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Maharishi Valmiki (Sanskrit: वाल्मिकी, vālmikī) is the author of the Hindu epic Ramayana. He was the tenth child of Pracheta.

Contents 1 Background 2 Legend of Valmiki 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

Further information: Ramayana

The Rāmāyaṇa, for which Valmiki is famously known for composing, consists of 24,000 verses^[1] in seven cantos (kāṇḍas) and tells the story of a prince, Rama of Ayodhya, whose wife Sita is abducted by the demon (Rākshasa) king of Lanka, Rāvana. In its current form, the Valmiki Ramayana is dated variously from 500 BC to 100 BC, or about co-eval to early versions of the Mahabhārata.^[2] As with most traditional epics, since it has gone through a long process of interpolations and redactions, it is impossible to date it accurately.

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.^[3]

At his hermitage he taught both males and females. He gave Sita shelter after her banishment from Ayodhya.

Valmiki was from a Kirata Bhil community. Valmiki Muni was from a backward caste community and his name before he became the Adi-Kavi (prime poet) who recorded the Ramayana, he was Vailya. He was trained by the divine sage Narad, who is the son of Brahma and the prime devotee of Vishnu.

Valmiki once asked Narada, "O Venerable Rishi! Please tell me whether there is a perfect man in this world who is at once virtuous, brave, dutiful, truthful, noble, steadfast in duty, and kind to all beings"^[4].

Narada replied, "There is such a one, a prince of Ikshvaku's line named Rama. He is virtuous, brave, gentle, and wise. He is a great hero. He loves his subjects immensely. He is a protector of Dharma. He is firm and steadfast. He is just and liberal. He is well-versed in the Vedas and in the science of arms. He is unique in the possession of virtues and matchless in beauty. He is an obedient son, a kind brother, loving husband, a faithful friend, an ideal king, a merciful enemy, and a lover of all living beings. All people adore him."

Some have believed that Valmiki was to have been born into the Naga clan^[5].

1. ^ About 480,002 words, or a quarter of the length of the full text of the Mahabharata, or about four times the length of the Iliad.
2. ^ Goldman, Robert P., The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India pp. 23
3. ^ Julia Leslie "Authority and Meaning in Indian Religions: Hinduism and the Case of Valmiki" 2004, ISBN 07-5463-430-2
4. ^ Ramayana Origins
5. ^ Benjamin Walker Hindu World

• Ramayana
• Backward-caste Hindu Saints

• Valmiki biography webpage
• Valmiki's story according to Puranas
• Ramayana text with meaning.

The Rāmāyaņa by Valmiki
Characters
Dasaratha | Kausalya | Sumitra | Kaikeyi | Janaka | Manthara | Rama | Bharata | Lakshmana | Shatrughna | Sita | Urmila | Mandavi | Shrutakirti | Viswamitra | Ahalya | Jatayu | Sampati | Hanuman | Sugriva | Vali | Angada | Jambavantha | Vibhishana | Tataka | Surpanakha | Maricha | Subahu | Khara | Ravana | Kumbhakarna | Mandodari | Mayasura | Indrajit | Prahasta | Akshayakumara | Atikaya | Lava | Kusha
Other
Ayodhya | Mithila | Lanka | Sarayu | Treta Yuga | Raghuvamsa | Lakshman Rekha | Aditya Hridayam | Oshadhiparvata | Sundara Kanda | Pushpaka Vimana | Vedavati | Vanara
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Hinduism | Hindu mythology | Indian epic poetry
Female Deities: Saraswati | Lakshmi | Dakshayani | Gayatri | Parvati | Durga | Shakti | Kali | Sita | Devi | Radha | Mahavidya | more...
Male Deities: Brahma | Vishnu | Shiva | Rama | Krishna | Ganesha | Murugan | Hanuman | Indra | Surya | more...
Texts: Vedas | Upanishads | Puranas | Ramayana | Mahabharata | Rigveda
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