Valmiki Jayanti

Maharishi Valmiki has a special place among the great sages of the Vedic period. He was born on the full moon day of Ashwin month. Maharishi Valmiki composed Ramayana in Sanskrit. He was the first poet who composed the epic poem Ramayana in Sanskrit and hence he became famous as Adi Kavi. Maharishi Valmiki's birthday is celebrated as Valmiki Jayanti. On this day, programs are organized at many religious places and tableaux are displayed. The religious book epic Ramayana is read and Maharishi Valmiki is worshipped. On this day, the story of Maharishi Valmiki is also recited.

Life of Maharishi Valmiki ji

In Valmiki Ramayana, Valmiki ji, while introducing himself, has described himself as the son of Pracheta. It is also said in Manusmriti – ‘Prachetsam Vasistham Cha Bhrigun Naradmev Cha’ i.e. Pracheta has been said to be the brother of poets like Vasistha, Narad, Pulastya etc.In the Vaishakh mahatmya of Skanda Purana, he has been described as a hunter of other births. This proves that he was a vyadha in his previous birth. Even before the birth of Vyadha, there was a Shrivatsgotri Brahmin named Stambh. In his last birth, due to the satsang of Shankha Rishi and chanting of Ram's name, he became 'Agni Sharma ( Ratnakar from matantar ) in his second birth. There too, Valmiki was associated with the vyadhas, and he started engaging in vyadha activities. One day Valmiki got the company of seven sages. The seven sages gave him the mantra to leave his hunting duties and chant the name of Ram and after describing the glory of devotion to Ram, showed him the path of devotion to Ram. Valmiki ji was so much involved in hunting that the words 'Mara-Mara' were coming out of his mouth again and again instead of 'Ram Ram'. Hearing the chanting of the word Mara-Mara from Valmiki's mouth, the sages smiled and then he said that you should only chant the word Mara-Mara and meditate on the form of Ram, only from this you will find Ram. Valmiki ji started chanting the word Mara-Mara as per the advice of the sages. Valmiki ji became so engrossed in chanting this word that the word 'mara mara' changed into the word 'Ram Ram' and even termite insects settled on him. In this way, due to devotion to Ram, Valmiki ji's life as a hunter was transformed into that of a great sage. By merely chanting the name of Ram, Valmiki ji became such a great sage and he composed a great book like Ramayana.

How did Maharishi Valmiki get the name Valmiki?

In ancient times, there was a Bhriguvanshi Brahmin named Sumati, his wife was the daughter of Kaushikvansh. After some time, Sumati had a son, whom the couple lovingly named Agni Sharma. Sumati Brahmin had brought up her son with great pampering but due to excessive pampering, her son had become stubborn. He always worked as per his wish.

Father Sumati asked him many times to practice the Vedas but he did not like reading and practicing the Vedas.

Once upon a time, there was no rain for a long time in the kingdom of Brahmin Sumati. Due to lack of rain in that kingdom, it became dry. Due to famine, the people there became restless and started migrating to other places. Brahmin Sumati also started living in an ashram in the forest of Vidisha along with his wife and son. But there also lived a group of robbers in that forest who earned their living by looting the passers.

Brahmin Sumati's son Agnisharma joined those robbers, hence Agnisharma, like those robbers, used to rob and kill passers. With the passage of time, Agni Sharma made this work his means of livelihood and he kept getting trapped in the quagmire of this sinful act every day. Agni Sharma got so trapped in the quagmire of sinful deeds that he even forgot his brahminhood, gotra and knowledge of the Vedas.

Once upon a time, the seven sages who observed the Uttam fast during a pilgrimage, passed through a forest where Agnisharma was waiting for the passers with the intention of looting. Seeing those seven sages, the robber Agnisharma was happy and taking the opportunity, Agnisharma started looting.

Then the Saptarishis appealed to the robber Agnisharma and said, 'Vatsa, we are ascetics and are going on a pilgrimage, how did the thought of robbing us ascetics or tormenting us come into your mind?

Hearing such statements of the Saptarishis, Agnisharma said that sages, this looting is our means of livelihood and on the basis of this looting I support my parents and my family.

Hearing such statements of Agnisharma, the seven sages explained to him and said, O Vatsa! Looting and killing someone for one's livelihood is absolutely sinful.

While explaining to Agnisharma, the sages asked him a very powerful question, Vatsa, who will take a share in the sins that are being accumulated due to such sinful acts of yours, your parents or your family?

Impressed by such question of the sages, Agnisharma immediately went to his home and asked his parents, O father! I feed you all by looting, but the sins that have been accumulated by committing sins like looting. Will you also be a part of it?

Hearing such a question from the son, the parents immediately refused. Then he went to his family (wife and son) with the hope that my wife and son would definitely take part in my sinful deeds. Agnisharma asked the same question to his wife but the wife also clearly refused. After that he went to his son and asked him the above question, to which the son replied in a very polite and innocent manner that father, I am still a child. What do I have to do with the sins you have accumulated? Why should I become a partaker of those sins?

Hearing such answers from his parents, wife and son, Agnisharma became completely distraught and from there he lost all his attachment to Maya and his family.There he gave up all his weapons with which he had killed many creatures and repenting of his sins, he again reached the ascetics in the forest and in mourning, placed his head at the feet of the ascetics and said, O sages! I have no one in this world, neither my parents nor my wife and son for whom I have accumulated sins by committing so many sins, hence I have abandoned them all forever.

In this way, with a humble request, Agni Sharma told the ascetics that I have come to you for shelter, so please provide me shelter and save me from hell by giving good advice.

On the request of Agni Sharma, the ascetics said to Atri Muni, O Mune! He has gained knowledge from your words, hence you please bless him and he becomes your disciple.

Atri ji said to Agni Sharma – You sit under this tree and meditate. By doing this meditation and chanting the Maha mantra in the name of Ram, you will attain ultimate success. Saying this, all the sages went to their respective places. Agni Sharma remained engaged in meditation and yoga as per the advice of the sage for 13 years. Agni Sharma remained engaged in meditation in such a way that termite anthills settled on him. After 13 years, when those Saptarishis returned again on the same route, they heard the sound of Ram naam being pronounced from Valmik. This astonished him greatly. saptrishis dug out the anthill with wooden nails, looked at Agni Sharma and picked it up. He got up and bowed to all those great sages. And said thus - 'Sages! Today I have gained auspicious knowledge from your blessings. I was drowning in sin, you saved me.

Hearing this from him, the supremely virtuous Saptarishi said – Vatsa! You have been sitting single-mindedly in Valmiki (Bambi) for a long time, hence your name on this earth will be 'Valmiki'. Saying this, the ascetic started towards his direction. After his departure, Valmiki, the best among the ascetic people, came to Kushasthali and worshiped Mahadev Ji and after getting poetic power from him, he composed a beautiful poem, which is called 'Ramayana' and which is considered to be the first in fiction.

Importance of Valmiki Jayanti

Valmiki Jayanti has special significance in Sanatan Dharma, Maharishi Valmiki had obtained the power of poetry from Mahadev ji by doing severe penance and with that power he composed a captivating poem like Ramayana. Therefore, the person who listens to the story of Valmiki Ji and worships him on Valmiki Jayanti, gets the power of poetry by the grace of Valmiki Ji.

Valmiki Jayanti

Valmiki Jayanti

Life of Maharishi Valmiki ji

How did Maharishi Valmiki get the name Valmiki?

Importance of Valmiki Jayanti

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