About the Shri Ramcharitmanas
The Shri Ramcharitmanas ("the lake of the deeds of Rama") was composed by the poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas,
who began it in 1574 CE in Ayodhya. He wrote it in Awadhi rather than Sanskrit, retelling Valmiki's Ramayana
in a form ordinary people could read, sing and recite for themselves. It is organised into seven Kands —
Bal, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kishkindha, Sundar, Lanka and Uttar — and remains one of the most widely read and
recited works of Hindu devotional literature, forming the basis of Ramlila performances and the
Ramcharitmanas path (recitation) held in homes and temples across India to this day.
About this practice
Ram Shalaka Prashnavali is a centuries-old form of devotional guidance drawn from these verses. The grid
above is the traditional 15×15, 225-letter chart used for this practice, built from nine chaupais
(verse-pairs). Starting at any single letter and counting onward every ninth letter, wrapping around the
grid, spells out one complete chaupai — the same method followed in printed Ramcharitmanas prashnavali
booklets for generations.
To use it as intended: calm your mind, hold one sincere question, and place your attention on a single
letter without over-thinking which one. The chaupai it reveals, along with its widely-understood meaning, is
offered here as a devotional aid for reflection — not as fortune-telling, and not a substitute for your own
judgement or for personalised astrological guidance.
🙏 In tradition, this is asked once per sincere question, with faith, rather than repeated
until a particular answer appears. You are welcome to return any time you have a new question to sit with.
