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How did Tulsidas become a poet-saint?
Tulsidas, also known as Goswami Tulsidas, was a 16th-century Hindu poet-saint who is best known for his epic work, Ramcharitmanas. He is revered as one of the greatest poets and saints in the Indian tradition, and his works have had a profound impact on Hinduism and its followers.
Tulsidas was born in 1532 CE in Rajapur, a village in the present-day state of Uttar Pradesh, India. His parents, Hulsi and Atmaram Dubey, were devout Brahmins who named him Rambola. From a young age, Tulsidas showed a keen interest in spirituality and spent most of his time in prayer and meditation.
At the age of five, Tulsidas lost his mother, and soon after, his father remarried. His stepmother treated him unkindly, and he was forced to leave home and seek refuge in the nearby town of Varanasi. There, he was taken in by a saint named Narharidas, who became his guru and initiated him into the Ramanandi sect of Hinduism.
Under the guidance of his guru, Tulsidas studied the Vedas, Upanishads, and other Hindu scriptures. He also learned Sanskrit and became well-versed in the teachings of the Ramayana, an ancient Hindu epic. It was during this time that Tulsidas began to compose devotional poetry in praise of Lord Rama, the hero of the Ramayana.
Tulsidas' devotion to Lord Rama was unwavering, and he spent most of his time chanting the name of the Lord and meditating on his divine form. He also traveled to various holy places in India, including Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, and Chitrakoot, where he is said to have met the sage Valmiki, the author of the original Ramayana.
In 1574, Tulsidas completed his magnum opus, the Ramcharitmanas, which is a retelling of the Ramayana in the Awadhi language. The work is a masterpiece of devotional literature and is considered to be one of the greatest works of Hindi literature. It not only narrates the story of Lord Rama but also imparts moral and spiritual lessons to its readers.
Tulsidas' devotion to Lord Rama and his poetic genius earned him the title of 'Goswami,' which means 'master of the senses.' He became known as Goswami Tulsidas, and his works became immensely popular among the masses. He is also credited with popularizing the worship of Lord Rama in the Hindi-speaking regions of India.
Tulsidas' teachings and works continue to inspire millions of people around the world, and he is revered as a saint and a poet by Hindus of all sects. His devotion to Lord Rama and his poetic expression of it have made