Ramcharitmanas
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Goswami Tulsidas's retelling of the Ramayana in Awadhi, the most widely read devotional book of North India.
| Tradition | Hindu (Vaishnava) |
|---|---|
| Type | Devotional epic |
| Language | Awadhi |
| Period | 16th century CE; by the poet's own account begun in 1574 |
| Composed or compiled by | Goswami Tulsidas |
What it contains
- Seven books (kandas), from Bal Kand to Uttar Kand.
- Written mainly in chaupai and doha verse forms.
- Rama presented as the Supreme Lord and a model of dharma.
- Hanuman's devotion and the triumph of good over evil.
Significance
It is recited in homes and temples and is the basis of the Ramlila performances of North India. In 2024 illustrated manuscripts of the Ramcharitmanas were inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register.