ValmikiVālmīki) is celebrated as the harbinger-poet in Sanskrit literature. The epic Ramayana, dated variously from 5th century BCE to first century BCE, is attributed to him, based on the attribution in the text itself. He is revered as Ādi Kavi, writer of Ramayana.
Ramayana, originally written by Valmiki, consists of 24,000 shlokas and 7 cantos (kaṇḍas) including Uttara Kanda. Ramayana is composed of about 480, 002 words, being a quarter of the length of the full text of Mahabharata or about four times the length of Iliad. Ramayana tells the story of a prince, Rama of Ayodhya, whose wife Sita is abducted by the demon-king(Rakshasa) of Lanka, Ravana. The Valmiki Ramayana is dated variously from 500 BC to 100 BC or about co-eval with early versions of Mahabharata. As with many traditional epics, it has gone through a process of interpolations and redactions, making it impossible to date accurately.
Valmiki is also quoted to be the contemporary of Rama. Rama met Valmiki during his period of exile and interacted with him. Valmiki gave shelter to Sita in his hermitage when Rama banished her. Kusha and Lava, the twin sons of Shri Rama were born to Sita in this hermitage. Valmiki taught Ramayana to Kusha and Lava, who later sang the divine story in Ayodhya during the Ashwamedha yajna congregation, to the pleasure of the audience, whereupon, King Rama questioned who they were and later visited Valmiki's hermitage to confirm if Sita, the two children claimed as their mother was in fact his wife in exile. Later, he summoned them to his royal palace. Kusha and Lava sang the story of Rama there and Rama confirmed that whatever had been sung by these two children was entirely true.
Valmiki was born as Ratnakkardah, One day, he met the great sage Narada who questioned him of his duty. Moved by Narada's words, Ratnakara began to perform penance and chanted the word "Mara" which meant "kill". As he performed his penance for several years, the word became "Rama", the name of Lord Vishnu. Huge anthills formed around Ratnakara and this earned him the name of Valmiki. Narada declared Ratnakara to be a great Sage and Brahmin, a member of the high caste. Ratnakara, rechristened as Valmiki, learnt the scriptures from Narada and became the foremost of ascetics, revered by everyone.
Valmiki was going to the river Ganges for his daily ablutions. A disciple by the name Bharadwaja was carrying his clothes. On the way, they came across the Tamasa
Stream. Looking at the stream, Valmiki said to his disciple, "Look, how
clear is this water, like the mind of a good man! I will bathe here
today." When he was looking for a suitable place to step into the
stream, he saw a crane
couple mating. Valmiki felt very pleased on seeing the happy birds.
Suddenly, hit by an arrow, the male bird died on the spot. Filled by
sorrow, its mate screamed in agony and died of shock. Valmiki's heart
melted at this pitiful sight. He looked around to find out who had shot
the bird. He saw a hunter with a bow and arrows, nearby. Valmiki became
very angry. His lips opened and he cried out,
His first disciples to whom he taught the Ramayana were Kusha and Lava, the sons of Rama:
Ramayana, originally written by Valmiki, consists of 24,000 shlokas and 7 cantos (kaṇḍas) including Uttara Kanda. Ramayana is composed of about 480, 002 words, being a quarter of the length of the full text of Mahabharata or about four times the length of Iliad. Ramayana tells the story of a prince, Rama of Ayodhya, whose wife Sita is abducted by the demon-king(Rakshasa) of Lanka, Ravana. The Valmiki Ramayana is dated variously from 500 BC to 100 BC or about co-eval with early versions of Mahabharata. As with many traditional epics, it has gone through a process of interpolations and redactions, making it impossible to date accurately.
Valmiki is also quoted to be the contemporary of Rama. Rama met Valmiki during his period of exile and interacted with him. Valmiki gave shelter to Sita in his hermitage when Rama banished her. Kusha and Lava, the twin sons of Shri Rama were born to Sita in this hermitage. Valmiki taught Ramayana to Kusha and Lava, who later sang the divine story in Ayodhya during the Ashwamedha yajna congregation, to the pleasure of the audience, whereupon, King Rama questioned who they were and later visited Valmiki's hermitage to confirm if Sita, the two children claimed as their mother was in fact his wife in exile. Later, he summoned them to his royal palace. Kusha and Lava sang the story of Rama there and Rama confirmed that whatever had been sung by these two children was entirely true.
Valmiki was born as Ratnakkardah, One day, he met the great sage Narada who questioned him of his duty. Moved by Narada's words, Ratnakara began to perform penance and chanted the word "Mara" which meant "kill". As he performed his penance for several years, the word became "Rama", the name of Lord Vishnu. Huge anthills formed around Ratnakara and this earned him the name of Valmiki. Narada declared Ratnakara to be a great Sage and Brahmin, a member of the high caste. Ratnakara, rechristened as Valmiki, learnt the scriptures from Narada and became the foremost of ascetics, revered by everyone.
- मां निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः।
- यत्क्रौंचमिथुनादेकम् अवधीः काममोहितम्॥'
- mā niṣāda pratiṣṭhā tvamagamaḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ
- yat krauñcamithunādekam avadhīḥ kāmamohitam
- You will find no rest for the long years of Eternity
- For you killed a bird in love and unsuspecting
His first disciples to whom he taught the Ramayana were Kusha and Lava, the sons of Rama:
- प्रचेत्सोऽहं दशमः पुत्रो राघवनंन्दन |
- न स्मराम्यनृतं वाक्यमिमौ तु तव पुत्रकौ || 96:16
- संनिबद्धं हि श्लोकानां चतुर्विंशत्सहस्रकम् |
- उपाख्यानशतं चैव भार्गवेण तपस्विना || 94:24
- Vishnudharmottara Purana says that Valmiki was born in the Treta Yuga as a form of Vishnu who composed Ramayana and that people desirious of earning knowledge should worship Valmiki
- An area in Chennai, Tiruvanmiyur derives its names from Sage Valmiki, Thiru-Valmiki-Oor. There is a temple for Valmiki located in this place, which is believed to be 1300 years old
- POSTED BY : VIPUL KOUL
- EDITED BY :ASHOK KOUL
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