Tulsidas

Some Brahmans were seated eating in Tulsidas' hermitage. A great variety of food cooked with butter and sugar was spread before them. As Tulsidas was about to offer the food to the gods and the Brahmans were reciting, "This is an offering to the Supreme Brahma," a Brahman suddenly appeared at the gate. He said, "First, repeating the names of Sita and Ram, I am a great killer of Brahmans. Give me some of the food you give to those who ask for it."

Upon hearing this, the Brahmans present were filled with wonder. Tulsidas came outside and embraced the Brahman. He took him by the hand and seated him by his side. Then Tulsidas said to him, "O Swami, personification of mercy, listen to my request. The moment you utter the words Sita and Ram, sins like killing Brahmans and similar sins are burnt up as if they were straw." After saying this, Tulsidas told the Brahmans, "Now, begin to eat."

However, the Brahmans, skilled in the six shastras, questioned Tulsidas, saying, "On what authority have you seated this Brahman killer in our midst?" Tulsidas replied, "There is one authority for it. How can the sin of killing a Brahman remain when uttering the name of Ram? In the Shri Bhagavat Purana, Lord Krishna revealed to Uddhava that in the Kali Yuga, the power of God's name would be manifested to an extraordinary degree. The names of Keshav and Narayan are repeated during one's bath and devotion. If there are any faults in religious deeds, they can be remedied by repeating the names of Vishnu. In the worship of ancestors, the whole rite is finally offered to Janardana. No rite is properly performed unless the name of Hari is pronounced. When deciding on a marriage, if the horoscopes of the bride and groom result in thirty-six favorable points, the marriage will not take place without repeating the names of the Husband of Lakshmi. When facing death and undergoing penance, the name of God is repeated at that final moment. The Husband of Parvati, Lord Shiva, lovingly repeats the name of Ram. Even the great sinner Pingala Ganika, a prostitute, spoke to her parrot, calling him Raghu. By doing so, the straw of her great faults was burnt up by the flames of God's names. The Brahman Ajamil, who had become exceedingly depraved, called out to his infant son Narayan at the point of death, and immediately all his sins were burnt up."

The Brahmans, wanting an explanation, said, "This does not seem true to our minds. Show us some evidence, and our doubts will disappear." Tulsidas responded, "What kind of evidence do you ask for?" The Earth-gods (Brahmans) said, "Make an offering to the stone bull, Nandi. The Lord of the Universe, the Lord of Kailas, Nandikeshvar, stands in front of it. Fill a plate with food and offer it to the stone bull. If the stone bull eats the offering from your hands in our presence, then we shall allow this killer of Brahmans to sit among us." They requested Tulsidas to provide concrete evidence of the power of God's names. They compared it to testing the genuineness of coins by piercing them or examining jewels in the serpent's head by subjecting them to fire. Tulsidas was pleased with their request.

Taking a plate of food, Tulsidas went into the temple of Vishveshvar, the Lord of the Universe, followed by all the Brahmans. With curiosity, they stood in the assembly hall, watching as Tulsidas approached the temple's great door. He joined his hands and bowed prostrate on the ground, reciting a prayer. Tulsidas said, "Victory, victory to Thee, Who wearest the moon on Thy head, blue-throated one, Holder of the Khatvanga bow, Husband of Parvati, Enemy of the demon Tripur, listen to the request of the lowly one. Just as Thou didst drink the virulent poison and Thy whole body became inflamed, then Thou didst repeat the names of Ram. By merely repeating the two-lettered name of Ram, Thou didst become cool, O Lord of the Universe. If that be true, then let this stone bull eat this offering."

As soon as the prayer was heard, a strange thing happened. The stone bull arose and began to breathe violently. It ate all the offering and even consumed the whole leaf plate. Everyone witnessed this miracle. The Brahmans shouted, "Victory, victory!" All the twice-born made a namaskar to Tulsidas while repeating the names of God. They said, "Blessed are you, noble Vaishnava. You are very wise in the knowledge of eternal truths. Now we know that you are truly a full avatar of Valmiki. Just as the moon is supreme among the clusters of stars, just as the eagle is supreme among birds, just as Vishnu is supreme among the gods, you are supreme among the Vaishnavas. As Shiva is supreme among ascetics, as Sage Vyasa is supreme among the rishis, as Mother Rukmini was supreme among the cowherdesses, you are supreme among the Vaishnavas. As the Husband of Janaki is supreme among the Holder of Bows, as the ocean of milk is supreme among all oceans, as the Son of Anusuya is supreme among those who have attained Godhood, you are supreme among the Vaishnavas. As the fourth stage of deliverance is supreme among the four stages, as the father of Brahmadev is supreme among the Yadavas, as the expounder of the Vedas is supreme among pandits, you are supreme among bhaktas. As the sun is supreme among the nine planets, as Ushanas is supreme among the great poets, and as Mount Meru is supreme among mountains, you are the noblest Vaishnava among the Vaishnavas." Thus, praising Tulsidas, all the Brahmans returned to the hermitage. They allowed the Brahman killer to sit beside them, and they all dined together. From that day on, the people of Benares began to repeat the names of God, giving up their pride and coming to listen to the deeds of Hari.