Tulsi Manas Mandir

Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi, Lucknow

It was the Ram Charit Manas of Tulsi Das, his translation of the Sanskrit Ramayana into Awadhi, that propagated the popularity of Lord Ram from an exceptional king to a divine God. In 1964, the Birla family constructed a temple at the same place where Goswami Tulsidas wrote Ram Charit Manas. Today, the Tulsi Manas temple is one of the prominent shrines of the holy city of Varansi, the serenity and calmness around it a distinct contrast to the rest of the shrines around.

Legend

Ramayana, the epic describing the legend and life of Ram was originally written in Sanskrit language by Sanskrit poet Valmiki between 500 and 100 BC. However, the epic in Sanskrit was not understood by the masses not familiar with the language. In the 16th century, Goswami Tulsidas wrote the Ramayan in Awadhi dialect of Hindi language called the Ram Charit Manas. In the place where Tulsidas wrote the Ram Charit Manas, is the Birla family constructed Tulsi Manas temple.

This temple is part of famous Kashi - Varanasi and Saptapuri Yatra.

Architecture

The temple constructed in white marble is beautiful in its simplicity. On the right side near the entrance, there is a Tulsi Garden, an on the left side a pond. The walls of the temple are adorned with verses and scenes from Ram Charit Manas. The shrine with a vast hall, has beautiful idols of the Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman. There are also deities of Lord Shiva, Durga and Ganesha. The second floor of the temple has automated statues and scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.