T Ram Sewak MANSAROVAR Goswami Tulsidasji started writing Shri Ramcharitmanas in 1631 of Vikram Samvat (1574 CE). However, Tulsidasji attributes the c
- Posted: December 24, 2024
- Updated: 03:16 pm
T Ram Sewak
MANSAROVAR
Goswami Tulsidasji started writing Shri Ramcharitmanas in 1631 of Vikram Samvat (1574 CE). However, Tulsidasji attributes the composition of this katha (Shri Ramcharitmanas) to Lord Shiva, which Lord Shiva first revealed to Ma Parvati (Shri Ramcharitmanas 1.35).
Metaphorically, Tulsidasji equates Shri Ramcharitmanas to the Mansarovar a lake at Mount Kailash's base. Using another metaphor, Tulsidasji wishes we all have Shri Ramcharitmanas as our own 'Man ka Sarovar' within our hearts - purifying ourselves by dipping into this katha sarovar (lake) continuously.
In Shri Ramcharitmanas, the story of Shri Ram and his leelas (divine play) is narrated simultaneously by four narrators and listeners. Tulsidasji states that these four narrations are synonymous with being carried out at the four banks (ghats) of your own Mansarovar (Shri Ramcharitmanas 1.36).
On the first ghat, Lord Shiva narrates it to Ma Parvati. The place of narration is geographically Mount Kailash, but metaphorically, Tulsidasji calls it the Gyan ghat (knowledge). On the second ghat, the narrator is Kakabhushundi ji (the crow saint), and the listener is Garuda (the king of birds - Lord Vishnu's vehicle). Geographically, the setting is the Nigiri Hills. This ghat is called the Bhakti ghat (devotion).
On the third ghat, Muni Yagyavalkya discourses the katha to Rishi Bhardwaj at Prayag Raj. This ghat is called the Karma ghat (action). On the fourth ghat, Tulsidasji narrates the katha to all sadhaks (seekers) and bhakts (devotees) in Ayodhya. This is called Dina (helpless/pitiable) ghat because all listeners believe that only Shri Ram's karuna (compassion) can lead to their liberation.
Shri Ramcharitmanas is thus being narrated among Celestials (Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati), birds (Kakabhushundi ji and Garuda), saints (Muni Yagyavalkya and Rishi Bhardwaj) and humans (Goswami Tulsidasji and the bhakts), and embodies Gyan, bhakti, karma yoga and karuna ras. Thus, this katha (Mansarovar) is eternal, transcending the limits of geography, time and life forms!
Some facets of the katha narrated by Kakabhushundi ji to Garuda in the coming weeks! / DAILY WORLD /
Namami Ramam Musings-81
The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com
.gif)
