Tulsi Manas Mandir

Tulsi Manas Mandir
तुलसी मानस मंदिर
Tulsi Manas Mandir
तुलसी मानस मंदिर
Location within Uttar Pradesh
Name
Devanagari तुलसी मानस मंदिर
Geography
Coordinates 25°17′14″N 83°00′02″E / 25.287206°N 83.000417°ECoordinates: 25°17′14″N 83°00′02″E / 25.287206°N 83.000417°E
Country  India
State Uttar Pradesh
District Varanasi
Location Durga Kund, Bhelupura, Varanasi
Elevation 85 m (279 ft)
Culture
Primary deity Lord Rama
Poets Tulsidas
History and governance
Date built 1964
Creator Birla family

Tulsi Manas Mandir (Hindi: तुलसी मानस मंदिर) (a.k.a Tulsi Birla Manas Mandir) is one of the most famous temples in the holy city of Varanasi. This temple has great historical and cultural importance in Hinduism since the ancient Hindu epic Ramcharitmanas was originally written at this place by Hindu poet-saint, reformer and philosopher Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century (c.1532–1623).[1][2]

History

One of the famous Hindu epics, Ramayan was originally written in Sanskrit language by Sanskrit poet Valmiki between 500 and 100 BC. Being is Sanskrit language, this epic was not accessible to and understood by masses. In the 16th century, Goswami Tulsidas wrote the Ramayan in Awadhi dialect of Hindi language and the Awadhi version was called Ramcharitmanas (meaning Lake of the deeds of Rama).[3][4][5]

In 1964, the Birla family constructed a temple at the same place where Goswami Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas.[1]

Construction

Construction finished in 1964 and was funded by the Birla family. The temple was constructed in white marble and landscaping all around the temple. Verses and scenes (pictorials) from Ramcharitmanas are engraved on the marble walls all over the temple.[1][5]

Location

Tulsi Manas Mandir is situated on the Sankat Mochan road, 250 meters south of Durga Kund, 700 meters north-east of Sankat Mochan Mandir and 1.3 kilometers north of Banaras Hindu University.[6]

Historical importance

Due to Ramcharitmanas, the epic Ramayan was read by larger number of people, who otherwise could not have read Ramayan since it was in Sanskrit. Reportedly, prior to Ramcharitmanas, Lord Ram was depicted as a great King and it was Ramcharitmanas which bestowed him as a Deity.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Tulsi Manas Mandir". Varanasi.org. Retrieved Mar 2015.
  2. K.B. Jindal (1955), A history of Hindi literature, Kitab Mahal, ... The book is popularly known as the Ramayana, but the poet himself called it the Ramcharitmanas i.e. the 'Lake of the Deeds of Rama'
  3. "History". bharatonline.com. Retrieved Mar 2015.
  4. Vālmīki, Robert P. Goldman (1990). The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India 1. Princeton University Press. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0-691-01485-X.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Tulsi Manas Temple". Varanasi City website. Retrieved Mar 2015.
  6. "Location". Google Maps. Retrieved Mar 2015.
  7. "Importance". Indian Mirror. Retrieved Mar 2015.