (Rama bhakti) in northern India during the 16th century. He is best known for Ramcharitmanas, an epic in the Awadhi language that retells the Ramayana with a strong devotional emphasis on Rama. He is also credited with composing the Hanuman Chalisa, a widely recited 40-verse hymn dedicated to Hanuman, along with other devotional works such as Vinay Patrika and Kavitavali.

Biographical details about Tulsidas are traditional and largely hagiographic; exact birthplace and dates are uncertain, with various regional traditions placing him in the Banaras region or in Rajapur in present-day Uttar Pradesh. He is commonly described as a devotee of the sage Ramananda and as a major figure of the Rama-centered bhakti movement. Most accounts suggest he wrote in Awadhi rather than Sanskrit to make spiritual teachings accessible to common people; as with many bhakti-era figures, his life story blends historical elements with legendary embellishments.

Influence and legacy: Ramcharitmanas became a foundational text for Rama devotion in northern India, shaping religious practice, temple worship, and cultural performances such as Ramlila. The Hanuman Chalisa remains one of the most popular devotional hymns in Hinduism. Tulsidas’ vernacular compositions contributed to the rise of vernacular devotional literature and influenced later poets and singers within the Bhakti tradition.

Notes: Scholarly assessments of his life and works vary, and certain details are regarded as part of tradition rather than established fact. Nevertheless, his literary output and enduring cultural impact are widely recognized in Hindu devotional culture.