Sant Tulsidas, whose death anniversary falls on August 31, is literally a myth maker. Why, his "Ramcharitmanas" continues to allure the common man even today. In fact, in the Hindi belt, most people would know the Tulsi Ramayan more!
There are any number of apocryphal stories that consider Sant Tulsi Das to be the reincarnation of Rishi Valmiki! Indeed Tulsidas' life is full of miracles and myths, including his birth which gave him the moniker "Rambola". The one I find most interesting is that of Fatehpur Sikri.
A caveat right at the beginning. I have not checked the historical details regarding this legend. I find it wondrous though. Tulsidas' blessings bring a dead man back to life. The mighty Mughal emperor, Akbar, gets to hear about the incident, it seems, and he wants Tulsidas in his court.
Tulsi Das would have none of it, committed as he is only to "Ram gun gayan", singing of the praises of his one and only lord, Lord Rama. He refuses, nay, ignores as well, the royal invite. The emperor's ego is hurt. He imprisons the saint who refuses to bow down.
Instead, incarcerated at Fatehpur Sikri, he composes the "Hanuman Chalisa", and chants it for forty days. Suddenly the monkey menace has Fatehpur Sikri in thrall. Those days apparently the city is the capital of Akbar's kingdom. The monkeys are everywhere. Why, the harem is not free from the havoc of monkey bites!
Some hakim finally tells the emperor that the cause behind the monkey mischief is his own misbehaviour. Sant Tulsidas is freed. He asks the emperor to move out of Fatehpur Sikri as the capital.
Apparently, his injunction is listened to. Hence the royal but lonely edifices at Fatehpur Sikri! The emperor, ashamed of his earlier demand, now commands that the Hindus would not be henceforth harassed.
I would not know the truth quotient in/of this apocryphal story. Yet I like it a lot. This myth (most probably it might be so) proves the magical majesty of a saint's ethical power that makes legends!
Pratima@What mighty majesty, what naughty nut monkey/before a saint, such spunk is mere flunk(-)ey!
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