Maharishi Valmiki is one of the most celebrated
poets in Sanskrit literature, who gave us epic Ramayaṇa. He is revered as the Adi
Kavi, meaning First Poet, for inventing sloka (i.e. first verse or epic metre),
which set the base and defined the form of Sanskrit poetry.
What’s in a name: Valmiki means one born out of ant hills.
How Valmiki was born: According to Uttara Kanda, Valmiki was a highway robber named
Ratnakar, who used to rob people after killing them. One particular day, he
tried to rob Narada, who asked him if his family would share his sin of
robbery. The robber replied positively, but Narada told him to confirm this with
his family, who disagreed to share his sin. Ratnakar was dejected and asked
Narada for forgiveness. In turn, Narada taught him the mantra of salvation –
Rama – but in the phonetic anagram ‘Mara’ as he was not fit to receive the
mantra of salvation due to his wrong deeds. Valmiki chanted the mantra for
several years. Ant-hills grew around his body, until a divine voice declared
his penance successful and bestowed him the name of Valmiki – one born out of
ant-hills.
Valmiki’s Ramayana: The Ramayaṇa, originally written by Valmiki (dated from 500 BC to 100
BC,), consists of 23,000 slokas and 7 Kandas including the Uttara Kanda. It is
written in 480,002 words and narrates the story of Lord Rama of Ayodhya, whose
wife Sita is abducted by the demon-king of Lanka, Ravana.
It is also quoted that Sri Rama met Valmiki during
his period of exile and interacted with him. He also gave shelter to Sita when
Rama abandoned her and her sons Kusa and Lava were born in his shelter. Valmiki
taught Ramayaṇa to Kusa and Lava, who later sang the divine story in Ayodhya
during the Asvamedha yajna congregation.
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