An Excerpt from the Ramcaritmanas of Tulsidas

Book Five (Sundar Kand)

Abstract

This paper explores the complex interplay between renunciation and devotion within the Ramananda Sampraday, the largest and most influential ascetic Vaishnava order in North India. Ramdas Lamb challenges stereotypical conceptions of Hindu renunciants by illustrating how this tradition fuses strict ascetic disciplines with intense devotional practices (bhakti). Tracing its rich historical tapestry—drawing from South Indian Vaishnavism, Sufism, Krishna bhakti, and the Sant tradition—the article emphasizes the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas as the core scripture guiding both theology and practice. Particular attention is given to the devotional variations across key pilgrimage sites such as Ayodhya, Chitrakut, and Janakpur, each embodying distinct elements of Rama’s divine life. A key distinction is drawn between Krishna bhakti and Ram bhakti, with the Ramananda Sampraday especially noted for blending sagun bhakti (devotion with form) with nirgun bhakti (formless devotion). Central to practice is the recitation of Ramnam (chanting Rama’s name), often preferred over idol worship. The article also examines the socio-religious role of Ramanandi ascetics, whose non-Brahmin backgrounds and reliance on vernacular scriptures democratize access to spiritual authority and challenge caste-based priestly norms, fostering an inclusive Ram bhakti movement.