The first and most powerful poet, Lord Valmiki the ocean of compassion, is well known as the first poet of Sanskrit Literature. Valmiki is a famous composer of ‘The Ramayana’ in Sanskrit language. The Ramayana composed by Maharshi Valmiki is also known as ‘Valmiki Ramayana’. Ramayana is an epic that elaborates the truth, principles and duty through the story of Lord Rama. Valmiki is considered Hindu deity. And Valmiki Jayanti is celebrated in the honour of Maharshi Valmiki.
What are the other names of Valmiki?
Other names of Lord Valmiki are Trikaldarshi, Bhagwan, Maharishi, Gurudev, Brahmarshi.
What are the Scriptures of Lord Valmiki?
Ramayana, Yogavasistha, Akshar-Lakshya are the scriptures of Lord Valmiki.
Who and why is known as Adi Kavi?
Lord Valmiki is known as Aadi Kavi [the first poet] and as the grandfather of Sanskrit poetry. It is described that once Valmiki was looking at a pair of Krauncha [crane] birds. The couple was engrossed in courtship. Then, a fowler killed the male bird from this pair of love-making cranes. After this accident, the female bird started to moan. On hearing her lament, Valmiki’s compassion woke up and the following shloka automatically erupted from his mouth in a fluid state:
मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वंगमः शाश्वतीः समाः।
यत्क्रौंचमिथुनादेकं वधीः काममोहितम्॥
[O wicked one! you have killed a bird from a pair of crane birds that was engrossed in love. You will never get prestige.]
This was the first verse of the literature in Sanskrit composed by a human being and Lord Valmiki was the first poet by whom it was composed.
After this incident, Lord Valmiki. composed the famous epic “Ramayana” and became immortal as “Adikavi Valmiki” [The first poet Valmiki]. This epic is also known as “Valmiki Ramayana”.
Lord Valmiki as the First Teacher and Scientist:
He is called the first teacher of the world who gave the message of education to the world. He is also called Vigyan-Vishard [Scientist] who prepared Kush by putting life in the arms. This was the first scientific event in the world.
Lord Valmiki as the Master of the Three Word:
Mother Sita took shelter in the ashram of Lord Valmiki and got two sons there. Lord Valmiki ji got him to study the entire epic of The Ramayana, including the character of Sita Mata, to get them detailed knowledge of music and Vedas and provided weapons and missiles.
Due to Lord Valmiki’s education and artilleries Luv-Kush defeated King Rama’s army after catching the horse that was left by King Rama for Ashwamedha-Yajnya as a challenge. When King Ram asks Luv-Kush about them, who are they, then they reply, “We are the disciples of Lord Valmiki. We have received this knowledge and power from him only.” Then King Rama bowed down in praise of Lord Valmiki and said – “You are the master of the three worlds; You know the past, present and future; The whole world looks like a plum fruit on your palm.”
Lord Valmiki as the Master of Human Values:
The Ramayana, composed by Lord Valmiki, is the only scripture in the world that has influential ideals of human values. In Ramayana, Lord Valmiki wrote the sketch of Lord Ramana in 24000 verses. In Ramayana, he has established the moral Values. Elevated moral of each character makes a unique epic of the word. Moral of Ram as a son, a human being, a king, a husband etc is remarkable. Sketch of Sita has establish the moral values as a daughter, a wife, a queen, a mother for women.
Lord Valmiki as the Creator of the Word:
In his epic “Ramayana”, he has described the positions of Sun, Moon and other constellations at the time of many events. It is known from this that he was also a great scholar of astrology and astronomy. Lord Valmiki had complete knowledge of every event that happened in the life of “Shri Ram”. Valmiki is mentioned in the three periods of Satyug, Treta and Dwapar, hence Lord Valmiki is also called the creator.
During his exile, Lord Shri Ram also went to Valmiki’s ashram. According to Ramacharitmanas composed by Tulasidas, Shri Ram Visited Lord Valmiki’s ashram and he lay down like a stick on the ground to bow down at the feet of the first poet Valmiki. Then Lord Rama said to Lord Valmiki, “you are the Lord Himself who knows the three worlds. This world seems like a plum in your hands.”
Mention of Lord Valmiki in Mahabharata:
The description of Valmiki is also found in the Mahabharata period. When the Pandavas win the battle with the Kauravas, Draupadi holds a yajna, for which the blowing of the conch was necessary, but even after all efforts, including Krishna, the yajna is not successful, then everyone prays to Valmiki at the behest of Krishna. When Valmiki appears there, the conch shell itself sounds and Draupadi’s sacrifice is completed. This incident has also been clarified by Kabir.
Mention of Valmiki Ramayana in ancient texts:-
Maharishi Valmiki and his epic Ramayana are mentioned in many ancient texts like Agnipuran, Garuda Purana, Skanda Purana (Vaishnava section), Matsyapuran, Harivansh Purana (Vishnu Parva), Raghuvansham composed by the great poet Kalidas, Uttar Ramcharitam by Bhavabhuti, Brihaddhharma Purana. In the Brihadddharma Purana, this epic has been praised by saying “Kavya Bijam Sanatanam” that means poetry is the eternal cause.
Speciality of Valmiky Ramayana:
Valmiki Ramayana is a unique epic in terms of poetic qualities. Scholars are of the opinion that this epic is the basis for the definition of Sanskrit poetry. There have been many inspirational and path-breaking texts for his writing style in front of other composers, but there was no such composition in front of Maharishi Valmiki which could guide him. Therefore, this epic is completely his original work. In this epic, Maharishi Valmiki has rendered nature-illustration, dialogue-combination and theme in a unique style.
Plot of Valmiki Ramayana:
The plot of the Valmiki Ramayana weaves its fabric around Rama. Rama is the hero of this epic and Maharishi Valmiki portrays his character as a superman. In spite of being the owner of divine specialness and extraordinary qualities, Rama does not appear to be extra-human by any of his activities, his character has been done in the form of Purshottam [The best man]. Vaishnavi Shakti has been used while destroying the enemies. Vaishnavi Shakti has been used to build a bridge over the ocean. Hanuman’s glory is in removing Lakshman’s unconsciousness. In the entire epic, like human beings, Rama accomplishes all his works only with the cooperation of others.
Other Topics Covered by Maharshi Valmiki
Valmiki Ramayana has a detailed description of philosophy, politics, morality, governance efficiency, astronomy and psychology proves that Lord Valmiki was a scholar of various subjects and a great scholar.
Characters of other characters in Valmiki Ramayana:
In this epic, not only Rama and Sita, but the characters of other characters like Bharat, Laksmana, Shatrughna, Hanuman, Sugriva, Dasharatha, Kaushalya, Sumitra etc. have also been presented in a strong and inspiring form. Bharat’s sacrifice is wonderful. Hanuman’s devotion and Lakshman’s brother-love is remarkable. Sugriva’s friendship is exemplary.
Teachings of Valmiki Ramayana:
Valmiki Ramayana is filled with many kinds of teachings. The teachings of ‘fatherly devotion’, ‘fraternal love’, ‘Pativratya Dharma’, ‘obedience’, ‘promises’ and ‘truthfulness’ are learned from this epic.
Yogavashishtha Maharamayan:
Yogavashishtha Maharamayana is a very important text of Advaita Vedanta in Sanskrit literature. According to tradition, Adikavi Valmiki Yogavashishtha is considered to be the author of Maharamayana, but the real author is Vashishtha and Maharishi Valmiki is only the compiler of this theory book. In Yogvashistha Maharamayana, the existence of the world and the Supreme Being is presented through various illustrations. There is also a description of the quiz taken by Bharadwaj to attain salvation.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was greatly influenced by this book and he has praised it immensely.
Scholars are of the opinion that happiness and sorrow, old and death, life and world, matter and consciousness, world and hereafter, bondage and salvation, Brahman and soul, soul and God, self-knowledge and ignorance, true and non-existent, mind and senses, perception and lust (wish) etc.; there is hardly any book on these subjects. In it, there has been more serious thinking and subtle analysis than ‘Yoga Vishishta’. The only way to attain salvation is the destruction of attachment. In the Yogavasistha, the existence of the world and the Supreme Being is presented through various illustrations. Along with the representation of Purushartha and Tattva-knowledge, there is also a subtle discussion on scriptural virtue, sacrifice-dispassionate good deeds and ideal behavior etc.
Othe names of Yogavashishtha Maharamayan:
This book is also known by many other names, such as-
- Arsha-Ramayana
- Knowledgeable[3]
- Maharamayana
- Yogavasistha Maharamayana
- Yogavasistha Ramayana
- Vasistha-Gita
- Vasistha Ramayana
Structure of Yogavashishtha Maharamayan:
The Yoga Vishishtha Granth is complete in six episodes (458 cantos). The verse number of Yoga Vishishtha is 29 thousand. It is the fourth largest Hindu scripture after Mahabharata, Skanda Purana and Padma Purana.
- Vairagyaprakarana (33 cantos),
- Mumukshu Behavior Case (20 cantos),
- Genesis Episode (122 Canto),
- Status Case (Canto 62),
- Sublime Case (93 Canto), and
- Nirvana episode (early 128 cantos and second 216 cantos)
The total number of shlokas in it is 27687. Due to the fact that there are about four thousand more verses than Valmiki Ramayana, its ‘Maharamayana’ designation is completely meaningful. It does not contain the biography of Rama, but the spiritual teachings given by the Lord.
After the Upanayana ceremony in the first Vairagya episode, Rama went to the Gurukul with his brothers to study. On his return from the pilgrimage after the end of his studies, Rama became disillusioned. In the meeting of Maharaj Dasaratha, he says that what is the use of glory, kingdom, body and aspiration. Kaal is going to destroy all these in a few days. He prayed to his gurus Vasistha and Vishwamitra to get rid of his agony.
According to the information of Vishwamitra in the second Mumukshuvahaar episode, the sage Vashishtha has given a sermon. The origin, position and rhythm of the world are described in episodes 3-4 and 5. Many illustrative narratives and anecdotes have been requested in these types. The sixth episode is divided into the former and the latter. In this book, the way of attaining nirvana i.e. eternal bliss, has been proposed for the soul trapped in the world cycle.
Akshar Lakshya
Lord Valmiki also wrote a book called Akshar Lakshya. It was based on the discovery and formula of mathematics.
Conclusion:
Lord Valmiki is a remarkable personality. He is unique, worship-able and exemplary identity. His principles of life are evergreen. The standards established by him are followed even in this period. The descendant poets of Lord Valmiki took plots for their poetry and earned name and fame for them. Hence, his contribution in literature and culture cannot be penned.
Note: The facts for this article have been taken from various Sanskrit Texts and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valmiki .
