Ramcharitmanas is an epic devotional poem retelling the story of Lord Rama. In which language was this work originally written?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of Indian religious literature and classical regional languages. Ramcharitmanas is one of the most important devotional texts in the Hindu tradition and holds a central place in North Indian culture. It is a poetic retelling of the Ramayana with strong emphasis on bhakti, or devotion. Many exams ask in which language this famous text was composed, because recognizing the language highlights understanding of India's linguistic diversity and literary heritage.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The text mentioned is Ramcharitmanas. • It is described as an epic devotional poem on the life of Lord Rama. • Several North Indian languages are suggested as options. • Only one option correctly identifies the original language of composition. • The question does not ask about script or later translations, only about the original language.

Concept / Approach:
Ramcharitmanas was composed by the poet saint Tulsidas in a regional form of Hindi. Specifically, he used Awadhi, a dialect historically spoken in parts of Uttar Pradesh. This choice made the story of Lord Rama more accessible to common people who did not know classical Sanskrit. To answer correctly, one should remember that Valmiki's Ramayana is in Sanskrit, while Tulsidas created a widely loved version in Awadhi. The approach is to distinguish between these different texts and languages and match Ramcharitmanas with Awadhi.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that Ramcharitmanas is not the same as the original Sanskrit Ramayana composed by Maharishi Valmiki. 2. Remember that Tulsidas, a sixteenth century poet saint, rewrote the story of Rama in a language understood by ordinary people in North India. 3. Identify that this language was Awadhi, a regional dialect from the area around Ayodhya and eastern Uttar Pradesh. 4. Examine option c, Awadhi, and recognize it as the correct match for the language of Ramcharitmanas. 5. Consider option a, Sanskrit, which refers instead to the language of the original Valmiki Ramayana and many Vedic texts, not to Ramcharitmanas. 6. Consider option b, Hindi (Khari Boli), which is closer to modern standard Hindi and not the historical dialect used by Tulsidas. 7. Consider option d, Bhojpuri, another regional language from eastern India, but not the one associated with this specific text. 8. Conclude that Awadhi is the only accurate choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, one can recall that many introductions to Ramcharitmanas explicitly state that it is written in Awadhi. Cultural programs, religious discourses, and school textbooks often highlight this fact because it demonstrates how bhakti poets localized sacred stories. References to "Awadhi Ramayan" or descriptions of Tulsidas as an Awadhi poet reinforce this association. Furthermore, when reading the text or listening to recitations, the vocabulary and grammar clearly differ from modern standard Hindi, confirming that it belongs to the Awadhi dialect group rather than to Sanskrit or Bhojpuri.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Sanskrit is the language of Valmiki's Ramayana and many other ancient scriptures, but Ramcharitmanas is a later composition in a regional dialect. • Hindi (Khari Boli) is the basis for modern standard Hindi, but Tulsidas wrote in Awadhi, which has different grammatical and phonetic features. • Bhojpuri is another Indo Aryan language spoken in parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, yet it is not the language of Ramcharitmanas.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to automatically select Sanskrit whenever a classical religious text is mentioned, without distinguishing between different versions of the Ramayana. Another pitfall is assuming that any North Indian devotional text is in standard Hindi, ignoring the fact that many saints wrote in specific dialects to reach local audiences. Some learners also confuse Bhojpuri and Awadhi because of geographical closeness. To avoid these errors, it is useful to remember a simple mapping: Valmiki Ramayana is in Sanskrit, and Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas is in Awadhi.

Final Answer:
Ramcharitmanas, the epic devotional poem retelling the story of Lord Rama, was originally written in the Awadhi language.