On July 27, 2009 the birth anniversary of Sant Tulsidas will be celebrated in commemoration of the life of this most renowned personality of Hindi as well as world literature. Although he lived over five hundred years ago, the message of his life is an evergreen one. The example left by this literary giant is most instructive to all of mankind caught up in a world riddled by challenges of various kinds.
From street child to sage poet; from ‘adham’(unworthy) to ‘aadi kavi’( foremost of poets); from a life of ‘vishay’ (worldliness) to one of ‘vimukt’ (liberation), Tulsi’s experiences were such that they propelled him to become an outstanding devotee, an example for all.
Surviving under the most impoverished conditions, he went from pillar to post until he met his Guru Naraharidas. This encounter was one of the turning points of his life as his Guru steered him on the path of gyaan bhakti and karma. From Shri Narhariji this willing shishya (disciple) acquired knowledge of various Hindu scriptures.
Later on, Tulsi was married and his world became totally consumed by his love for his wife, without whom he could not bear to live for a moment. Realising the depth of his attachment for her, Ratna, his wife, suggested to him ‘Raam Bhajo, saba kaam tajo’ (Give up everything and seek Raam.). This advice was an impetus that sparked off a sudden shift from worldliness to an intense desire to seek God.
That point marked the initiation of Tulsi’s spiritual quest, which drove him to travel from place to place, searching through several experiences and encountering countless obstacles on the way. His journey to his Lord spurred him on to compose several poems. The most popular was the writing in Avadhi of the Shri Raamcharitra-maanas. This writing was met with stiff opposition from other Sanskrit scholars who tried in different ways to destroy the text. However, his faith stood strong as the book received the stamp of the Divine Himself. Tulsi’s quest for the Lord grew in intensity with every illness, every disappointment or challenge that confronted him.
Until the very end when he acquired spiritual elevation Tulsi’s faith never floundered. In like manner, we too must immerse ourselves in a spiritual milieu, not brooding over the impermanence of life. Despite the perceived dehumanising environment in which we could find ourselves at times, the apparent chaos that may surround us, we need to be receptive of all possibilities and realise the higher purpose of our existence. With the guidance of one’s Guru, who is like the Gardener of our lives, we need to pluck out all weeds of negativities, water our lives with sincere bhakti and prune good habits. In this way, we would, like Tulsidas, reap the fruit of spiritual prosperity.
