Tulsidas (Deified)

Tulsidas (1532–1623 CE) is one of the most revered poet-saints in the Hindu bhakti tradition, deified by his followers as an incarnation of Valmiki or a direct emissary of Rama. Born in Rajapur, Uttar Pradesh, tradition holds that he was abandoned at birth and later adopted by a wandering ascetic. His magnum opus, the Ramcharitmanas (c. 1574), composed in Awadhi Hindi, retells the Ramayana story in a vernacular accessible to all, embodying the bhakti movement's emphasis on personal devotion over ritual. The text is considered the 'living Ramayana' of North India and is recited daily in countless homes and temples.

Tulsidas also authored the Vinaya Patrika, a collection of devotional hymns, and the Hanuman Chalisa, a 40-verse hymn to Hanuman that remains immensely popular. According to the Ramcharitmanas itself (Bala Kanda), Tulsidas received a vision of Rama and Hanuman, which inspired his composition. The Skanda Purana, though earlier, is often cited as a source for the story of Rama that Tulsidas elaborated. Iconographically, Tulsidas is depicted as a serene sage with a manuscript—typically the Ramcharitmanas—in hand, often accompanied by an image of Rama and Hanuman. He is shown with a lotus, symbolizing purity and divine grace.

His principal myth involves a curse from his wife that turned him from a worldly householder into a devoted ascetic; he then spent years in Chitrakoot and Varanasi, composing his works. Regional worship is especially strong in Uttar Pradesh, with major temples in Varanasi (Tulsi Manas Mandir) and Ayodhya. His Jayanti (birth anniversary) is celebrated on the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Shravana. In Hindu cosmology, Tulsidas is seen as a key figure who democratized devotion, making the path of bhakti accessible through the vernacular. His works emphasize the supremacy of Rama's name (Rama Nama) and the power of surrender.

The Ramcharitmanas is often recited in full during the nine-day Rama Navami festival. Tulsidas's legacy endures as a beacon of devotion, bridging elite and folk traditions.

Depicted as a sage with a manuscript. Serene, wise expression. Often shown with a copy of Ramcharitmanas.