Minor Works: Complete Works of Goswami Tulsidas (Volume VI)

In ten short works contained in this volume, Tulsi composes verses on themes which evaluate his religious perspectives. Only three of these works are based on the deeds of Rama: In Baravai Ramayana, the rapture of devotion in the Name of Rama is brought out; in Ramalala Nahachhu Tulsi reiterates his faith in the Saguna form of Rama; in Ramajna Prashna, he ostensibly reads omens from the Deeds of Rama but concludes that all welfare depends on the devotion of Rama. Three of the works: Sankata Mochana, Hanuman Bahuka and Hanuman Chalisa are dedicated to Sri Hanuman. Tulsi’s avowed principle was ‘greater than Lord, the Lord’s devotee take to be.’ In the long poem Janaki Mangal Tulsi sings of the wedding ceremony of adi-shakti Sita to Rama. In Parvati Mangal, he departs from the story of Rama and sings on the wedding ceremony of adarsha-nari Parvati to Lord Shiva. In Vairagya Sandipini Tulsi observes that vairagya is not renunciation of the worldly duties but of Ego and bonds of ‘I and mine.’ Krishna Gitavali is a work totally unconnected with the story of Rama, the only common link between them being the supremacy of devotion and bhakti which is the reason for this work finding place in this anthology.