Goswami Tulsidas

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Although occasionally in public forums, particularly in India, Prabhupada

refered to Tulsidas as a great devotee. However, we can see from the following

references that he had another opinion. Reading these makes one wonder whether

all of the miraculous stories about Tulsidas are true.

 

 

Aksayänanda: Are Tulsi das teachings bona fide, Srila Prabhupäda?

Prabhupäda: He is not pure Vaisnava. He has got Mäyävädi touch. (Morning Walk

Vrndavana 29 Aug.1975)

 

 

"To become a brähmana by a birthright claim is not at all bona fide, although

it may be a fulfillment of one of the conditions. But the real qualification

of a brähmana is to control the mind and the senses, and to cultivate

tolerance, simplicity, cleanliness, knowledge, truthfulness, devotion and

faith in the Vedic wisdom. In the present age, consideration of the necessary

qualification is being neglected, and the false birthright claim is being

supported even by a popular, sophisticated poet, the author of

Räma-carita-mänasa." (SB 1.16.31 purport)

 

 

Prabhupäda: Tulasidäsa. Tulasidäsa Rämäyana is very popular. Because the

Hindis, they have no literature. There is no literature.

Jayapatäkä: If some Gaudiya Vaisnava could rewrite that according to

siddhänta, then it would be very good.

Prabhupäda: Which one?

Jayapatäkä: His Rämäyana has got many philosophical errors in it.

Prabhupäda: Oh, yes.

Jayapatäkä: If a Gaudiya Vaisnava could write that properly...

Prabhupäda: Why? Gaudiya Vaisnava has immense literature. Why they should

bother with Tulasidäsa? By reading Tulasidäsa’s Räma-carita-mänasa in my

experience I’ve not seen a single man has come to the spiritual platform. I

have not seen a single man. (Conversation 21.Aug 1976, Hyderbad)

 

 

"Regarding the two books you have mentioned, Sri Ramacharitamanasa by Goswami

Tulasi das is not very authorized, and Ramayana is authorized. One thing is

though, you have got enough other books to study. Did you appear in the

examination held on Janmastami Day? Why should you go to Ramayana when you

have got Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Teachings of Lord Caitanya?

Don't divert your attention in that way. The author of Ramacharitamanasa,

Goswami Tulasi das, has a tint of Mayavadi philosophy. He belongs to the

Ramananda Sampradaya. They are mixed up combination of personalist and

impersonalist. Therefore, the author is not considered as pure Vaisnava."

(Letter Raktaka Hamburg 6 Sept.1969)