TULASIDAS

                            Tulsidas (also Tulasidas, Gosvāmī Tulsīdās, Tulasī Dāsa) (1532 – 1623) Devanāgarī: तुलसीदास) was a great Awadhi bhakta (devotee), philosopher, composer, and the author of Ramcharitmanas, an epic poem and scripture devoted to the Hindu God Rama.
Tulsidas is believed to be born on the Shraavan Shukla Saptami, Vikrami Samvat 1589 in Rajapur, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh to Hulsi and Atmaram Dubey during the reign of Akbar. He was a saryuparin brahmin of the parashar gotra.
Incarnation of Valmiki
                                Tulsidas is believed to be an incarnation of the great sage Valmiki. In Bhavishyottar Purana, Lord Shiva tells Parvati how Valmiki got a boon from Hanuman to sing the glories of Lord Rama in vernacular language in the Kali Yuga. This prophecy of Lord Shiva materialised on the Shraavan Shukla Saptami, Vikrami Samvat 1554 when Valmiki reincarnated as Tulsidas.
"वाल्मीकिस्तुलसीदासः कलौ देवि भविष्यति | रामचन्द्रकथामेतां भाषाबद्धां करिष्यति ||"

– Bhavishyottar Purana, Pratisarga Parva, 4.20

Literary career

 Rāmcharitmānas

                               Ramacharitamanasa, an epic devoted to Lord Rama, was the Awadhi version of Ramayana of Valmiki. Apart from "Awadhi", three other languages are also seen in the epic Ramcharitmanas- "Bhojpuri", " Brijbhasa" and "bundeli". Like many translations of the original Sanskrit Ramayana, it is read and worshiped with great reverence in many Hindu homes in India. It is an inspiring book that contains couplets in verse form called chaupai.
It is also called Tulsi-krit Ramayana. Many of its verses are very popular proverbs and have passed into common speech, and are used by millions of Hindi speakers. His doctrine actually forms the most powerful religious influence in present-day Hinduism. Though he founded no school and was never known as a guru or master, he is everywhere accepted as both poet and saint, an inspired and authoritative guide in religion and the conduct of life.
Tulsidas professed himself the humble follower of his teacher, Narhari Das, from whom as a boy in Sukar-khet he first heard the tale of Rama's exploits that would form the subject of the Rāmcaritmānas. Narhari Das was the sixth in spiritual descent from Ramananda, a founder of popular Vaishnavism in northern India, who was also known for his famous poems.
Nabhadas, a contemporary of Tulsidas and a great devotee, also describes Tulsidas as incarnation of Valmiki in his work Bhaktmaal. Even the Ramanandi sect (Tulsidas belonged to this sect) firmly believes that it was Valmiki himself who incarnated as Tulsidas in the Kali Yuga.

Shree Ramachandra Kripalu Bhajaman (A bhajan of Tulsidas)

O mind! Worship the compassionate Shree Ramachandra

Who destroys fear of the phenomenal world

His eyes are like fresh lotuses. He is lotus faced.

His hands are like lotuses, his feet are like lotuses.

His beauty excels that of myriad Cupids,

He is handsomely blue-hued like a cloud.

I bow before the one who wed the daughter of Janaka,

Who wears the yellow garment, the pure one who destroys arrogance.

Worship the friend of the poor,

The Sun who destroys the families of demons.

The progeny of Raghu, the son of Dasharatha,

The reservoir of bliss, the moon to Kosala.

Worship the one who wears the crown on his head,

Ear ornaments and crimson mark on the forehead

Whose every limb is decorated beautifully and generously,

Who is tall of stature, well built with strong arms,

Carrying bow and the arrows and victorious over evil demons in battle.

Thus says Tulsidas, worship Him who pleases Shankara and all the sages,

Reside in the lotus of my heart, destroying evil feelings like lust.