The Vinay patrika

A criminal used to beg everyday with the call: ?For the love of Ram, give me?a murderer?alms.? Hearing the name of Ram, the delighted Tulsidas would cheerfully take him inside his house and give him food. This behaviour of Tulsi infuriated the orthodox brahmanas, who demanded an explanation. Tulsidas told them that the name ?Ram? had absolved the person concerned of all his offences.

This attitude of Tulsi incensed the people further. In a fit of anger, they demanded that if the stone image of Nandi?the sacred bull in the temple of Shiva?would eat out of the hands of that murderer, then they would accept that he had been purified. A day was selected for this ritual, and to the consternation of the people, the Nandi image actually ate from the murderer?s hands. The brahmanas were thus compelled to eat humble pie. However, this did not settle matters. This event increased Tulsidas?s popularity even more and enraged the already defeated people afresh, triggering off more attacks and assaults. The troubled Tulsidas then turned to Hanuman for help. Hanuman appeared to him in a dream and asked him to appeal to Sri Ram. Thus was the Vinay-patrika born. It is a petition in the court of King Ram. Ganesh, Surya, Ganga, Yamuna, and others are propitiated first, just as the courtiers would be approached first. Then follows wonderful poetry soaked in bhakti.