Saint Tulsidas was a great devotee of Lord Rama.His version of the epic story of Shri Rama,called “Sri Ram,Charit Manas” is very popular scripture.

Saint Tulsidas was born to Atmaram Shukla Dube and Hulsi,in Rajpur,Uttar Pradesh, in 1532 A.D.He was called Tulsiram in his childhood.

He was married to Ratnavali and had a son named Tarak.One day his wife went to her father’s house without informing Tulsidas.

At night Tulsidas stealthily went to see her at her father’s house which ashamed Ratnavali and told Tulsidas, “My body attracted you to come up to here at this time.

If you would develop even half the attraction of this for Lord Rama, you would cross the ocean of Samsara and attain immortality and eternal bliss.”

Tulsidas was shaken by therse words.He immediately left from there and abandoned home.He became an ascetic and spent fourteen years visiting the various sacred places of pilgrimage.

After returning from the natural calls, Tulsidas used to throw the left over water at the roots of a tree, which was occupied by a 'spirit'.The spirit was pleased with Tulsidas and asked him to get a boon.

Tulsidas asked for Darshan of Lord Rama”.The spirit said, “Go to the Hanuman temple where Hanuman comes in the disguise of a leper to hear the Ramayana. Get hold of him.He will help you”. Accordingly, Tulsidas followed and had the great Darshan(vision)of Lord Rama.

Tulsidas wrote twelve books.The most famous book is his RamCharit manas,which was written under the directions of Hanuman.Saint Tulsidas is regarded as an incarnation of Sage Valmiki and RamCharit Manas is the Ramayana in popular dialect, Avadhi.

The other works of Saint Tulsidas include – Dohavali, Kavitavali, Gitavali, Krishnavali, Vinaya Patrika, and Vairagya Sandipani.