Hanumāna Chālīsā is by far, one of the most popular devotional hymn to a God. It's authorship is credited to Tulsídāsa, although few other sources might also call it as a later interpolated addition (by some followers of Tulsídāsa), to the original authored works by Tulsídāsa.
Anyway, almost all major deities in the present popular hindu culture have a separate Chālisā devoted to them? Some of these deities are - Surya, Gayatri, Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, Ganesha, Shani, et al.
So, my question is, who are these authors of various Chālīsās? I mean, obviously each Chālīsā generally mention its authors' name in either the penultimate or the final couplets of the respective Chālīsā. So, are these authors to considered, exalted devotees or personalities, just like we attribute it to Tulsídāsa?
For example:- Tulsídāsa is considered an exalted devotee of the Lord and it is from this devotion of his perhaps, the Hanumāna Chālīsā is attributed with so much of credibility and authority as a sacred hymn.
But, what about all the other Chālīsās? What drives their prowess as an authoritative & effective composition hymn?
How might one, decide on the "Spiritual - Theological authenticity" of any of these devotional compositions?
One reason that maybe assigned is that, it's Bhakti and faith of the compiler, which gives them the credibility and the power for its effectiveness in alleviating dukha in its various forms, and thus, its considered befitting for us normal humans to recite them.
But, I'm more of looking for some specific scriptural (or from relevant acharyas) inferences or injunctions, which say something on the credibility of these kind of "new or neo-authors" based compositions, as effective hymns in alleviating the problems of the devotee.
Can all these recent compositions (like Chālīsās, ārtís, etc) be considered on a par level with the eternal Vedic hymns or the ancient Paurāṇika Stotras?
Specific references from the scriptures and relevant - competent gurus, acharyas or known commentators will be much appreciated.
