Biography of Tulsidas

(Born: 13 August 1532, Soron - Died: 31 July 1623, Assi Ghat, Varanasi)

The Tulsidas is one of the best poets ever to have graced Bharat. He was the leading poet of the Bhakti movement. His verses were written in Hindi and were comprehendible to everyone.

Tulsidas was born in the year 1532 to a Brahmin family in the town of Rajapur (U.P.). He suffered separation from his parents at a very young age and was not taken care of by his relatives. In his childhood, he was taught the Vedas, Puranas, and Upanishads. Tulsidas was married to Ratnavali. It is said that he was deeply attached to his wife who once exhorted him to develop the same deep attachment to Lord Rama. Tulsidas then renounced worldly life.

The important poetic works of Tulsidas in addition to 'Ramcharitamanas' are: ‘Bhairavi Ramayana', 'Gitavali’ (1571), "Kavitavali (1612), and 'Vinaya Patrika'. He authored 22 different works. Around 1612, he started to suffer from acute arm pain. Tulsidas passed away on the dark fortnight in the month of Shravana in 1623.