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Template:IndicText Maharishi Valmiki (Sanskrit: वाल्मिकी, vālmikī) is the author of the Hindu epic Ramayana.
Benjamin Walker in “HINDU WORLD” an Encyclopedia Survey of Hinduism believes that Bhagwan Valmik was of the Naga clan. The Nagas were another Aryan group of India. Other sages such as Patanjali was of the Naga clan (his son was Nagaputra.) Valmikis believe that they are the decendents of Nagas.
Bhagwan Valmik wrote the first version of the Ramayana in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit. Astronomical analysis place Bhagwan Valmiks work as pre 3000BC, it’s final shape may have been acquired by about 250A.D. He was also the first to codify music.
He wrote:
- aapadaam apahartaaram daataaram sarvasaMpadaam.h .
- lokaabhiraamam shriiraamam bhuuyo bhuuyo namaamyaham.h ..
Translation: "I bow again and again to Sree Rama who removes (all) obstacles and grants all wealth and pleases all."
He also wrote the Maha-Ramayana which is also known as the Yogavasistha. The Yogavasistha consists of 32,000 verses. The Yogavasista is a philosophy of life and the means of salvation( Jiwan Mukti). The Yogavasista is popular with Yogis, Monks or ordinary people who seek salvation, piece of satisfaction in their lives.
The word Bhagwan has come to mean a man of great religious wisdom. The Ramayana is divided in to seven books and contains 24,000 couplets. The first and last books were added later to the original version of Valmiks Ramayana.
Bhagwan Valmik was believed to be a great man of wisdom, a sage who could visualise the past, the present, and the future as was clearly demonstrated in the Ramayana.
The Ramayana of Bhagwan Valmik is called the Adikavya( The first poem ) and Bhagwan Valmik( The first poet ).
At his hermitage he taught both males and females. He was a man who had great instinct for pure moral living, he was kind and humane and gave shelter to Sita on her banishment.
Maharishi Valmik is accepted by many indian comunities as the author of the Yoga Vasistha, this particular piece of work was taught to Rama when he was disillusioned with the world in large . The Yoga Vasistha is an incredible piece of text which discusses a wide array of philosphical issues. Moreover, it appears to have been written over 5000 years ago. Further information can be found in Dr Julia Leslies book called "Authority and meaning in indian religions and the case for Valmiki".
About the Ramayana
Bhagwan Valmik’s Ramayana is one of the great epic poems of India. The Ramayana tells a story unparalleled in qualities and attributes of a literacy work. It is a unique combination of scripture, literature and ethics in one. The Ramayana foretold the fortunes of Rama. The Ramayana was written in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit. The appeal of the Ramayana inspired one of India’s greatest poets Rabindranath Tagore to write his first play “The Genius of Valmiki.”
For Valmikis in India the Ramayana has served to provide a cultural and religious foundation and was the link during colonial rule which labourers took with them when they went from India.
The Ramayana is divided into seven books called Kandas. Each Kanda is divided into several( cantos). The books( Kandas ) are called :
- 1. Balakanda (Interpolation)
- 2. Ayodhyakanda
- 3. Aranyakanda
- 4. Kiskindhakanda
- 5. Sundarakanda
- 6. Yuddhakanda
- 7. Uttarkanda (Interplotation)
Essentially the Ramayana is the story of the Rama and his endeavour to win the hand of Princess Sita. After successfully competing for the hand of Sita in marriage Rama returned to Ayodhya. However, at his Kingdom of Ayodhya Rama’s step-mother plotted against him and as a result, he was exiled to live in the forest, with Sita and Lakshman Rama’s half brother.
During their stay in the forest the demon King of Lanka, Ravana, sent a beautiful golden deer into the forest. Sita asked Rama to catch it for her. When Rama did not return, Sita asked Lakshman to look for him. Rama had instructed Lakshaman to guard Sita, but on this occasion he disobeyed Rama’s instruction.
Sita was left alone King Ravana appeared before her and he seized her and returned to Sri-Lanka. When Rama and Lakshman returned and found Sita gone, they prepared to rescue her and in doing so inlisted the help of Hanuman. Hanuman, helped Rama to find Sita on returning to Ayodha Rama was crowned King.
However, all was not well in Rama’s kingdom as some of Rama’s subjects suspected Sita of being unfaithful for accepting Sita after her living in Ravana’s kingdom. In order to prove himself the ideal King who respects the sentiments of his subjects Rama banished her to the forest. There she was looked after by the hermit Bhagwan Valmik and in his hermitage she gave birth to Luv and Kush.
Rama to prove himself the mightiest of Kings released a horse the capture of which would result in battle with King Rama and his forces.
Luv and Kush disciples of Bhagwan Valmik, captured this horse, King Rama’s army led by his half brother Lakshman was defeated by the two brothers.
On discovering that Luv and Kush had destroyed members of their own family Bhagwan Valmik sprinkled holy water called ‘Amrit’ onto the whole army and brought them back to life again.
Valmikis have a close link with the Sikh Golden Temple. Bhagwan Valmik’s role in the foundation of the Golden Temple in Amritsar is commemorated by him burying the pot of healing ‘Amrit’ that would give rise to the holy lake on which the Golden Temple would be built.
References
See also
External links
- Valmiki's biography webpage
- Another Valmiki's biography webpage
- True version of Valmiki's story according to Puraanas
- www.valmikiramayan.net - Site has the Ramayana text with meaning.
- Works by Valmiki at Project Gutenberg
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