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# When was the Ramcharitmanas written?

Goswami Tulsidas began the Ramcharitmanas in Vikram Samvat 1631, corresponding to 1574 CE, in Ayodhya. It was Ram Navami, a Tuesday, on the ninth day of the bright half of Chaitra. He records the year, day and place in Bal Kand, in the chaupais associated with Doha 34. This is the date of the work’s beginning.

## Goswami Tulsidas records the year, day and place

The account begins with an act of reverence:

> सादर सिवहि नाइ अब माथा। बरनउँ बिसद राम गुन गाथा॥
> संबत सोरह सै एकतीसा। करउँ कथा हरि पद धरि सीसा॥२॥
> Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand, Doha 34, Chaupai 2

“Reverently bowing my head to Lord Shiva, I now recount the pure story of Shri Ram’s virtues. Placing my head at Shri Hari’s feet, I begin this account in Samvat 1631.”

The words *संबत सोरह सै एकतीसा* give the year as Samvat sixteen hundred and thirty-one. Goswami Tulsidas records it as he bows to Lord Shiva and places his head at Shri Hari’s feet.

He then names the day and place:

> नौमी भौम बार मधुमासा। अवधपुरीं यह चरित प्रकासा॥
> जेहि दिन राम जनम श्रुति गावहिं। तीरथ सकल तहाँ चलि आवहिं॥३॥
> Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand, Doha 34, Chaupai 3

“On Navami, a Tuesday in the month of Chaitra, this account came to light in Ayodhya. The Vedas declare that all the sacred places gather there on the day of Shri Ram’s birth.”

*नौमी* means the ninth lunar day, *भौम बार* means Tuesday, and *मधुमासा* names the month of Madhu, or Chaitra. *अवधपुरीं* identifies Ayodhya. The reference to Shri Ram’s birth connects the date with Ram Navami.

## Ram Navami and Ayodhya shape the opening

Goswami Tulsidas places the beginning of his composition within Ayodhya’s celebration of Shri Ram’s birth. Chaupai 3 describes all the sacred places gathering there that day. The next chaupai describes those who come to serve Him:

> असुर नाग खग नर मुनि देवा। आइ करहिं रघुनायक सेवा॥
> जन्म महोत्सव रचहिं सुजाना। करहिं राम कल कीरति गाना॥४॥
> Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand, Doha 34, Chaupai 4

“Asuras, Nagas, birds, human beings, sages and gods come to serve Shri Ram. The wise celebrate His birth festival and sing His beautiful glory.”

The doha describes the devotees’ worship:

> मज्जहिं सज्जन बृंद बहु पावन सरजू नीर।
> जपहिं राम धरि ध्यान उर सुंदर स्याम सरीर॥३४॥
> Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand, Doha 34

“Many groups of devotees bathe in the sacred waters of the Saryu. Holding Shri Ram’s beautiful, dark form in their hearts, they repeat His name.”

The date has devotional meaning. Goswami Tulsidas opens his work amid remembrance, worship and the singing of Shri Ram’s glory.

## He writes for the joy of his own heart

In the opening Sanskrit invocation, Goswami Tulsidas states the sources and purpose of his composition:

> नानापुराणनिगमागमसम्मतं यद्‌ रामायणे निगदितं क्वचिदन्यतोऽपि।
> स्वान्तःसुखाय तुलसी रघुनाथगाथाभाषानिबन्धमतिमञ्जुलमातनोति॥ ७ ॥
> Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand, Invocation, Shloka 7

“For the joy of his own heart, Tulsidas unfolds a beautiful composition about Shri Ram, in agreement with the Puranas, Vedas and Agamas, drawing upon Maharshi Valmiki’s Ramayana and other sources.”

The Ramcharitmanas is composed in Awadhi, with Sanskrit verses among its invocations. Goswami Tulsidas draws upon these scriptural sources to tell Shri Ram’s story in a language familiar to the people.

*स्वान्तःसुखाय* means “for the joy of one’s own heart”. He names this inner joy as his purpose in composing the work. Readers can share in that devotion through reading, listening and remembrance.

## The text does not record a completion date

The Ramcharitmanas does not give a completion date. The date in Bal Kand records when Goswami Tulsidas began the work.

A popular tradition says that he completed it in two years, seven months and twenty-six days. This duration comes from popular tradition rather than a completion statement in the Ramcharitmanas.

## Give a small part of each day to remembrance

Goswami Tulsidas begins by bowing his head. We can follow his example by approaching our reading with reverence.

A student who reads a few lines carefully each morning has time to consider their meaning. Returning to them the next day can deepen that understanding. Similarly, a little time set aside for scripture gives us room to read attentively.

Read one chaupai today. Consider its meaning, then sit quietly for a minute and repeat Shri Ram’s name.

## Questions people ask

### When was the Ramcharitmanas written?

Goswami Tulsidas began it in Vikram Samvat 1631, corresponding to 1574 CE, on Ram Navami, a Tuesday.

### Where was the Ramcharitmanas written?

Goswami Tulsidas names Ayodhya as the place where he began the composition. This passage does not establish where every part was written.

### In which language was the Ramcharitmanas written?

The Ramcharitmanas is written in Awadhi. Its opening invocation also contains Sanskrit shlokas.

### How long did it take to write?

A popular tradition gives two years, seven months and twenty-six days. The Ramcharitmanas itself does not record a completion date.

## Read it yourself

Read the opening passages in [Bal Kand](/ramcharitmanas/bal-kand), learn about [Goswami Tulsidas](/tulsidas), explore [Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas compared](/ramayana-vs-ramcharitmanas), or begin reading [the Ramcharitmanas](/ramcharitmanas).

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