| Revision as of 12:29, 11 December 2006 view sourceBharatveer (talk | contribs)4,593 edits rv to last pov-less version← Previous edit | Revision as of 21:19, 11 December 2006 view source 80.7.144.65 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
| '''] Valmiki''' (]: वाल्मिकी, ''vālmikī'') is the author of the ] epic ]. | '''] Valmiki''' (]: वाल्मिकी, ''vālmikī'') is the author of the ] epic ]. | ||
| Benjamin Walker in “HINDU WORLD” an Encyclopedia Survey of Hinduism believes that Bhagwan Valmik was of the Naga or Pre-Aryan birth. The Nagas were the indigenous population of India. Valmikis believe that they are the decendents of Nagas. | |||
| The story of Valmiki is steeped in legend. One version has it that Valmiki was originally a ] dacoit called Ratna who haunted the forests and preyed upon the unwary travellers. One day a sage called ] passed through the forest. Ratna saw him and immediately attacked him. Narada asked him why he did his foul deeds to which Ratna replied that it was to take care of his family, which consisted of his aged parents, wife and children. The sage then wanted to know if they would be willing to share in the punishment for his misdeeds. Ratna was sure they would but the sage advised him to go and ask them. Ratna tied the sage to a tree and ran home to ask his family if they would share in his punishments. His family replied in the negative, saying that it was Ratna's duty to take care of them and they were not responsible for the path he chose to do so. Disappointed, Ratna returned to the forest and confessed to the sage. The sage told him to repent for his sins and to stop his evil ways and to chant the name of Lord ]. Legend has it that Valmiki meditated in one place till an ant-hill formed on top of him without him realising it. Hence the name Valmiki (from 'Valmik' which means ant-hill in ]). Valmiki became a maharishi (great sage). | |||
| 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. | |||
| There is another legend behind his writing the Ramayana. According to this legend, Valmiki was in the forest one day, when a hunter shot a bird. Valmiki was so touched by the pain of the bird that he composed and sang a sad song. ] was greatly moved by the touching song. He appeared before Valmiki and asked him to compose the life of Sri Rama in a similar verse. | |||
| 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. | |||
| Brahma gave the gift of insight of Sri Rama's life to Valmiki. Valmiki began to compose the great eternal song and poem of the life of Sri Rama—The Ramayana. Valmiki's Ramayana is the very first poem in Sanskrit. Therefore, it is called the ''Adikavya'' or "The first poem" and Valmiki is also known as the ''Adikavi'', which means "The first poet". | |||
| 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. | |||
| Through-out Valmiks Ramayana, Rama is portrayed as a 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. | |||
| The perspective of the Vamiki community is one which believes that indeed Rama was a king and therefore differs from the vast majority of Hindus. | |||
| 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. | |||
| Legend has it that it was Maharshi Valmiki who offered refuge to ] the wife of Lord Rama, and the queen of Ayodhya when she was banished from the kingdom. It was in his hermitage in the forest that Rama and Sita's twin sons ] and ] were born and brought up. | |||
| 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". | 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". | ||
Revision as of 21:19, 11 December 2006
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 or Pre-Aryan birth. The Nagas were the indigenous population of India. 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 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.
Through-out Valmiks Ramayana, Rama is portrayed as a 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.
The perspective of the Vamiki community is one which believes that indeed Rama was a king and therefore differs from the vast majority of Hindus.
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".
References
For more information about the Valmiki community please visit the following website:www.bhagwanvalmiki.com
External links
- 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
.jpg)
