| Revision as of 05:31, 29 August 2011 view sourceLiberal Humanist (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers31,935 editsm Reverted edits by Prakashrj (talk) to last version by 174.113.245.125← Previous edit | Revision as of 09:48, 5 September 2011 view source Kiranrana uk (talk | contribs)2 edits →Early lifeTag: references removedNext edit → | ||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
| This particular verse has been speculated to indicate a familial relationship between Valmiki and Chyavana, as implied by the previous and subsequent verses.<ref>E. B. Cowell, tr., ''The Buddhacharita of Asvagosha,'' Book I, Verse 48. Clarendon Press (1894)</ref><ref>Ilapvuluri Panduranga Rao, Valmiki, Sahitya Akademi, India (1994) - Makers of Indian Literature - ISBN 8172016808</ref> | This particular verse has been speculated to indicate a familial relationship between Valmiki and Chyavana, as implied by the previous and subsequent verses.<ref>E. B. Cowell, tr., ''The Buddhacharita of Asvagosha,'' Book I, Verse 48. Clarendon Press (1894)</ref><ref>Ilapvuluri Panduranga Rao, Valmiki, Sahitya Akademi, India (1994) - Makers of Indian Literature - ISBN 8172016808</ref> | ||
| Benjamin Walker in “HINDU WORLD” an Encyclopedia Survey of Hinduism believes that Maharishi Valmik was of the Naga or Pre-Aryan birth. The Nagas were the indigenous population of India. Valmikis believe that they are the decedents of Nagas. | |||
| ==Early life== | |||
| The ''Uttara Khanda'' says that Valmiki was a highway robber named Valya Koli<ref> Valmiki Ramayana (A play adaptation)</ref><ref> Valya became Valmiki - Stories of Sages !</ref><ref> | |||
| Maharishi Valmik wrote the first version of the Ramayana in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit. Astronomical analysis place Valmiks work as pre 3000 BC, its final shape may have been acquired by about 250 A.D. he was also the first to codify music. | |||
| Osho Story on Sage Narada and Valmiki</ref> who used to rob people after killing them. Once, the robber tried to rob the divine sage ] for the benefit of his family. Narada asked him if his family would share the sin he was incurring due to the robbery. The robber replied positively, but Narada told him to confirm this with his family. The robber asked his family, but none agreed to bear the burden of sin. Dejected, the robber finally understood the truth of life and asked for Narada's forgiveness. Narada taught the robber to worship God. The robber meditated for many years, so much so that ]s grew around his body. Finally, a divine voice declared his penance successful, bestowing him with the name "Valmiki": "one born out of ant-hills" (Valmikam in Sanskrit means Ant-hill).<ref>{{cite book|last=Suresh Chandra|title=Encyclopaedia of Hindu gods and goddesses|pages=262–3|url=http://books.google.co.in/books?id=mfTE6kpz6XEC&pg=PA263&dq=valmiki+robber&as_brr=3&client=firefox-a#v=onepage&q=valmiki%20robber&f=false| isbn=9788176250399 | year=1998 | publisher=Sarup & Sons}}</ref> | |||
| In addition to this he also wrote the Maha-Ramayana which is also known as the Yoga Vasistha. The Yoga Vasistha consists of 32,000 verses. The Yoga Vasistha is a philosoply of life and the means of salvation (JIWAN MUKTI). The Yoga Vasistha is popular with Yogis, Monks or ordinary people who seek salvation, peace of mind and satisfaction in their lives. | |||
| Maharishi Valmik wrote the Ramayana and the Maha-Ramayana (Yoga Vasistha) as one book, but for some unexplained reason at some stage in by-gone years they were separated, one being called The Ramayana and the other Yoga-Vasistha. | |||
| The word Maharishi has come to mean a man of great religious wisdom. The Ramayana is divided into seven books and contains 24,000 couplets. The first and last books were added later to the original version of Valmik’s Ramayana. | |||
| The later additions to the Ramayana are regarded with some scepticism and apprehension by the Valmiki community and regard them as ruling class ideology designed to shape the perceptions to the public. | |||
| Throughout most of Valmik’s Ramayana, Rama is portrayed as a great unique man but above all a human king. But this was to change when according to later additions the status of King Rama was to become the God Vishnu in human form. As a consequence of this Hindu’s now worship Rama and his queen Sita as Gods. | |||
| The perspectives of the Valmiki community is very much one which believes that indeed Rama was a King and therefore differs from the vast majority of Hindus. | |||
| The perspective of Valmiki community is very much reflected by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari. A close associate of Mahatama Gandhi and the First Governer General of India. In his book “Ramayana” he writes that Rishi Valmik saw Rama not as an incarnation of God but as a great and unique man. | |||
| It is important to realize that throughout the book we have often referred to the word Valmikis and the term is used to describe the devotees of Maharishi Valmik. | |||
| Maharishi Valmik was believed to be a man of great wisdom, a sage who could visualize the past, the present, and the future as was clearly demonstrated in the Ramayana. | |||
| The Ramayana of Maharishi Valmiki is called the Adikavya (The first Poem) and Maharishi Valmik (The first Poet). Very little is known about the life of Maharishi Valmik, but it is thought that he lived in his own hermitage on the bank of the river Tamsa. | |||
| At his hermitage he taught both males and females. He was man who had an instinct for pure moral living, he was kind and humane and gave shelter to Sita on er banishment. | |||
| ==Writer of the Ramayana== | ==Writer of the Ramayana== | ||
Revision as of 09:48, 5 September 2011
| Valmiki | |
|---|---|
 Valmiki composing the Ramayana. | |
| Honors | Revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka. |
| Religious life | |
| Philosophy | Religious movement called Valmikism is based on Valmiki's teachings. |
| Composed Ramayana and Yoga Vasistha | |
Valmiki (Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि, vālmīki) (during Lord Rama's time)) is celebrated as the poet harbinger in Sanskrit literature. He is the author of the epic Ramayana, based on the attribution in the text of the epic itself. He is revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka i.e. first verse, which set the base and defined the form to Sanskrit poetry. The Yoga Vasistha is attributed to him. A religious movement called Valmikism is based on Valmiki's teachings as presented in the Ramayana and the Yoga Vasistha.
At least by the 1st century AD, Valmiki's reputation as the father of Sanskrit classical poetry seems to have been legendary. Ashvagosha writes in the Buddhacarita:
- "The voice of Valmiki uttered poetry which the great seer Chyavana could not compose."
This particular verse has been speculated to indicate a familial relationship between Valmiki and Chyavana, as implied by the previous and subsequent verses.
Benjamin Walker in “HINDU WORLD” an Encyclopedia Survey of Hinduism believes that Maharishi Valmik was of the Naga or Pre-Aryan birth. The Nagas were the indigenous population of India. Valmikis believe that they are the decedents of Nagas.
Maharishi Valmik wrote the first version of the Ramayana in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit. Astronomical analysis place Valmiks work as pre 3000 BC, its final shape may have been acquired by about 250 A.D. he was also the first to codify music.
In addition to this he also wrote the Maha-Ramayana which is also known as the Yoga Vasistha. The Yoga Vasistha consists of 32,000 verses. The Yoga Vasistha is a philosoply of life and the means of salvation (JIWAN MUKTI). The Yoga Vasistha is popular with Yogis, Monks or ordinary people who seek salvation, peace of mind and satisfaction in their lives.
Maharishi Valmik wrote the Ramayana and the Maha-Ramayana (Yoga Vasistha) as one book, but for some unexplained reason at some stage in by-gone years they were separated, one being called The Ramayana and the other Yoga-Vasistha.
The word Maharishi has come to mean a man of great religious wisdom. The Ramayana is divided into seven books and contains 24,000 couplets. The first and last books were added later to the original version of Valmik’s Ramayana.
The later additions to the Ramayana are regarded with some scepticism and apprehension by the Valmiki community and regard them as ruling class ideology designed to shape the perceptions to the public.
Throughout most of Valmik’s Ramayana, Rama is portrayed as a great unique man but above all a human king. But this was to change when according to later additions the status of King Rama was to become the God Vishnu in human form. As a consequence of this Hindu’s now worship Rama and his queen Sita as Gods.
The perspectives of the Valmiki community is very much one which believes that indeed Rama was a King and therefore differs from the vast majority of Hindus.
The perspective of Valmiki community is very much reflected by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari. A close associate of Mahatama Gandhi and the First Governer General of India. In his book “Ramayana” he writes that Rishi Valmik saw Rama not as an incarnation of God but as a great and unique man.
It is important to realize that throughout the book we have often referred to the word Valmikis and the term is used to describe the devotees of Maharishi Valmik.
Maharishi Valmik was believed to be a man of great wisdom, a sage who could visualize the past, the present, and the future as was clearly demonstrated in the Ramayana.
The Ramayana of Maharishi Valmiki is called the Adikavya (The first Poem) and Maharishi Valmik (The first Poet). Very little is known about the life of Maharishi Valmik, but it is thought that he lived in his own hermitage on the bank of the river Tamsa.
At his hermitage he taught both males and females. He was man who had an instinct for pure moral living, he was kind and humane and gave shelter to Sita on er banishment.
Writer of the Ramayana
_LACMA_AC1999.127.45.jpg)
The Rāmāyaṇa, originally written by Valmiki, consists of 24,000 verses in seven cantos (some say six i.e. excluding the Uttara Ramayana) (kāṇḍas). The Ramayana tells the story of a prince, Rama of Ayodhya, whose wife Sita is abducted by the demon (Rākshasa) king of Lanka, Rāvana. The Valmiki Ramayana is dated variously from 500 BC to 100 BC, or about co-eval with early versions of the Mahabhārata. As with many traditional epics, it has gone through a long process of interpolations and redactions, making it impossible to date accurately.
Notwithstanding the aforesaid, it is pertinent to note that Valmiki is also quoted to be the contemporary of Rama. Rama met Valmiki during his period of exile and had interacted with each other. Valmiki had Sita in his hermitage where Kusa and Lava were born to Sita. Valmiki taught Ramayana to Kusa and Lava, who later sang the divine story in Ayodhya during the Aswamedha yaga congregation, to the pleasure of the audience, whereupon, King Rama summoned them to his royal palace. Kusa and Lava sang the story of Rama there, and Rama confirmed that whatever had been sung by these two children was entirely true.
With this backdrop, it needs review to establish the period of Valmiki, likely to date back to thousands of years, as Krishna incarnation followed Rama's incarnation.
The first śloka
Valmiki was going to the river Ganga 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 heard the sweet chirping of birds. Looking up, he saw two birds flying together. Valmiki felt very pleased on seeing the happy bird couple. Suddenly, one of the birds fell down, hit by an arrow; it was the male bird. Seeing the wounded one, its mate screamed in agony. 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 uttered the following words:
/*ॐ मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शास्वती समः यत् क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकमवधीः काममोहितम्*/
- mā niṣāda pratiṣṭhāṁ 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
Emerging spontaneously from his rage and grief, this was the first śloka in Sanskrit literature. Later Valmiki composed the entire Ramayana with the blessings of Lord Brahma in the same meter that issued forth from him as the śloka. Thus this śloka is revered as the "first śloka" in Hindu literature. Valmiki is revered as the first poet, or Adi Kavi, and the Ramayana, the first kavya.
His first disciples to whom he taught the Ramayana were Kusha and Lava, the sons of Rama.
See also
References
- Julia Leslie, Authority and Meaning in Indian Religions: Hinduism and the Case of Valmiki, Ashgate (2003), p. 154. ISBN 0754634310
- Vālmīki, Robert P. Goldman (1990). The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India. Vol. 1. Princeton University Press. pp. 14–15. ISBN 069101485X.
- E. B. Cowell, tr., The Buddhacharita of Asvagosha, Book I, Verse 48. Clarendon Press (1894)
- Ilapvuluri Panduranga Rao, Valmiki, Sahitya Akademi, India (1994) - Makers of Indian Literature - ISBN 8172016808
- and 7 cantos{Kandas}including the Uttara canto{Kanda}Rāmāyaṇa is composed of about 480,002 words, a quarter of the length of the full text of the Mahabharata or about four times the length of the Iliad.
- Goldman, Robert P., The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India pp. 23
- Sacred-Texts.com IAST encoded transliteration (modified from original source to accurately reflect sandhi rules)
- Buck, William and van Nooten, B. A. Ramayana. 2000, page 7
External links
- Valmiki biography webpage
- Satya Sarada Kandula, "Valmiki - Adikavi", The Ancient Indians
- Shastra Nethralaya, Rishikesh
- Ramayana by Valmiki illustrated with Indian miniatures from the 16th to the 19th century
| Rishis | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saptarshi |
| ||||||||||||||
| Other |
| ||||||||||||||
.jpg)
| Hindu deities and texts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gods |  | |
| Goddesses | ||
| Other deities | ||
| Texts (list) | ||