12-06-2025
Back
Ramcharitmanas Recitations in Banaras: The Heartbeat of Devotional Music
In Varanasi, the spiritual heart of India known as Banaras or Kashi, the recitations of Ramcharitmanas, the 16th-century epic by Goswami Tulsidas, resonate as a cornerstone of devotional music. Sung in melodic forms like Ram Taranis, these recitations bring the story of Lord Rama to life, particularly during the festival of Ram Navami. From the ghats of the Ganges to historic temples like Tulsi Manas Mandir, Ramcharitmanas recitations weave together poetry, music, and devotion, embodying Banaras’s timeless spiritual heritage.
Additional Information
The Legacy of Tulsidas and Ramcharitmanas
Composed in Awadhi, a vernacular dialect, Ramcharitmanas—literally “Lake of the Deeds of Rama”—retells the Sanskrit Ramayana by Valmiki, making the story of Lord Rama accessible to the masses. Begun by Tulsidas in 1574 CE on Ram Navami in Ayodhya and completed in Varanasi, the epic is celebrated for its poetic brilliance and spiritual depth, often described as “the greatest book of all devotional literature”. Tulsidas, a revered saint-poet who spent much of his life in Banaras, faced criticism from Sanskrit scholars for writing in Awadhi but persisted to democratize divine wisdom.
The epic, divided into seven kandas (books), narrates Rama’s life, emphasizing values like dharma, bhakti (devotion), and humility. Its verses, rich with philosophical insights, are chanted in Banaras to foster a deep connection with the divine, particularly during festivals like Ram Navami, which marks Rama’s birth.
The epic, divided into seven kandas (books), narrates Rama’s life, emphasizing values like dharma, bhakti (devotion), and humility. Its verses, rich with philosophical insights, are chanted in Banaras to foster a deep connection with the divine, particularly during festivals like Ram Navami, which marks Rama’s birth.
Melodic Forms: Ram Taranis and Beyond
Ramcharitmanas recitations in Banaras are not mere readings but musical performances that blend poetry with melody. The Ram Taranis, a devotional hymn derived from the epic, is a melodic form sung in praise of Rama, often accompanied by harmonium, tabla, and manjira. This style, rooted in the Bhakti tradition, uses repetitive, soulful tunes to evoke spiritual fervor, making it a staple in Banaras’s devotional music scene.
Other melodic forms include chaupais (four-line verses) and dohas (couplets), sung in ragas like Bhairavi, Yaman, or Desh, reflecting the influence of the Banaras Gharana. These recitations, performed in call-and-response formats, engage communities at venues like Tulsi Manas Mandir, where Tulsidas is believed to have recited the epic to Shiva and Parvati. The Sundar Kand, focusing on Hanuman’s devotion, is particularly auspicious and widely sung for blessings.
Other melodic forms include chaupais (four-line verses) and dohas (couplets), sung in ragas like Bhairavi, Yaman, or Desh, reflecting the influence of the Banaras Gharana. These recitations, performed in call-and-response formats, engage communities at venues like Tulsi Manas Mandir, where Tulsidas is believed to have recited the epic to Shiva and Parvati. The Sundar Kand, focusing on Hanuman’s devotion, is particularly auspicious and widely sung for blessings.
Ram Navami: A Celebration of Ramcharitmanas
Ram Navami, celebrated on the ninth day of Chaitra (April 6, 2025), is the pinnacle of Ramcharitmanas recitations in Banaras. Temples like Tulsi Manas Mandir and Kashi Vishwanath host grand recitations, where vocalists and kathavachaks (storytellers) chant verses, often accompanied by bhajans and processions. Devotees gather to listen to or participate in Sundar Kand and Ram Taranis recitations, seeking peace, wisdom, and divine blessings.
The festival transforms Banaras’s streets and ghats, with processions (Shobha Yatras) featuring idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman, accompanied by chants of “Jai Shri Ram”. Homes and community spaces host path (group recitations), fostering a collective spiritual experience. These events, often preceded by rituals honoring Ganesha, Saraswati, and Tulsidas, deepen the devotional atmosphere.
The festival transforms Banaras’s streets and ghats, with processions (Shobha Yatras) featuring idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman, accompanied by chants of “Jai Shri Ram”. Homes and community spaces host path (group recitations), fostering a collective spiritual experience. These events, often preceded by rituals honoring Ganesha, Saraswati, and Tulsidas, deepen the devotional atmosphere.
Cultural and Spiritual Significance
Ramcharitmanas recitations are a cultural and spiritual lifeline in Banaras, shaping religious practices and community bonds. The epic’s emphasis on chanting Ram Naam (Rama’s name) as a path to liberation resonates deeply, with verses like those in Sundar Kand highlighting Hanuman’s devotion and Sita’s resilience. These recitations, performed at venues like Assi Ghat and Sankat Mochan Temple, unite diverse communities, reflecting Banaras’s syncretic ethos.
The tradition also inspires Ramlila plays, a folk-theater adaptation founded by Tulsidas in Varanasi, which dramatize Ramcharitmanas during festivals. From daily recitations in homes to grand performances at Ram Navami, the epic fosters values of righteousness, compassion, and devotion, making it a “living scripture”.
The tradition also inspires Ramlila plays, a folk-theater adaptation founded by Tulsidas in Varanasi, which dramatize Ramcharitmanas during festivals. From daily recitations in homes to grand performances at Ram Navami, the epic fosters values of righteousness, compassion, and devotion, making it a “living scripture”.
Modern Adaptations and Preservation
In Banaras, Ramcharitmanas recitations remain vibrant through both traditional and modern platforms. Local artists like Pt. Chhannulal Mishra blend classical ragas with Ram Taranis, while community groups like Kashi Ramayana Mandali perform at ghats and temples. Digital platforms, inspired by initiatives like mamtamusicbanaras.com, share recordings of recitations, reaching global audiences via YouTube and Spotify.
Challenges include declining traditional kathavachaks and the rise of commercial music. However, institutions like Banaras Hindu University and the Gita Press in Gorakhpur preserve the tradition through publications and workshops. UNESCO’s 2015 designation of Varanasi as a “City of Music” has further spotlighted Ramcharitmanas recitations, encouraging their revival.
Challenges include declining traditional kathavachaks and the rise of commercial music. However, institutions like Banaras Hindu University and the Gita Press in Gorakhpur preserve the tradition through publications and workshops. UNESCO’s 2015 designation of Varanasi as a “City of Music” has further spotlighted Ramcharitmanas recitations, encouraging their revival.
Notable Performers
Pt. Chhannulal Mishra: A Banaras maestro whose Ram Taranis renditions blend classical and devotional styles.
Anup Jalota: Known for soulful Ramcharitmanas bhajans performed globally.
Local Kathavachaks: Storytellers like Pandit Ram Narayan Shastri, who recite at Tulsi Manas Mandir.
Anup Jalota: Known for soulful Ramcharitmanas bhajans performed globally.
Local Kathavachaks: Storytellers like Pandit Ram Narayan Shastri, who recite at Tulsi Manas Mandir.
Conclusion
Ramcharitmanas recitations in Banaras are a vibrant expression of devotion, blending Tulsidas’s poetic genius with the city’s musical heritage. From the soulful melodies of Ram Taranis to the communal chants of Ram Navami, these performances embody the spiritual essence of Kashi. As Banaras continues to sing Rama’s story, Ramcharitmanas remains a timeless guide to dharma and bhakti.