||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter – 18 – Dhoha – 17

Tulsidas Maharaj speaks “I shall reverentially prostrate before my preceptor who removed my qualms, and I request all my readers with folded hands not to criticize or overlook the composition. I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Mahadeva and I shall narrate the endless virtues of Lord Rama. I have started writing the glorious legends of Rama in the year 1584 AD, on Tuesday 9^th in the month of Chaithra, it was published in Ayodhya, on the birth date of Lord Rama where all the Theerthas confluence in Ayodhya, Veda affirms the presence of all the sacred Theerthas in this glorious city of Ayodhya on the birthday of Lord Rama.  On this auspicious day, animals, birds, demons, humans, deities, serpents, Sages and Rishis assemble and worship Lord Rama and take a holy dip in this sacred Sarayu. The intellectuals celebrate the birth of supreme Lord Rama widely, and sing in praise of him, on this occasion several thousands of pious people will take a dip in the holy river Sarayu, and they contemplate upon the most attractive form of supreme Lord Rama and conduct meditation. The Vedas and scriptures repeatedly pronounced that holy dip in the river Sarayu, or mere witnessing this sacred river, or touching its waters or consuming it would destroy all the sins of the worshiper.  The piousness of this sacred river Sarayu is indescribable even to Goddess Sharada.  The beautiful city of Ayodhya is the abode of Rama on the Earth; it is one of the sacred lands on the Earth.  The creation on the Earth has expanded in four methods 1)Born out of womb/human 2) Born out of Egg/birds, serpents  3) Sweat/fungus and 4) sprouted from Earth/trees and vegetables, if any creature leaves its mortal coil on this sacred land of Ayodhya will not have rebirth. This is one of the beautiful city, provides various supernatural powers to the ascetics, it is the storehouse of all the auspiciousness, hence I have started writing this glorious legend of Rama, whoever listens to it with intense devotion and faith would get rid of all the impurities in their hearts/ Kamam/desire and lust, Dhabham/pride and Madham/haughtiness, listening to the marvelous name of ‘ Sri Ramacharitha Manas’ itself would provide serenity to the mind.  The untamed elephant-like mind locked in the wildfire of the material matters and bondage would feel great comfort in the Ramacharitha Manas like water pool. The intellectuals and ascetics would take great pleasure in the sacred and marvelous ‘Ramacharitha Manas which was composed by Lord Shambhu. It would remove Thrividhapapa, sins that are committed by the mind, words, and deeds, it removes Jananam/birth, aging, and death as well, it removes all the impurities of mind and intellect, and it eradicates sufferings of poverty and miseries. It was composed by Lord Mahadeva and safely locked in his heart, later it was narrated to Goddess Parvathi in an appropriate time, it was named as ‘Ramacharitha Manas’  by Lord Shambhu. Oh! Noble souls, I shall repeat that marvelous and most interesting legend of Rama, kindly listen to it with devotion and faith. I shall repeatedly contemplate upon Goddess Uma and Lord Shiva, and I shall describe the nature of ‘Ramacharitha Manas’, and how did it begin?  And why it has got wide popularity among the ascetics and pious souls?”