Why does the moon change from dark to full every month? The great saint Tulsidas uncovered a deep truth: this lunar cycle reflects our own journey towards the Divine. Just like the moon becomes brighter each night, we can also increase our spiritual light through fifteen sacred practices, one for each day from the new moon to the full moon. Tulsidas ji presents this wonderful journey not as a dull philosophy, but as a vibrant path that many souls have traveled before us.
श्रीहरि-गुरु-गद-कमल भजहु मन तजि अभिमान। जेहि सेवत पाइय हरि सुख-निधान भगवान॥ १॥
“O mind! Let go of your pride and bow down at the Guru’s lotus feet, for through their service, you will find the blissful Lord Hari.”
O my heart, abandon ego and bow in love before your Guru, who is the living form of the Lord. By serving him with sincerity, you reach the ocean of divine joy, Bhagavan Shri Ram. Every day, begin with humility, bow to the Guru, elders, and your inner conscience. Pride blocks grace; humility invites it.
Day 1: Pratipada (The Foundation of Love)
परिवा प्रथम प्रेम बिनु राम-मिलन अति दूरि। जद्यपि निकट हृदय निज रहे सकल भरिपूरि ॥ २ ॥
“Just as Pratipada marks the start of the lunar fortnight, love (prema) is the foremost of all spiritual practices. Without love, encountering Shri Ramji remains a far-off dream, even though He resides completely and intimately in every heart.”
Just as the first day of the lunar fortnight begins all phases, so love is the beginning of all spiritual practice. Without love, meeting Shri Ram, though He lives in everyone’s heart, is impossible.
Picture a seed hidden in darkness. Before roots, before shoots, before the grand tree, there exists only love. Love is the first day, the start of everything.
You can learn every path to someone’s home, but if you do not love them, what reason do you have to go? Love is not just the goal; it is the initial step that makes the journey possible.
Bhakti begins when you love without bargaining. Offer your heart, not for reward, but because you cannot live without remembering Him.
Day 2: Dwitiya (The Vision of Oneness)
दुइज द्वेत-मति छाड़ि चरहि महि-मंडल धीर। बिगत मोह-माया-मद हृदय बसत रघुबीर ॥ ३ ॥
“With a calm heart, let go of the dual mind, the feeling of separation between God and soul, and roam freely across the earth.”
When you see someone, anyone, take a moment to pause. Look past their clothing, their position, their flaws. Can you feel the same Divine spark that exists in you? This is not just a theory; this is true freedom. When you genuinely perceive no separation, your heart becomes Ram’s eternal home, unburdened by attachment, fear, and pride.
Wherever you look, see Him. In joy and in insult, in saint and sinner. The moment you drop judgment, the Lord’s light dawns within.
Day 3: Tritiya: Rising Beyond the Three Gunas (Qualities)
तीज त्रिगुन-पर परम पुरुष श्रीरमन मुकुंद। गुन सुभाव त्यागे बिनु दुरलभ परमानंद ॥ ४ ॥
“The Supreme Being goes beyond the three gunas. Let go of this nature of sattva, rajas, and tamas. Without doing so, supreme bliss cannot be reached.”
Nature dances in three rhythms: sattva (peace), rajas (passion), and tamas (inertia). We wake up peaceful, become busy by afternoon, and collapse exhausted by night. Round and round we go.
Be calm in pleasure (sattva), balanced in passion (rajas), and mindful in laziness (tamas). By detaching from these moods, you touch His changeless presence.
You are not the dancer; you are the observer of the dance. Step back, watch these qualities at play in your mind and body, but do not connect with them. This is true freedom.
Day 4: Chaturthi (Surrendering the Inner Instruments)
चौथि चारि परिहरहु बुद्धि-मन-चित-अहंकार। बिमल बिचार परमपद निज सुख सहज उदार ॥ ५ ॥ “Let go of the four inner tools: intellect, mind, consciousness, and ego.“
Your intellect evaluates, your mind yearns, your consciousness keeps track, and your ego asserts possession. These four form a never-ending discussion in your mind!
When feelings of anger, pride, or anxiety arise, take a moment to reflect and say: “This is my mind, not my true self.” Surrender it to Rama and allow Him to cleanse it through service and remembrance.
Day 5: Panchami (Mastering the Five Senses)
पाँचइ पाँच परस,रस,सब्द,गंध अरु रूप। इन्ह कर कहा न कीजिये, बहुरि परब भव-कूप ॥ ६ ॥
“Do not obey the commands of the five sense objects: touch, taste, sound, smell, and sight. Otherwise, you will fall into the dark well of worldly existence.”
The senses are not bad; they are like lively horses pulling your chariot. An inexperienced driver gets pulled wherever the horses want to go. A skilled driver directs them wisely toward the goal.
Each moment, you choose: Am I the master or the slave of senses? When you taste food, do you taste it consciously, offering gratitude? Or do you chase the next flavor mindlessly? This is the battle, fought not on distant fields but in every moment of daily life.
Enjoy beauty, food, and music, but as God’s gifts, not cravings. Let every sense become a gateway to remembrance, not bondage.
Day 6: Shashthi (Overcoming the Six Enemies)
छठ षटबरग करिय जय जनकसुता-पति लागि। रघुपति-कृपा-बारि बिनु नहीं बुताइ लोभागि ॥ ७ ॥
“Overcome the six foes: lust, anger, greed, desires, pride, and jealousy, to reach Janaki’s Lord. Without Ram’s blessing, the flame of greed cannot be put out.”
You cannot battle these enemies with sheer will alone; they are too powerful. However, Shri Ram’s grace is already flowing towards you like a never-ending river. Just step into it. Experience it. Allow it to cleanse you.
Whenever any of these rise, don’t fight them harshly; instead, remember His name. His grace is the true conqueror of the mind.
Day 7: Saptami (The Body’s True Purpose)
सातैं सप्तधातु-निरमित तनु करिय बिचार। तेहि तनु केर एक फल, कीजै पर-उपकार ॥ ८ ॥
“Think about this body made of seven elements (Rasa (plasma/lymph), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscle), Meda (fat), Asthi (bone), Majja (bone marrow), and Shukra (reproductive fluid)). It is impure and temporary, yet unique. Its only reward is helping others.”
Perform one act of selfless service. Feed a stray dog. Assist someone with their groceries. Listen deeply to someone’s struggles. This is the purpose of your hands, feet, and voice. Not for endless gain, but for sacred service.
Serve someone every day, through words, actions, or thoughts. The true holiness of the body is found not in its appearance but in its compassion.
Day 8: Ashtami (Beyond the Eight Elements)
आठइँ आठ प्रकृति-पर निरबिकार श्रीराम। केहि प्रकार पाइय हरि, हृदय बसहिं बहु काम ॥ ९ ॥
“Shri Ramchandra is beyond the eightfold inert nature. How can He be attained while various desires remain in the heart?”
Earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect, ego. These eight elements constitute the material world. Lord Ram is beyond all this, yet we seek to reach Him while holding onto worldly desires, like someone trying to fly while burdened with bricks.
Desire clouds divine vision. Replace “I wish” with “let it be as you wish.” In surrender, desires melt, and He appears.
Day 9: Navami (The City of Nine Gates)
नवमी नवद्वार-पुर बसि जेहि न आपु भल कीन्ह। ते नर जोनि अनेक भ्रमत दारून दुख लीन्ह ॥ १० ॥
“If you do not attain your soul’s well-being while living in this city of nine gates, you will roam through endless wombs, facing great suffering.”
Your body has nine openings: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, one mouth, and two lower gates. This is the city where your soul resides.
Human existence is like one night. Take advantage of it! Do not waste the precious life accumulating possessions you cannot take with you. Work towards your soul’s liberation now, or the cycle of birth and death will carry you through 8.4 million life forms.
This body is your holy temple; use it for meditation, service, and remembrance, not just for pleasure.
Day 10: Dashami (Mastering the Ten Senses)
दसइँ दसहु कर संजम जो न करिय जिय जानि। साधन बृथा होइ सब मिलहिं न सारंगपानि।११ ॥
“One who has not learned to restrain the ten senses, all their spiritual practices become fruitless.”
There are five senses of knowledge (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) and five senses of action (hands, feet, speech, reproduction, elimination). Mastering these ten is essential.
Without control over your senses, you are constructing a house on unstable ground. Every spiritual practice, meditation, prayer, and ritual will fall apart when the uncontrolled senses seek gratification.
Begin with small steps. Today, allow your eyes to appreciate beauty without clinging. Let your words be filled with kindness. Train these senses with gentle yet firm guidance.
Discipline is love expressed through action. Manage your speech, diet, and habits not through force, but through devotion.
Day 11: Ekadashi (The Fast of Single-Minded Devotion)
एकादसी एक मन बस कै सेवहु जाइ। सोइ ब्रत कर फल पावै आवागमन नसाइ ॥ १२ ॥
“Master your mind and dedicate yourself solely to the One Lord. This Ekadashi fast eliminates the cycle of birth and death.”
Ekadashi, the eleventh day, is a time when devotees observe a fast, representing control and focused devotion.
This unwavering devotion is the ultimate “fast” that concludes all fasting, the practice that halts all rebirth. When the mind finally finds peace in the One, you have returned home.
Make every day an Ekadashi, detach your mind from worldly desires, and lovingly concentrate on Rama’s name.
Day 12: Dwadashi – Charity and Selfless Service
द्वादसि दान देहु अस, अभय होइ त्रेलोक। परहित-निरत सो पारन बहुरि न ब्यापत सोक ॥ १३ ॥
“Give charity with a pure heart, for God’s pleasure, not for pride. True Dwadashi is serving others without selfishness; then sorrow never touches you.”
Give something without any expectations, not even the desire to feel good about yourself. Give anonymously. This selfless act diminishes the ego’s hold and brings joy to Shri Ram.
Contribute your time, kindness, or wealth, even a smile. Whatever you give selflessly is an act of worship.
Day 13: Trayodashi (Unbroken Remembrance in All Three States)
तेरसि तीन अवस्था तजहु, भजहु भगवंत। मन-क्रम-बचन-अगोचर, ब्यापक, ब्याप्य, अनंत ॥ १४ ॥
“Let go of the three states: waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, and worship God without pause. He is everywhere, yet remains boundless and beyond understanding except through His grace.”
Engage in inner remembrance: whether you are working, resting, or dreaming, whisper His name in your heart.
Day 14: Chaturdashi (Seeing Unity in All Fourteen Realms)
चौदसि चौदह भुवन अचर-चर-रूप गोपाल। भेद गये बिनु रघुपति अति न हरहिं जग-जाल ॥ १५ ॥
“The Lord of senses pervades all fourteen realms (The higher realms are Satya-loka, Tapa-loka, Jana-loka, Mahar-loka, Svar-loka, Bhuvar-loka, and Bhu-loka (Earth). The lower realms are Atala-loka, Vitala-loka, Sutala-loka, Talātala-loka, Mahātala-loka, Rasātala-loka, and Pātāla-loka.) as the moving and unmoving. But until the sense of separation ends, Shri Raghunath will not cut the net of worldly bondage.”
From the highest heaven to the lowest realm, in every atom and every galaxy, in saints and sinners, in flowers and thorns, He alone dances.
See no “other.” When every face becomes His face, liberation blossoms naturally.
Day 15: Purnima (The Full Moon of Divine Love)
पूनों प्रेम-भगति-रस हरि-रस जानहिं दास। सम, सीतल, गत-मान, ग्यानरत, बिषय-उदास ॥ १६ ॥
त्रिबिध सूल होलिय जरे, खेलिय अब फागु। जो जिय चहसि परमसुख, तौ यहि मारग लागु ॥ १७ ॥
“On the full moon of love, realize the secret of devotion and become drenched in the nectar of Shri Hari’s name. Then one becomes peaceful, egoless, wise, and detached from worldly desires.”
“Burn the Holi fire of all three sufferings: physical, divine, and material. Let them all burn! Then play the colors of divine love with Ram Himself! Become attached to these means, if you desire Divine bliss.”
The full moon! At its brightest! This is the peak, not just knowledge(Jnana), but prema-bhakti, a love-devotion so profound that you become intoxicated by it.
When love reaches its highest point, something extraordinary occurs. You no longer perceive differences; everything is equal. You do not seek peace because you ARE peace. The ego vanishes, leaving only pure consciousness. Knowledge is not acquired because you have become it. And the world that once tempted you? It resembles a dream from yesterday, fading in the morning light.
Play Holi with Lord Ram, burn the impurities of ego, anger, and lust, and color yourself in divine love.
The Supreme Secret: Grace of Saints
श्रुति-पुरान-बुध-संमत चाँचरि चरित मुरारि। करि बिचार भव तरिय, परिय न कबहुँ जमधारि ॥ १८ ॥
संसय-समन, दमन दुख, सुखनिधान हरि एक। साधु-कृपा बिनु मिलहिं न, करिय उपाय अनेक ॥ १९ ॥
भव सागर कहँ नाव सुद्ध संतनके चरन। तुलसिदास प्रयास बिनु मिलहिं राम दुखहरन ॥ २० ॥
The Vedas, Puranas, and all wise beings agree: singing the Lord’s glories is the true Holi song. These fifteen practices are your ladder to cross the ocean of existence.
But here is the secret Tulsidas ji saved for last: Try any practice, follow any path, employ any technique, but without the grace of saints, Shri Ram remains unreachable. The saints’ pure feet are your boat across the worldly ocean.
The Final Promise: Tulsidas says, “Board this boat! Serve at the saints’ feet! Then Shri Ramchandra, the destroyer of all sorrows, will be attained effortlessly, joyfully, completely.”
“Begin with love, live in humility, conquer within through surrender,
and end in divine union through the grace of saints.”
