Vision of Rama at chitrakut

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!! Sri Rama Jayam !!

Rama Darshanam at Chitrakut - The Vision of Sri Rama at Chitrakut

Sri Hanuman is an ideal of Dasya Bakti- the devotional attitude of the servant

of God. He is worshipped by all devout lovers of Sri Rama to this day, as being

one who can bring us into the divine presence with greater ease than would be

possible by the direct worship of Sri Rama Himself. Saint Tulasidas considered

Sri Hanuman to be his chief benefactor and protector.

Sri Hanuman is a friend of the common man and a mediator between him and the

Lord.

When Sri Rama in His human incarnation withdrew himself from the world, He has

left Sri Hanuman to look after us for all eternity. And so, wherever the name of

Sri Rama is mentioned in conversation, song or recital, Sri Hanuman in his

untiring devotion is always known to be present there.

Tulasi went on a pilgrimage and visited the holy mountain of Kailash in the

Himalayas. Then he came to Bhavavana where he remained during the monsoon rains.

In this forest named Bhavavana, Tulasi daily recited the Ramayana.

A legend says that there was a holy fig tree and the spirit of a dead man, bound

to this fig tree for some evil deeds of its past life, was suffering in great

agony. Tulasi passed that way daily and poured water at the roots of the tree

after his morning ablution. This released the spirit from its painful bondage.

Wishing to express its gratitude, the spirit asked Tulasi how his kindness could

be repaid. Tulasi said that he did not desire anything except the vision of Sri

Rama.

The spirit replied that it knew the means by which this wish could be fulfilled.

The spirit then informed Tulasi that when he recited the Rama Katha (story of

Rama); Hanuman came to listen to him in the guise of a leper dressed in rags.

Shunned by the audience, he sat in a corner and was the first to come and last

to go. The spirit said that Hanuman, by the strength of his own devotion could

confer the boon of the vision of Rama upon Tulasi.

Next day, at the Rama Katha recital Tulasi looked carefully and found a man who

answered to the description given by the spirit. When the assembled crowd of

devotees had dispersed and this man was also about to leave, Tulasi went up to

him, fell at his feet and begged him to fulfill the desire so dear to his heart.

Tulasi implored him over and over again to be kind. At last he said to Tulasi:

" Go to Chitrakut mountain and there you will be blessed with the vision of

Rama. "

Tulasi immediately left for Chitrakut. Throughout the journey Tulasi's mind

dwelt on Rama and on the possibility of Rama-Darshan (Vision of Rama).

On reaching Chitrakut, Tulasi lived at Ramghaat, and started his daily

recitation of the Ramayana. One day, while doing pradakshina (walking about)

Kamadgiri Hills, Tulasi came across a most unexpected sight. Two princely

looking boys, one fair and the other of dark complexion passed by riding on

horses. Attracted greatly by their extraordinary good looks, he wondered who

they were. It did not occur to him for a moment that they were Sri Rama and Sri

Lakshmana, the ideals enshrined in his own heart, until Sri Hanuman enlightened

him. When Tulasi discovered his mistake he wept inconsolably. Hanuman pacified

him in a dream and said that he had been the recipient of great grace, and that

a man or a woman in the Kali Yuga could expect no more.

However, Hanuman promised Tulasi that he would have another vision of Rama the

next day. So, with the break of dawn, Tulasi went to Ramghaat and busied himself

in making sandalwood paste for the mendicants and pilgrims who had come for a

bath in the holy Mandakini river. It was a sacred day of Mauni Amavasya, which

fell on Wednesday in AD 1550. A large number of people had assembled there for a

bath and worship. Just at the time when everyone was busy, Sri Rama suddenly

appeared before Tulasi and said, " Baba, give me some paste. "

Fearing that Tulasi might allow this golden opportunity to pass unheeded once

again, Hanuman, in the form of a parrot cried out to him from a nearby tree:

" Chitrakoot ke ghaat par bhai santan ki bheed, Tulasidas chandan ghisai, tilak

karat Raghuveer " , which simply means - " There is a mass accumulation of saints

at the ghaat of Chitrakoot, Tulasi rubs the sandalwood and Sri Rama anoints

Himself. "

Tulasi looked up in surprise and saw the enchanting form of Rama standing in

front of him. The currents and cross-currents of random thoughts and desires

were stilled in his heart and as the consciousness of the world and the physical

self receded, his mind merged in Sri Rama completely. Sri Rama again asked for

the paste, but Tulasi was unable to move or speak. The Lord then bent down and

with his own hand took a little of the sandalwood paste, put it on Tulasi's

forehead and disappeared.

 

Tulasi was in a deep trance, oblivious of his surroundings, when Hanuman again

came to his rescue. Slowly he recovered, but was unable to return to ordinary

consciousness till the night.

As far as records go, this was the first time Tulasi had experienced Samadhi or

God realisation. This is the highest stage of human consciousness. A strange

quietness enters the soul. A great peace invades its being. The Supreme

awareness, the intimately felt presence, brings with it a rapture beyond joy,

and knowledge beyond reason; a sensation more intense than that of life itself ;

infinite in peace and harmony.

An exalted experience of this kind is bound to have far-reaching effects. A

great creative and beneficent force is born from the depths of a soul who has

known this peace and harmony. In the case of Tulasi it gave to his words a power

to move the hearts of men and women which time has not been able to lessen or

efface. His inspired poetry, charged with potency and an ever-fresh stream of

devotion and knowledge, is flowing onwards to meet the needs of the generations

to come.

I bow at the feet of Tulasidas, who gave his ultimate composition of " Sri

Ramcharit Manas " to the people of kaliyuga.

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Hare Krishna

Hare Rama