Valmiki

Maharishi Valmiki
Maharishi Valmiki
	Maharishi Valmiki composing the Ramayana.
Philosophy	Religious movement called Valmikism is based on Valmiki's teachings.
Titles/honors	Revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka.
	Composed Ramayana

Maharishi Valmiki (Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि, vālmīki) (during Lord Rama's time)^[1] is celebrated as the poet harbinger in Sanskrit literature. He is the author of the epic Ramayana, based on the attribution in the text of the epic itself.^[2] He is revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka i.e. first verse, which set the base and defined the form to Sanskrit poetry.

At least by the 1st century AD, Valmiki's reputation as the father of Sanskrit classical poetry seems to have been legendary.

Role in Ramayana

Valmiki played an important role in Uttara Kanda, the last chapter of epic Ramayana. It is believed that The Uttara Kanda was not original work of Valmiki. It is believed to be taken up from Sesha Ramayana. According to the legend Rama send Sita to forest. Sita finds refuge in Sage Valmiki's ashram, where she gives birth to twin boys Lava (founder of Lahore) and Kusha (founder of Kasur) . Lava and Kusha were Valmiki's first disciples to whom he taught the Ramayana. Bala Kanda of the epic also telling the story of Valmiki narrating the Ramayana to his disciples Lava and Kusha.^[3]

Valmiki Media

The youthful sage Narada at the white-bearded Valmiki's hermitage
Rama with Sita on the throne, their children Lava and Kusha on their laps. Behind the throne, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna stand. Hanuman bows to Rama before the throne. Valmiki to the left.
India, Himachal Pradesh, Kangra, circa 1820*Drawings; watercolors*Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper*Gift of Jane Greenough Green in memory of Edward Pelton Green (AC1999.127.45)*South and Southeast Asian Art

Related pages

References

Notes

↑ Julia Leslie, Authority and Meaning in Indian Religions: Hinduism and the Case of Valmiki, Ashgate (2003), p. 154. ISBN 0754634310
↑ Vālmīki, Robert P. Goldman (1990). The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India. Vol. 1. Princeton University Press. pp. 14–15. ISBN 069101485X.
↑ Rao, T. S. Sha ma; Litent (2014-01-01). Lava Kusha. Litent.

Others

Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola

[1] Julia Leslie, Authority and Meaning in Indian Religions: Hinduism and the Case of Valmiki, Ashgate (2003), p. 154. ISBN 0754634310

[Golgman1-2] Vālmīki, Robert P. Goldman (1990). The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India. Vol. 1. Princeton University Press. pp. 14–15. ISBN 069101485X.

[3] Rao, T. S. Sha ma; Litent (2014-01-01). Lava Kusha. Litent.

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