Auspicious Shravan at Sandipani – Day 24
Why has Shri Tulsidasji described Ram Charit Manas as Maa Ganga?
Ram katha is the knowledge of life. What Maharishi Valmiki created is Ramayan and the creation of Tulsidasji is the Ram Charit Manas. One meaning of Ramayan is the temple of Ram, Shri Ramji’s abode. It is worth seeing this temple’s divinity, grandeur and art. However, a temple has some boundaries. On the other hand, Shri Tulsidasji’s Ram Charit Manas is not a temple, it is the flowing river of Maa Ganga.
‘Puchehu Raghupati katha prasangaa, sakal lok jag paavani ganga’.
This means, Ram Katha Ganga purifies the whole universe. By saying this, Goswami Tulsidasji gave this scripture a universal status.
Do you know the difference between a temple and a river?
Both provide purity but:
1. A temple is fixed in one place and we have to travel to do darshan. But a river flows to us. If we want to listen to Ram Katha, it will flow to us wherever we are. It will even flow from the plains to the mountains. Normally, a river originates from the mountain and flows towards the ocean. Ram Katha is such a river that can flow in the opposite direction. Rivers which flow towards the north have a special importance. Maa Ganga flows towards the north in Kashi. This is why, wherever a Katha is taking place, at whatever time, from a saint’s mouth, a Katha is always considered to be flowing towards the north.
2. When we go for darshan to a temple, we have a bath, wear clean clothes and chant God’s name on our way. All these disciplines are not required when going to a river. A river welcomes us in whatever state we are in and it will bathe us.
3. Those who go to a temple believe in God and have faith in God. On the other hand, those who approach a river can be either atheists or believers in God.
4. People who visit temples are mainly Hindus, whilst anyone, a Muslim, Hindu, Sikh or Christian, will all go to a river.
5. We are not allowed to enter in the innermost parts of the temple where the deities are. The priest will normally offer whatever we present to God on our behalf. There is a distance between God and us. God is inside the temple and we are outside. Conversely, there is no one to stop us at a river. We can dive into the river and unite with it.
6. A temple has particular opening and closing times for darshan, whereas a river has no such limitations. You can go to a river at any time. The river impatiently awaits us and welcomes us at any time.
I really like it that Goswami Shri Tulsidasji has compared Ram Katha to Maa Ganga:
‘Sakal lok jag paavani Ganga’.