Tulsidas

Maruti said to Shri Ram, "Listen to this, my request. Tulsidas is a complete incarnation of Valmiki. I want you to manifest yourself visibly to him. This is my desire, so fulfill the wish of my heart, O Swami." Hearing Maruti's words, Ram replied, "I will do so." He then gathered all the monkeys and led the army with him.

The Holder of the bow, Ram, passed in front of Tulsidas' hermitage, but Tulsidas did not recognize Him. He thought to himself, "Some Muslims are passing by." The monkeys appeared heroic, and Shri Ram seemed like the king of the Muslims to him. Thinking this, Tulsidas offered them a greeting. Later, Maruti came to Tulsidas' hermitage and said to him, "Lord Ram has fulfilled your desire." Tulsidas replied, "O Maruti, I have not met Shri Ram." Maruti responded, "Why? He just passed by your hermitage." Tulsidas said, "The one who passed by my hermitage was truly a Muslim. I did not see Ram. My desire remains unfulfilled." Maruti remarked, "A wish-cow came to your house, and you, a wise person, drove it away, thinking it was a goat. Once, while walking along the road, you suddenly saw a touchstone, and yet you, a wise man, discarded it, thinking it was a mere pebble. A very wise and clever parrot happened to come to your hermitage. It seemed like a dove to you, and therefore, you did not care for it. You encounter the forest of wish-trees, but they seem like sindi trees to you. So when Shri Ram was passing by, you did not recognize Him. On a day of great festival, a Brahman came to your house. You thought he was a goat herder, and you turned him away. You saw a garland of pearls and thought it was made of glass. Thus, when Ram passed by, you did not recognize Him. A flock of royal swans passed by, and you mistook them for crows, so you made no obeisance to Shri Ram. Just like Lakshmi should come effortlessly into a pauper's kitchen, but he should discard her as a slave, you have acted in the same way. An unfortunate man, while digging the foundation of a house, found a golden coin. He thought it was a pebble and discarded it. The pure sandalwood of Mount Maila has seemed like hinganwood to you. So when Ram passed by, you did not recognize Him. The Holder of the Pinak bow, the Husband of Parvati (Shiva), came in the form of a beggar, and you gave him no gift. This is what you have done now."

Tulsidas replied, "O Swami, you accuse me unjustly, but Ram, who fills all space and pervades the universe, is invisible. A bracelet is made of gold, but the ignorant man does not call it gold. Milk comes from water, but one should not call water milk. All water is the same, but the chatak bird will not drink the water that is on the earth. So the worshipper of Ram does not consider Him as appearing in many forms. The Dweller in Ayodhya, the Life of Janaki, was holding His bow and arrow in the same way as Valmiki described Him. Show me that appearance." When Maruti heard him say this, he smiled and said, "Shri Ram will fulfill the desire of your heart." Saying this, Maruti became invisible and, envisioning the image of Shri Ram in his mind, he began his loving praise, "Victory, Victory, O Dweller in Ayodhya, Husband of Sita, Slayer of Ravan, Holder of the bow, Purifier of the sinner, Saviour of the humble, Slayer of demons, O Shri Ram."

Shri Ram replied, "Maruti, why this special praise today? What is the special desire of your heart that you have begun this loving praise?" Maruti replied, "Shri Ram, Wish tree of the desires of the devotees, Thou a visible form, dark as a thick cloud, I desire Thee to visit Tulsidas." Hearing Maruti's request, Ram said, "How can he have a direct manifestation in this Kali Yuga?" Maruti replied, "O Lord of the heart, he is an incarnation of the sage Valmiki. It was You who commanded him to turn men to Your worship." Hearing Maruti's remark, Ram said, "I will listen to your request. I never break my word." So Shri Ram, along with Sita and Lakshman, taking the form of visible incarnations, walked alongside Maruti. The devoted Maruti went ahead and informed Tulsidas. He said, "Shri Ram will today fulfill your heart's desire." Hearing Maruti's remark, Tulsidas was filled with joy. Just then, he saw before him the Lord of Ayodhya. His joy knew no bounds. He wore a brilliant crown on his head, a yellow garment, and had a complexion like that of a dark cloud. In His hand, He held a bow and arrow. In this form, Tulsidas saw Shri Ram. With deep reverence, Tulsidas prostrated himself on the ground, and the merciful Shri Ram embraced his devotee Tulsidas. Maruti said to him, "You are a very fortunate man. With your eyes, you have seen the form of Ram. Now you must proclaim to all men the deeds of God that you previously described. In this Kali Yuga, the means of salvation are not yoga practices, sacrifices, or the study of the Vedas. So proclaim the might of God's names and turn men to the worship of God." Maruti said to Ram, "Place your hand on his head." Ram listened to his request and blessed Tulsidas with His assurance. After giving him this blessing, the Husband of Sita, Ram, became invisible, and Tulsidas continued with love to describe Shri Ram's good deeds.