Bhakti-Yoga of Tulsidasa

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Shri Chandra Pal Singh (14th August 1915-16th August 2000)

The author was born in Ramnagar (Nayavaas) in P.O. Jawal, District Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh. After having his early education in Khurja (Bulandshahar) and Agra Inter College he joined Allahabad University from where he graduated with a BA,IIB. After his short break at the Allahabad High Court, Allahabad, the author was inducted into U.P.Police Services (UP,PPS) in 1939. He returned to practicing law (1978-1986) at the Agra District Court after his retirement. He has been an avowed scholar of English literature especially the era of Shakespearean poetry and the Victorian romanticism.

The author has spent his life in various police departments. Starting from the State Intelligence Offce to Central Bureau of Intelligence(CBI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB). He has been in the founding team of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW of the Cabinet Secretariat) of the Government of India in the early ffties. As an offcial in RAW he has been part of some very prestigious assignments of the Jawaharlal Nehru's Cabinet between 1953-1960, such as the Bandung Conference and the signing of the Panchsheel Agreements with China. By virtue of his being part of the high level. policy oriented team constituted by the Prime Minister's Office he travelled across the East Asian countries of Burma (Rangoon), Singapore, Indonesia (Jakarta &Bandung), Hong Kong, Philippine(Manila), Thailand (Bangkok) and China (Peking now Beijing) etc. That was the period of non- alignment and the rise and fall of an Asian leader from India. These turbulent times made him immensely thoughtful and discerning on the fate and future of the post independent India and its people.

He widely travelled in USA for holidays with his son and daughter in 1984. He had been unwell after 1998 and breathed his last at his Gurgaon home at 3pm of 16th August, 2000. He has been a police offcer who sets an example for others in the profession on how to stay calm and connected to higher values in life as God will always be there to hold your hand so do not slip out of his hold.

Listening to various legends about Ram and Krishna's pastimes enunciated in Ramayana and Sukhsagara in which inspiring activities of Krishna as are given in Bhagvat purana, I developed an inclination to know more and more about Ramacaritamanasa and Bhagavat purana respectively. Even from my very childhood this inclination only grew stronger. During my government service period (1939-1973) I could not avail the opportunities to attend religious congregations on Ramcaritamanasa though several camps were held magha melas (fairs) or kumbh at Allahabad and Hardwar where I remained on duty; but I continued to read and recite Ramcaritamanasa in my daily prayers.

The real opportunity came to me after 1974 during my three years stay in Saharanpur. There I came in contact with Pt. Satya Dev Sharma, Assistant Manager, Lord Krishna Sugar Mill and I used to visit his house like his intimate friend and younger brother almost regularly participating in his routine bhajan-kirtan congregations. It afforded me an opportunity to develop more craving for Tulsidasa and his Manasa. In their company I used to visit Satsang Bhawan a big double storey complex where learned saints and scholars from all over the country used to come and deliver lectures through the year on Ramcaritamanasa and other spiritual topics. Their programmes were fixed in advance on the good sense and dedication of the citizens of Saharanpur who used to assemble in large number to listen to the learned discourses of the saints and be spiritually benefitted. I wish to congratulate them for their sincere efforts and generosity to accord such a big congregation hall, hostel with free medical aid amenities and a library. During this period, I started taking lessons and training from Yogada Satsang Society of late Sri Sri 108 Yogananda Parmahansa situated on Yogananda Parmahansa Marg, Ranchi (Bihar) and after an appropriate period, I received diksa too. So after this stay at Saharanpur and three years lessons and diksa from my Gurodeo Yogananda Parmahansa's Yagoda Math, I was able to reconcile myself that Ramcaritamanasa was a deep study of Vedanta philosophy which shows affinity to Srimad Bhagvadgita and Bhagvadapurana, so with my Gurodeo's inspiration I started searching out those rare pearls which were hidden in the secret recess of the Manasa. I realized as was revealed to me that they could only be visible by the grace of the preceptor

Sūtrahi Rama carita manimanikata

Guputa pragata jaha jo jehi khanika ||

The author of Ramcaritamanasa Goswami Tulsidasa made a deep study of Vedas, Puranas, Upanisads and other scriptures and presented the nectar so extracted from these scriptures which will work as a panacea for all mundane ills to the society. But in comprehending its magnitude and relevance, sometimes the intelligence of learned scholars in fatigued.