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This is the story of how Tulsidas, the great poet-saint and author of Ramcharitmanas, encountered Hanuman in Varanasi. It tells of the origin of the revered Sankat Mochan Temple.
Characters in the story:
Saint Tulsidas: Tulsidas was a Vaishnava (Ramanandi) saint and poet, renowned for his devotion to the deity Rama. He wrote several popular works in Sanskrit, Awadhi, and Braj Bhasha, but is best known as the author of the Hanuman Chalisa and of the epic Ramcharitmanas.
Hanuman: Hanuman is a revered deity in Hinduism, known for his unwavering devotion to Lord Rama and his incredible strength, symbolizing courage, loyalty, and selflessness.
Tulsidas, the saint and poet who wrote the Ramcharitmanas, once had a special encounter with Hanuman in Varanasi (Kashi).
Every morning, Tulsidas would go to a spot outside the city to wash and pray. He always carried a pot of water with him. On his way back to the city, he would pour the leftover water under a particular tree.
This tree was home to a ghost. The ghost, always thirsty, was grateful for the water and decided to help Tulsidas one day. It appeared before him and offered him a wish as thanks for his daily kindness.
Tulsidas said that his only wish was to see Lord Ram. The ghost admitted it couldn’t grant that wish but shared some helpful advice. It told Tulsidas to ask Hanuman, who could help him see Lord Ram.
Tulsidas was surprised and thought the ghost might be joking. But the ghost explained that Hanuman came every day, disguised, to listen to Tulsidas recite stories of Lord Ram by the Ganga River. The ghost said that Hanuman was always the first to arrive and the last to leave.
That evening, Tulsidas watched the crowd as they gathered to listen to him. He noticed an old leper who was the first to arrive and sat quietly in a corner. After the recitation, Tulsidas secretly followed the old man out of the city and into a forest.
Tulsidas fell to the ground and grabbed the old man’s feet, saying he knew who he really was. He begged Hanuman to help him see Lord Ram. At first, the old man acted annoyed and told Tulsidas to stop bothering him. But Tulsidas refused to let go, showing deep devotion.
Hanuman, moved by Tulsidas’s love for Lord Ram, finally revealed himself. He told Tulsidas to go to Chitrakut, where he would see Lord Ram.
The place where Tulsidas met Hanuman is now the site of the Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi. It is believed that Hanuman, who is immortal, still comes in disguise to listen to stories of Lord Ram wherever they are told.
This story reminds us that true devotion and unwavering faith can lead to divine encounters. Hanuman’s presence is felt wherever Lord Ram’s stories are shared, showing that sincere love and devotion never go unnoticed.
