Chitrakuth ka ghat

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May 7, 2018, 7:35:28 PM5/7/18

चित्रकूट के घाट पर हुई संतन की भीड़, तुलसीदास चन्दन घिसे, तिलक देते रघुबीर”

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.