Hanuman Chalisa

Last updated

Hanuman Chalisa
Hanuman Chalisa 4x3.jpg
Hanuman Chalisa Full Text (Book)
Information
Religion Hinduism
Author Tulsidas
Language Awadhi [1]
Verses40

The Hanuman Chalisa (Hindi pronunciation: [ɦənʊmaːntʃaːliːsaː] ; Forty chaupais on Hanuman) is a Hindu devotional hymn ( stotra ) in praise of Hanuman, and popularly recited by millions of Hindus everyday. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] It is an Awadhi language text attributed to Tulsidas, [2] and is his best known text apart from the Ramcharitmanas . [7] [8] The word 'chālīsā' is derived from 'chālīs' meaning the number 'forty' in Hindi, denoting the number of verses in the Hanuman Chalisa (excluding the couplets at the beginning and the end). [2]

Contents

Hanuman is a Hindu deity and a devotee of the Hindu god, Rama. He is one of the central characters of the Ramayana . According to the Shaiva tradition, he is also an incarnation of Shiva. The Hanuman Chalisa praises the power and other qualities of Hanuman including his strength, courage, wisdom, celibacy (brahmacharya), and devotion to Rama. [9]

Description

The authorship of the Hanuman Chalisa is attributed to Tulsidas, a poet-saint who lived in the 16th century CE. [10] He mentions his name in the last verse of the hymn. It is said in the 39th verse of the Hanuman Chalisa that whoever chants it with full devotion to Hanuman, will have Hanuman's grace. Among Hindus worldwide, it is a very popular belief that chanting the Chalisa invokes Hanuman's divine intervention in grave problems.

Author

The most common picture of Tulsidas Goswami Tulsidas Awadhi Hindi Poet.jpg
The most common picture of Tulsidas
Home of Tulsidas on the banks of River Ganga Tulsi Ghat Varanasi where Hanuman Chalisa was written, a small temple is also located at this site Tulsi Das Home from the Ganga River near Hanuman Ghat, Varanasi.jpg
Home of Tulsidas on the banks of River Ganga Tulsi Ghat Varanasi where Hanuman Chalisa was written, a small temple is also located at this site

Tulsidas [11] (1497/1532–1623) was a Hindu poet-saint, reformer and philosopher renowned for his devotion for Rama. A composer of several popular works, he is best known for being the author of the epic Ramcharitmanas , a retelling of the Ramayana in the vernacular Awadhi language. Tulsidas was acclaimed in his lifetime to be a reincarnation of Valmiki, the composer of the original Ramayana in Sanskrit. [12] Tulsidas lived in the city of Varanasi until his death. [13] The Tulsi Ghat in Varnasi is named after him. [11] He founded the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple dedicated to Hanuman in Varanasi, believed to stand at the place where he had the sight of Hanuman. [14] Tulsidas started the Ramlila plays, a folk-theatre adaption of the Ramayana. [15] He has been acclaimed as one of the greatest poets in Hindi, Indian, and World literature. [16] [17] [18] [19] The impact of Tulsidas and his works on the art, culture and society in India is widespread and is seen to date in vernacular language, Ramlila plays, Hindustani classical music, popular music, and television series. [15] [20] [21] [22]

Deity

The Hindu deity to whom the prayer is addressed is Hanuman, an ardent devotee of Rama (the seventh avatar of Vishnu) and a central character in the Ramayana. A general among the vanaras, Hanuman was a warrior of Rama in the war against the rakshasa king Ravana. Hanuman's exploits are much celebrated in a variety of religious and cultural traditions, [23] particularly in Hinduism, to the extent that he is often the object of worship according to some bhakti traditions, [24] and is the prime deity in many temples known as Hanuman Mandirs.

Text

The work consists of forty-three verses – two introductory dohas, forty Chaupais, and one doha in the end. [2] The first introductory doha begins with the word 'shrī,' referring to Shiva, who is considered the guru of Hanuman. [25] The auspicious form, knowledge, virtues, powers and bravery of Hanuman are described in the first ten Chaupais. [26] [27] [28] Chaupais eleven to twenty describe the acts of Hanuman in his service to Rama, with the eleventh to fifteenth Chaupais describing the role of Hanuman in reviving Lakshmana. [26] In the twenty-first Chaupai, Tulsidas describes the need of Hanuman's kripa (transl.divine grace). [29] At the end, Tulsidas greets Hanuman with subtle devotion [30] and requests him to reside in his heart and in the heart of devotees. [31] The concluding doha again requests Hanuman to reside in the heart, along with Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita. [32]

The Composition of Hanuman Chalisa

Tulsidas ji composing the Chalisa Goswami Tulsidas Awadhi Hindi Poet.jpg
Tulsidas ji composing the Chalisa

When Tulsidas first wrote the Hanuman Chalisa, he began by directly praising Hanuman. However, Hanuman, who is very humble and prefers that Rama be honored instead, was not happy with this. That night, Hanuman is said to have come in a dream and destroyed the original verses. Realizing this, Tulsidas changed his approach. He started the hymn by praising Lord Rama and asking for his blessings, while still honoring Hanuman in the rest of the verses. This way, he respected Hanuman’s preference for Rama’s praise and created a hymn that matched Hanuman’s humble nature. [33]

Commentaries

Depiction of Bharata meeting Rama watched by Hanuman, Sita and Lakshmana. From left - Hanuman, Bharata, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana Raja Ravi Varma, Bharat Milap (Lithographic Print).jpg
Depiction of Bharata meeting Rama watched by Hanuman, Sita and Lakshmana. From left – Hanuman, Bharata, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana

Before the 1980s, no commentary had been composed on the Hanuman Chalisa, which Rambhadracharya attributes to the work not being included in printed editions of collected works of Tulsidas. [2] Indubhushan Ramayani authored the first brief commentary on Hanuman Chalisa. [2] Rambhadracharya's Mahaviri commentary in Hindi, authored in 1983, [2] was called the best commentary on Hanuman Chalisa by Rama Chandra Prasad. [34]

The Hanuman Chalisa is recited by millions of Hindus every day, [5] and a good portion of practising Hindus in India know its text by heart. [35]

Classical and folk music

The Hanuman Chalisa is one of the best selling Hindu religious books and has been sung by many popular bhajan, classical and folk singers. [35] The rendition of Hanuman Chalisa by Hari Om Sharan, originally released in 1974 by the Gramophone Company of India and re-released in 1995 by Super Cassettes Industries, [36] is one of the most popular, and is regularly played at temples and homes across Northern India. [35] [37] This rendition is based on traditional melodies in the Mishra Khamaj, a raga belonging to the Khamaj That, [36] with the base note taken at the second black key (kali do) of the harmonium. [36] A recording based on the same traditional melodies was released in 1992 by Super Cassettes Industries, with Hariharan as the singer and Gulshan Kumar as the artiste. [36]

Other notable renditions include those by bhajan singers Anup Jalota and Ravindra Jain, Hindustani vocalists Pandit Jasraj and Rajan and Sajan Mishra, and the Carnatic vocalist M.S. Subbulakshmi. [36] The renditions by Unni Krishnan, Nithyasree Mahadevan, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji and Morari Bapu are also popular. [38]

Among western singers Krishna Das has performed the Hanuman Chalisa in both slow and fast formats. [39]

In the Hindi movie 1920 (directed by Vikram Bhatt), Hanuman Chalisa is frequently used in different scenes. One of the scenes show the protagonist Arjun Singh Rathod (played by Rajneesh Duggal), reciting the Hanuman Chalisa in full. It is used in an important sequence in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, when the protagonist fights back against child traffickers and rescues a little girl from them. [40]

An animation movie named Shri Hanuman Chalisa directed by Charuvi Agarwal and designed by Charuvi Design Labs is a film on Hanuman. [41] [42]

Popular singers who have sung the Hanuman Chalisa include Carnatic singer M. S. Subbulakshmi, as well as Lata Mangeshkar, Mahendra Kapoor, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Shankar Mahadevan, Anuradha Paudwal, Kailash Kher, Sukhwinder Singh, Sonu Nigam, Hariharan, and Udit Narayan. [35]

The Hanuman Chalisa was sung by Amitabh Bachchan in chorus with twenty other singers. [35] This recording was released as a part of the Shri Hanuman Chalisa album in 2011 and received an unprecedented response by the releasing music label during November 2011. [43]

A rendition of Hanuman Chalisa sung by Hariharan became the first devotional song and first on YouTube to cross 3.5 billion views in November 2023. [44]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tulsidas</span> Hindu saint and poet (1511–1623)

Rambola Dubey, known as Tulsidas, was a Vaishnava (Ramanandi) Hindu 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, a retelling of the Sanskrit Ramayana, based on Rama's life, in the vernacular Awadhi language.

Madhav Singh Solanki was a leader of Indian National Congress party who served as External Affairs minister of India. He served also as the Chief Minister of Gujarat three times. He was known for KHAM theory by which he came to power in Gujarat in 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rambhadracharya</span> Indian Hindu religious leader since 1988

Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya is an Indian Hindu spiritual leader, educator, Sanskrit scholar, polyglot, poet, author, textual commentator, philosopher, composer, singer, playwright and Katha artist based in Chitrakoot, India. He is one of four incumbent Jagadguru Ramanandacharya, and has held this title since 1988.

Reetika Khera is an Indian development economist. Khera is Professor (Economics) at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. She was Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad from 2018-20.

Tulsi Peeth Seva Nyas is an Indian religious and social service institution based at Janki Kund, Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh, India. It was established by the Hindu religious leader Jagadguru Rambhadracharya on August 2, 1987. Rambhadracharya believes that this Peeth is situated at the place where the Hindu god Rama gave his sandals to his brother Bharat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Rambhadracharya</span>

This timeline lists important events relevant to the life of the Vaishnava (Hindu) spiritual leader, poet, commentator, educationist, religious and social figure Rambhadracharya.

Śrīrāghavakṛpābhāṣyam is a series of Sanskrit commentaries on the Prasthanatrayi, authored by Rambhadracharya. These commentaries were released on 10 April 1998 by the then Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Rambhadracharya composed a commentary on Narada Bhakti Sutra in 1991, and thus revived the tradition of Sanskrit commentaries on the Prasthanatrayi after five hundred years. This was also the second commentary of the Ramananda Sampradaya on Prasthanatrayi, the first being the Ānandabhāṣyam, composed by Ramananda himself. These commentaries were published by Shri Tulsi Peeth Seva Nyas. The author won the Rajshekhar Samman from the Madhya Pradesh Sanskrit Academy, Bhopal, for the commentaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tulsi Peeth edition of the Ramcharitmanas</span> Critical edition of the Ramcharitmanas

The Tulsi Peeth edition of the Ramcharitmanas is a critical edition of the Ramcharitmanas edited by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and published by the Tulsi Peeth. It has more than 3000 differences compared to the popular editions of the scripture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shri Ramachandra Kripalu</span> Prayer written by Goswami Tulsidas

Shri Ramachandra Kripalu, or "Shri Ram Stuti," is a Stuti verse from his work called Vinaya Patrika, written by Goswami Tulsidas. It was written in the sixteenth century in a mix of Sanskrit and Awadhi languages. The prayer/ode glorifies Shri Rāma and his characteristics to the best.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rambhadracharya's literary style</span>

Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya is a Hindu religious leader, Sanskrit scholar and Katha artist based in Chitrakoot, India. Rambhadracharya is a spontaneous poet and writer in Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi, Maithili, and several other languages. He has authored more than 100 books and 50 papers, including four epic poems, a Hindi commentary on Tulsidas' Ramcharitmanas, a Sanskrit commentary in verse on the Ashtadhyayi, and Sanskrit commentaries on the Prasthanatrayi scriptures. He is regarded as one of the greatest authorities on Tulsidas in India, and is the editor of a critical edition of the Ramcharitmanas.

<i>Bhaktamal</i> Medieval poem written in Braj language in India

Bhaktamal, written c. 1585, is a poem in the Braj language that gives short biographies of more than 200 bhaktas. It was written by Nabha Dass, a saint belonging to the tradition of Ramananda.

<i>Shri Hanuman Chalisa</i> 2013 Indian film

Shri Hanuman Chalisa is a 2013 Indian computer-animated short film rendition of Hanuman Chalisa produced by Charuvi Design Labs and directed by Charuvi Agrawal. It is based on the poem Hanuman Chalisa attributed to Tulsidas. It won the Best Animation Film award the Jaipur Film Fest.

Munak and adjacent Kheri Munak is a village and development block in Assandh sub-district of Karnal district, Haryana, India. Munak canal, which diverts Western Yamuna Canal's water to New Delhi, originates here at Munak regulator.

Thumak Chalat Ram Chandra is a bhajan written in the 16th century by the poet Goswami Tulsidas. The bhajan glorifies Shri Rama and his characteristics during the childhood. Shri Tulsidasji describes Lord Rama's eyes, ears, and ornaments. He wants to compare Lord Rama's face with worldly wonders but couldn't find anything worthy enough so decides that the only thing comparable to Rama's face is Lord Rama's face itself.

Khatikan Pyau is a village in Sikar district of Rajasthan, India. It is located 3.2 kilometres from Sikar, 39 kilometres from Nawalgarh, and 2.7 kilometres from Railway Hospital, Sikar. The village is administrated by a sarpanch who is an elected representative of village as per Panchayati raj (India). Khatikan pyau is the type of Khatik Mohalla where Khatik people live.

A Sahasra is a Vedic measure of Count data, which was chiefly used in ancient as well as medieval India. A Sahasra means 1k, i.e. 1000 count data

Nitin Dubey is an Indian singer, composer, actor, and lyricist. Born in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. Dubey is known for his work as a composer, vocalist, music director, and playback singer in Chhattisgarh cinema and as a performer at various national level music festivals and bhajan programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pundrik Ashram</span> Ashram of Vedic sage Pundrik

Pundrik Ashram is a Hindu monastery related to the Vedic sage Pundrik. The sage Pundrik was an Indian sage mentioned in the Indian religious texts. He was born in a Brahmin family. He was an ascetic connoisseur of Vedas, lover of self-study, conqueror of senses and forgiving. He was committed to observance of cosmic-Vedic deeds. Pundrik Ashram is located at Punauradham in Sitamarhi district of Mithila region of Bihar. According to legend, Punauradham is considered as the penance place of Pundrik Rishi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aranya Devi Temple, Arrah</span> Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Adishakti in Arrah, Bihar

Aranya Devi Temple is a Hindu temple located in Arrah of Bihar in India. Ara, the headquarters of Bhojpur district is named after the goddess of this temple. The goddess established here is considered to be the presiding deity of the city and is the deity of the people there.

References

  1. Nityanand Misra 2015, p. xviii.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rambhadradas 1984, pp. 1–8. Archived 3 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Hanuman Chalisa in digital version". The Hindu Business Line. 26 February 2003. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  4. "किसने लिखी थी हनुमान चालीसा, जिसके बारे में कही जाती हैं कई बातें". News18 India. 9 April 2020. Archived from the original on 4 May 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  5. 1 2 Karan Singh, in Nityanand Misra 2015, p. xvi.
  6. Peebles 1986, p. 99
  7. "Book Review / Language Books : Epic of Tulasidas". The Hindu. 3 January 2006. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  8. "Lineage shows". The Hindu . 29 November 2002. Archived from the original on 3 January 2004. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  9. Peebles 1986, p. 100
  10. Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Rosen Publishing Group. p. 272. ISBN   978-0-8239-2287-1.
  11. 1 2 de Bruyn 2010, p. 471
  12. Lutgendorf 2007, p. 293.
  13. Prasad 2008, p. 857, quoting Mata Prasad Gupta: Although he paid occasional visits to several places of pilgrimage associated with Rama, his permanent residence was in Kashi.
  14. Callewaert 2000, p. 90
  15. 1 2 Handoo 1964, p. 128: ... this book ... is also a drama, because Goswami Tulasidasa started his Ram Lila on the basis of this book, which even now is performed in the same manner everywhere.
  16. Prasad 2008, p. xii: He is not only the supreme poet, but the unofficial poet-laureate of India.
  17. Prasad 2008, p. xix: Of Tulsidas's place among the major Indian poets there can be no question: he is as sublime as Valmiki and as elegant as Kalidasa in his handling of the theme.
  18. Jones 2007, p. 456
  19. Sahni 2000, pp. 78–80
  20. Lutgendorf 1991, p. 11: ...  scores of lines from the Rāmcaritmānas have entered folk speech as proverbs  ...
  21. Mitra 2002, p. 216
  22. Subramanian 2008, p. inside cover
  23. Orlando O. Espín, James B. Nickoloff An introductory dictionary of theology and religious studies. 2007, page 537
  24. Rosen, Steven. Essential Hinduism. 2006, page 67-8
  25. Rambhadradas 1984, pp. 11–14 Archived 3 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  26. 1 2 Rambhadradas 1984, pp. 46–47 Archived 3 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine , 48–49 Archived 3 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  27. Rao 2009, pp. 393–397
  28. Mehta 2007, p. xv
  29. Rambhadradas 1984, pp. 56–57 Archived 3 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  30. Rambhadradas 1984, pp. 78–79 Archived 3 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  31. Rambhadradas 1984, pp. 81–82 Archived 3 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  32. Rambhadradas 1984, pp. 83–84 Archived 3 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  33. Rao, Cheeni (21 April 2009). In Hanuman's Hands: A Memoir. HarperOne. ISBN   9780060736620.
  34. Prasad, Ram Chandra (1999) [First published 1991]. Sri Ramacaritamanasa The Holy Lake of the Acts of Rama (Illustrated, reprint ed.). Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN   978-81-208-0443-2 . Retrieved 7 June 2013. श्रीहनुमानचालीसा की सर्वश्रेष्ठ व्याख्या के लिए देखें महावीरी व्याख्या, जिसके लेखक हैं प्रज्ञाचक्षु आचार्य श्रीरामभद्रदासजी। श्रीहनुमानचालीसा के प्रस्तुत भाष्य का आधार श्रीरामभद्रदासजी की ही वैदुष्यमंडित टीका है। इसके लिए मैं आचार्यप्रवर का ऋणी हूँ। [For the best explanation of Śrīhanumānacālīsā, refer the Mahāvīrī commentary, whose author is the visually-disabled Ācārya Śrīrāmabhadradāsa. The base for the commentary on Śrīhanumānacālīsā being presented is the commentary by Śrīrāmabhadradāsa, which is adorned with erudition. For this, I am indebted to the eminent Ācārya.]
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 Nityanand Misra 2015, pp. xvii–xxi.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 Nityanand Misra 2015, pp. 199–212.
  37. Manuel, Peter (1993). Cassette Culture: Popular Music and Technology in North India – Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology (2, illustrated ed.). University of Chicago Press. p.  117. ISBN   978-0-226-50401-8.
  38. Kats, Local (11 May 2023). "Hanuman". localkats.com. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  39. "Ep. 27 | Spiritual Experiences, Auschwitz and Bernie Glassman". 15 June 2020. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  40. "Bajrangi Bhaijaan Plot Summary – Times of India". The Times of India. 24 July 2015. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  41. "Charuvi Design Labs release The Second official teaser for "Shri Hanuman Chalisa"". Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  42. "Charuvi Design Labs release The first official teaser for "Shri Hanuman Chalisa"". Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  43. "All in praise of the Almighty". The Times of India . 6 November 2011. Archived from the original on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  44. "Hanuman Chalisa by Gulshan Kumar crosses 3 billion views on YouTube, another World record made by T-series". Infotonline. 27 May 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.

Bibliography

  • de Bruyn, Pippa; Bain, Keith; Allardice, David; Joshi, Shonar (2010). Frommer's India. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. p. 471. ISBN   978-0-470-60264-5.
  • Callewaert, Winand M.; Schilder, Robert (2000). Banaras: Vision of a Living Ancient Tradition. New Delhi, India: Hemkunt Press. p. 90. ISBN   9788170103028.
  • Chaturvedi, B.K. (1994b). Shri Hanuman Chalisa (Roman). New Delhi: Diamond Pocket Books. ISBN   81-7182-395-5.
  • Jones, Constance; Ryan, James D. (2007). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Encyclopedia of World Religions. New York: Infobase Publishing. p. 456. ISBN   978-0-8160-5458-9. It can be said without reservation that Tulsidas is the greatest poet to write in the Hindi language. Tulsidas was a Brahmin by birth and was believed to be a reincarnation of the author of the Sanskrit Ramayana, Valmiki.
  • Mehta, Pt. Vijay Shankar (2007). Kripa Karahu Guru Dev Ki Naain (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Radhakrishnan Prakashan. p. 9. ISBN   978-81-8361-041-4.
  • Misra, Munindra (2015). Shri Hanuman Chalisa in English Rhyme with original text. United States: Osmora Inc. ISBN   9782765913702.
  • Misra, Nityanand (2015). Mahāvīrī: Hanumān-Cālīsā Demystified. Mumbai, India: Niraamaya Publishing Services Pvt Ltd. ISBN   9788193114407.
  • Mitra, Swati (2002). Good Earth Varanasi City Guide. New Delhi, India: Eicher Goodearth Limited. p. 216. ISBN   9788187780045.
  • Peebles, Patrick (1986). Voices of South Asia: Essential Readings from Antiquity to the Present. United States: M.E. Sharpe Inc. p. 216. ISBN   978-0-7656-3480-1.
  • Rambhadradas (8 June 1984). संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै। मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै [Shri Hanuman Chalisa (with the Mahaviri commentary)]. Jagadgururambhadracharya.org (in Hindi). New Delhi, India: Krishnadas Charitable Trust. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  • Rao, Cheeni (2009). In Hanuman's Hands: A Memoir (First ed.). United States: Harper Collins Publishers. p. 393. ISBN   978-0-06-073662-0.
  • Sahni, Bhisham (2000). Nilu, Nilima, Nilofara (in Hindi). New Delhi, India: Rajkamal Prakashan Pvt Ltd. pp. 78–80. ISBN   9788171789603. हिन्दी का सौभाग्य है कि उसके काव्यकुंज की तुलसी-मंजरी की जैसी सुगंध संसार की साहित्य वाटिका में शायद कहीं नहीं। ... आकर्षण दोनों में अत्यधिक है अपने-अपने ढंग पर दोनों ही बहुत बड़े हैं, पर फिर भी सब तरफ़ से केवल काव्य के सौंदर्य पर विचार करने पर तुलसीदास ही बड़े ठहरते हैं – भाषा साहित्य में रवीन्द्रनाथ के संबंध में कहना पड़ता है कि भ्रम त्रुटियाँ मिल सकती हैं पर तुलसीदास के संबंध में कोई शायद ही मिले। ... और यही कारण है निराला जी तुलसीदास को कालिदास, व्यास, वाल्मीकि, होमर, गेटे और शेक्सपियर के समकक्ष रखकर उनके महत्त्व का आकलन करते हैं।
  • Subramanian, Vadakaymadam Krishnier (2008). Hymns of Tulsidas. New Delhi, India: Abhinav Publications. p. inside cover. ISBN   9788170174967. Famous classical singers like Paluskar, Anoop Jalota and MS Subbulakshmi have popularised Tulsidas's hymns among the people of India.