Tulasidas, hailed as the most popular Hindi poet, belonged to the tradition of the devotee-saint-poets of North India. It is his illustrious epic, Ramcharitmanas that made him immorta A 16th C. poet, it is believed that the poet's original name was 'Rambola', since as a child he first uttered the word, 'Rama'. He was named Tulasidas by a wandering saint, Naraharyanand, from whom he first heard the story of Rama. Tulasidas is said to have traveled to all the places associated with the life of Lord Rama, like Ayodhya, Prayag, Chitrakut, Banaras, Mithila, Rameswaram, Jagannathapuri, Dwaraka, Badrinath, Brindavan, Mansarovar and also some valleys in the Himalayas. His earlier works called as Tulasi Panch Ratna constitute Parvati Mangal, Janaki Mangal, Ramlala Nahachhu, Vairagya Sandipini and Barvai Ramayana. His most important contribution was Ramcharitmanas, based on Valmiki's Ramayana. This work in seven cantos mentions about 200 characters relating to the story of Rama. It is said to contain 5100 chaupayis (quatrains) and 1200 dohas (couplets). Through this epic, Tulasidas also explains the philosophy of knowledge and devotion. Ramcharitmanas, which is very popular in North India is recited every year during Dussera. It is also staged as plays and dance dramas.