The ocean of the deeds of Shri Ram — a sacred epic poem in Awadhi by Goswami Tulsidas. Divided into seven Kandas, it narrates the divine life of Lord Shri Ram from his birth to his coronation, weaving together devotion, philosophy, and timeless wisdom.
Written in Awadhi — a dialect of Hindi spoken in Ayodhya — making the story of Ram accessible to every common devotee, not just Sanskrit scholars.
Composed during the Bhakti Movement, Ramcharitmanas is the cornerstone of Ram Bhakti — the path of devotion to Lord Rama as the supreme deity.
Written by Goswami Tulsidas between 1575–1577 CE in Varanasi, based on inspiration from the original Valmiki Ramayana and his own spiritual realisation.
The first and longest kanda — covering the creation of the universe, birth of Lord Ram, his childhood, the breaking of Shiva's bow, and marriage to Sita. It contains the Mangalacharana, Ramstuti, and Namakaranam.
मंगल भवन अमंगल हारी। द्रवउ सो दसरथ अजिर बिहारी॥
राम सिया राम सिया राम जय जय राम।
May the auspicious one, the destroyer of all inauspiciousness — the one who played in the courtyard of Dasharatha — bless us all. Victory to Ram, Sita, and Ram.
— Balkanda · MangalacharanaRam's coronation is announced but Kaikeyi's wishes send him into exile for 14 years. Bharat refuses the throne, places Ram's sandals on it, and rules as regent.
जननी सम जानहि पर नारी। तजहु मानस बिचार बिचारी॥
Consider all women other than your wife as your mother — think deeply and give up all other thoughts, O mind.
— Ayodhyakanda · TulsidasRam's forest years — meetings with sages, killing of demons, Surpanakha's disfigurement, and the abduction of Sita by Ravana. The Jatayu episode and Ram's lament.
Ram meets Hanuman and Sugriva. He kills Bali and makes Sugriva king. The Vanar army is dispatched to search for Sita across all directions.
The most popular kanda for devotional reading. Hanuman crosses the ocean, finds Sita in Lanka's Ashoka Vatika, burns Lanka, and returns to Ram with news of Sita. Considered the most auspicious kanda to read.
Reading Sundar Kanda on Tuesdays or Saturdays is believed to remove all obstacles, grant success, and bring Hanuman's special blessings.
जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर।
जय कपीस तिहुँ लोक उजागर॥
रामदूत अतुलित बल धामा।
अंजनि-पुत्र पवनसुत नामा॥
Victory to Hanuman, the ocean of wisdom and virtue. Victory to the lord of monkeys who illuminates the three worlds. Messenger of Ram, repository of immeasurable strength — son of Anjani, known as the son of the Wind God.
— Sundarkanda · Hanuman Chalisa (embedded)The grand battle between Ram's army and Ravana's forces. Building of Ram Setu, the fall of Ravana, Sita's fire test (Agni Pariksha), and Ram's triumphant return to Ayodhya.
Ram Rajya — the ideal kingdom. Includes the Ramrajya description, Shiva-Parvati dialogue on Ram's glory, Bhushundi Katha, and the final liberation. Contains the famous Ram Gita.
रामचरितमानस एहि नामा।
सुनत श्रवण पाइअ बिश्रामा॥
This is called the Ramcharitmanas — upon hearing it with one's ears, one attains peace and rest.
Shri Ramcharitmanas — literally "the lake of the deeds of Ram" — is one of the greatest works of Hindi literature. Composed by Goswami Tulsidas, it is a retelling of the ancient Valmiki Ramayana in the popular Awadhi dialect, making the story of Ram accessible to the common people.
It is revered not merely as literature but as a holy scripture — millions of households recite it daily, especially the Sundar Kanda. The text weaves together narrative, philosophy, devotion, and moral teaching across its seven kandas.