Sri Rama Shalaka Prashnavali

What is Rama Shalaka Prashnavali?

Ram Shalaka Prashnavali (राम शलाका प्रश्नावली) is a traditional Vedic method of seeking divine guidance for a specific question, built entirely from Goswami Tulsidas's Shri Ramcharitmanas. “Shalaka” means a lot or a marked stick — the practice descends from an old form of Sanskrit bibliomancy in which a devotee poses a question, invokes the deity described in the text, and then opens to a passage at random, trusting that the verse revealed carries the deity's answer.

How the Grid Works

The grid above is arranged in 15 columns, with each cell holding a single Devanagari letter. Every letter is the opening syllable of one doha (couplet) from the Ramcharitmanas. When you click a cell, that doha — along with its meaning — is shown as your answer. Because the letter you land on is effectively chosen at random by your own intuitive pick, tradition holds that Lord Rama himself is guiding the selection.

How to Ask a Question

• Settle your mind: Sit quietly for a moment and let the question become clear and specific in your thoughts.
• Invoke Lord Rama: Offer a short prayer or simply hold his name in mind before you begin.
• Ask one question at a time: Traditional practice discourages repeating the same question in one sitting — trust the first answer you receive.
• Pick without over-thinking: Choose a letter quickly, on instinct, rather than deliberating over the grid.