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Revision as of 21:19, 11 December 2006 by 80.7.144.65 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)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
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