WHO IS VALMIKI

     

BLOG NO. 1

All mythologies of the world be they Indian, Greek, Somali, Egyptian, Chinese, Aztec, or Mayan contain detailed narratives of past eras. These descriptions are not merely mythical tales but serve as a kind of historical record for those times. History, as a discipline, seeks to understand the past and its influence on the present and future. It is generally divided into two parts: History and Prehistory.

History relies on written records, artifacts from excavations, and monuments, while Prehistory is primarily reconstructed through archaeology and anthropology. Increasingly, scholars are using scientific tools such as geological and geographical surveys, along with insights from the natural and social sciences, to explore and interpret the lives of pre-literate and non-literate societies.

In this context, the Valmiki Ramayana stands out as a valuable source that blends mythology, historical narrative, and spiritual wisdom. Before exploring its deeper mysteries, it is important to understand some foundational aspects.

The Life of Sage Valmiki

The Valmiki Ramayana was authored by Sage Valmiki, who is revered as the Ādi Kavi (the first poet). Originally born as a Brahmin named Lohajangha, he led a virtuous life with his wife and parents. However, during a devastating twelve-year drought in the region of Anarta, he took to robbing travellers in the forest to feed his starving family.

During this period, Lohajangha encountered the Saptarishis (seven sages). Attempting to rob them, he was instead met with compassion. They helped him realize the futility of his actions. One of the sages gave him a mantra to meditate upon. So deeply absorbed did he become in his penance that anthills (Valmikas) formed around his body. When the sages returned and heard the mantra still echoing from within the anthill, they blessed him and said, “Because you attained enlightenment while seated inside a Valmika, you will henceforth be known as Valmiki.”

                                 Valmiki in meditation in the ant hill -  AI generated

The Composition of the Ramayana

Valmiki composed the Ramayana, a Sanskrit epic consisting of 24,000 shlokas (verses) spread across seven kāṇḍas (cantos). Scholars estimate that it was composed between the 8th and 4th century BCE, though the exact date remains uncertain. Valmiki is also credited with composing the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha, another profound philosophical work.

In the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha, Sage Vāsiṣṭha serves as the teacher, and Lord Rama is the seeker. Rama, filled with vairāgya (dispassion) after returning from a pilgrimage, asks 36,000 questions that form the foundation of the text. This is interesting because, in the Bhagavad Gita a dialogue from the Mahabharata Lord Krishna teaches Arjuna. In both texts, divine incarnations serve as seekers of knowledge, which raises an intriguing question:

Why would Lord Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, need to seek knowledge?

The Three Curses of Vishnu

The Yoga Vāsiṣṭha provides an explanation. Lord Rama, despite being an avatar of Vishnu, was bound by three curses that rendered him ignorant in his human form. Here is the story behind each curse:

1. The Curse of Sanatkumara
   In Brahmapuri, Sanatkumara was seated in Brahma’s court when Lord Vishnu entered. While everyone rose in reverence, Sanatkumara remained seated. Vishnu noted this and remarked that pride in being passionless would one day lead Sanatkumara to misery, and that he would be reborn as Swami Kartik. In response, Sanatkumara cursed Vishnu: “You take pride in being all-knowing. You shall become ignorant and live like an ordinary mortal.”
2. The Curse of Rishi Bhrigu
   When the wife of Rishi Bhrigu went missing, he was heartbroken. Lord Vishnu laughed at Bhrigu’s condition. Enraged, Bhrigu cursed him:
   “You mocked my pain. You too will suffer the agony of being separated from your wife.”
3. The Curse of Devasharma
   Narasimha Avatar is the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, depicted as a half-man, half-lion figure. As Narasimha, a terrifying form of Vishnu, he playfully frightened the wife of Devasharma, who was bathing on the banks of the Ganga. She died of shock. Devasharma cursed him:
   “You have taken my beloved from me. You too will face separation from your wife.”

These three curses explain why Rama, as Vishnu incarnate, experienced ignorance and suffering key themes in the Ramayana.

Valmiki's Mysterious Presence Across Yugas

Valmiki is not just the narrator of the Ramayana; he is also a character within it. When Sita was exiled by Rama while pregnant, she found refuge in Valmiki's ashram, where she gave birth to Lava and Kusha. Valmiki became their teacher and taught them the Ramayana, which they later sang in Rama’s court unaware that the story was about their own father.

This raises a metaphysical question: How can the author be a character in his own epic?

Even more mysteriously, Valmiki appears in the Mahabharata, several millennia later. He is listed among the sages who visited Yudhishthira after the war and is noted to have extolled the virtues of worshipping Lord Shiva.

According to the Vishnudharmottara Purana, Valmiki was an incarnation of Brahma born in the Treta Yuga. The text states that those who desire knowledge should worship Valmiki himself.

Conclusion

The Ramayana is not just a tale of heroism and virtue but a profound spiritual and philosophical text. Its mysteries ranging from divine curses to reincarnation, from cosmic time cycles to the blending of myth and history invite deeper contemplation. Sage Valmiki, its author and one of its characters, transcends time and defies ordinary logic, adding to the wonder of this ancient epic.

In studying the Valmiki Ramayana, one does not merely read a story, but embarks on a journey through time, philosophy, and cosmic design

To be continued …

In the next Blog we will talk about the creation of the universe, creation of planet Earth and the Moon.