Tulsidas

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Taoshobuddha

Tulsidas

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Tulsidas 1532-1623

Tulsidas

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Tulsi Das

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Tulsidas

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TAOSHOBUDDHA

The word Taoshobuddha comes from three words, ‘tao,’ ‘sho,’ and ‘Buddha’. The word Tao was coined by the Chinese master, Lau Tzu. It means that which is and cannot be put into words. It is unknown and unknowable. It can only be experienced and not expressed in words. Its magnanimity cannot be condensed into finiteness. The word Sho implies, that which is vast like the sky and deep like an ocean and carries within its womb a treasure. It also means one on whom the existence showers its blessings. And lastly the word Buddha implies the Enlightened One; one who has arrived home.

Thus, Taoshobuddha implies one who is existential, on whom the existence showers its blessings and one who has arrived home. The Enlightened One!

Tulsidas

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Tulsidas

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Tulsidas

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The poet sage Tulsidad, the composer of immortal epic RamCharit Manas as the portrayal of Sri Ram was born in the village Rajapur in District Banda of Uttar Pradesh. The Village Rajapur claims its fame to Goswami Tulsidas (1532-1623 AD) who wrote Sri Ram Charit Manas.

Tulsi temple, Sri Tulsidas’s birthplace on the banks of River Yamuna at Rajapur in district Banda, Uttar Pradesh

The place where Tulsidas was born is now converted into a temple as the memorial for Tulsidas. It is at this place one chapter of the original manuscript in the handwriting of the sage poet Tulsidad is preserved. The village is situated on the bank of blue river Yamuna in the District Banda. In the subsequent pages

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we are presenting certain rare pictures of the place and the original manuscript in the hands of Tulsidas.

A view of river Yamuna from Tulsidas temple at Rajapur

The sage poet Tulsidas was a prolific writer a saint and a yogi as well. He never missed his morning exercise routine, and is said that when plague hit Varanasi during his lifetime, he trained his students at the ‘akhara’ (a physical fitness center in those days) to take care of themselves and the ailing.

It is during such time to overcome his own fears arising in him he composed Hanuman Chalisa. The Hanuman Chalisa, written by Tulsidas is by far his most popular work. He wrote these 40 verses in his student days at Kashi, as a personal prayer to Lord Hanuman to free him from fears. This composition is considered

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as the solemn prayer for the Hindus and as a ritual. Hindu devotees sing the prayer with great devotion and fervor. Further to this he did other works. His other literary works include Dohavali, Kavitavali, Vinay Patrika, Hanuman Bahuk, Sankat Mochan, Janaki Mangal, Parvati Mangal and Vairagya Sandipani.

Tulsidas’s handwritten edition of Ayodhya kand (Ramcharitmanas)

He began writing Sri Ram Charit Manas in Ayodhya on the day of Ram Navmi, and continued writing while moving to Varanasi and Chitrakoot.

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The original script wrapped in sacred cloth

A view of the script

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A chapter from Tulsidas’s handwritten edition of Ramcharitmanas is still available at Rajapur. I was surprised to see it written on paper, instead of birch tree bark (bhojpatra) like other old manuscripts. The paper is old and preserved with a tissue covering. The protective covering was sponsored recently by the devotees visiting the temple from time to time.

Tulsidas’s handwriting!

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Original handwriting of Tulsidas