This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Chopper Dave (talk | contribs) at 02:06, 14 December 2006 (cleanup, removing all the information on the Ramayana as it's present in the Ramayana article). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 02:06, 14 December 2006 by Chopper Dave (talk | contribs) (cleanup, removing all the information on the Ramayana as it's present in the Ramayana article)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Template:IndicText Maharishi Valmiki (Sanskrit: वाल्मिकी, vālmikī) is the author of the Hindu epic Ramayana.
Background
Further information: RamayanaValmiki was born into the Naga clan
Valmiki wrote the first version of the Ramayana in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit. Astronomical analysis place 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 Yoga vasistha. 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 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.
Valmiki 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.
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 Valmiki 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.
References
- Benjamin Walker in “HINDU WORLD”
- Julia Leslie "Authority and Meaning in Indian Religions: Hinduism and the Case of Valmiki" 2004, ISBN 07-5463-430-2
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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