The Curious Case Of Two Valmikis
Rishi Valmiki is known as Adi Kavi, the first poet, who composed the first mahakavya, epic, the Ramayana, that chronicles the life of Rama, prince of Ayodhya. In the final chapter of the epic, Uttara Kanda, we learn how he teaches the story to Luv and Kush, the sons of Sita and Rama, who are born in the forest after Sita is sent away from Ayodhya by Rama to avoid a royal scandal following public gossip casting aspersions on her character. Later, in the same chapter, Valmiki has a conversation with Rama, when he testifies to Seta’s purity. The Vedic Sanskrit used in the epic suggests it was composed over 2,000 years ago, describing events that took place 3,000 years ago, perhaps even earlier. we don’t know much about the Ratnakara who is forced by poverty to turn to robbery and is made to change his ways by sages, either the Spate Rishis, seven celestial sages-or by Nerada. He realises that the burden of his crime is his alone, and will not be shared by those who benefit from his crime. To help him out, the sages tell him the eternal story of Rama, this was narrated by Shiva to Shakti, and overheard by the crow Kakabhusandi. Impressed, Ratnakara wishes to be devotee of Rama. So the sages tell him to chant Rama's name. But Ratnakara's mind is so polluted by rage and suffering that he cannot pronounce Rama's name. So they tell him to say, 'Mara itself to become ra-ma, rama, Rama. He chants for so long, sitting so still, that a termite hill (Valmik) forms around him, and so when he emerges, everyone calls him Valmiki. This story of transformation is found in Skanda Purana as well as many regional and folk Ramayana’s. It has inspired many popular contemporary plays including the famous Amar Chitra Katha comics on the poet-sage, and teleserials like Upanishad Ganga. The point of this story was to show that how in the bhakti era anyone could benefit from Vedic knowledge, how even a robber could become a sage. Wait a second, are we the speaking tree referring to one Valmiki or come from different eras of Hindu the former from the post-BuddhisEpic Age, and the latter from the Bhakti era. They are separated byyears. They most probably refer Toto tally different people. While many assume the two are the same, others-especially whosRishi Valmiki as their patron saininsist they are two different storyland feel it is insulting to poet-sage Valmiki to be called a reformed iswhat is the truth? In a world of diverse storyteller have to respect the views of the faithful, and avoid the tendency to one truth ("my truth is the truth")especially in matters of faith, that causes hurt to one community. Thirespect for multiple truths lies at heart of Hinduism.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Devdutt Pattanaik and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Devdutt Pattanaik and Speaking Tree,Times of India
The Curious Case Of Two Valmikis
Rishi Valmiki is known as Adi Kavi, the first poet, who composed the first mahakavya, epic, the Ramayana, that chronicles the life of Rama, prince of Ayodhya. In the final chapter of the epic, Uttara Kanda, we learn how he teaches the story to Luv and Kush, the sons of Sita and Rama, who are born in the forest after Sita is sent away from Ayodhya by Rama to avoid a royal scandal following public gossip casting aspersions on her character. Later, in the same chapter, Valmiki has a conversation with Rama, when he testifies to Seta’s purity. The Vedic Sanskrit used in the epic suggests it was composed over 2,000 years ago, describing events that took place 3,000 years ago, perhaps even earlier. we don’t know much about the Ratnakara who is forced by poverty to turn to robbery and is made to change his ways by sages, either the Spate Rishis, seven celestial sages-or by Nerada. He realises that the burden of his crime is his alone, and will not be shared by those who benefit from his crime. To help him out, the sages tell him the eternal story of Rama, this was narrated by Shiva to Shakti, and overheard by the crow Kakabhusandi. Impressed, Ratnakara wishes to be devotee of Rama. So the sages tell him to chant Rama's name. But Ratnakara's mind is so polluted by rage and suffering that he cannot pronounce Rama's name. So they tell him to say, 'Mara itself to become ra-ma, rama, Rama. He chants for so long, sitting so still, that a termite hill (Valmik) forms around him, and so when he emerges, everyone calls him Valmiki. This story of transformation is found in Skanda Purana as well as many regional and folk Ramayana’s. It has inspired many popular contemporary plays including the famous Amar Chitra Katha comics on the poet-sage, and teleserials like Upanishad Ganga. The point of this story was to show that how in the bhakti era anyone could benefit from Vedic knowledge, how even a robber could become a sage. Wait a second, are we the speaking tree referring to one Valmiki or come from different eras of Hindu the former from the post-BuddhisEpic Age, and the latter from the Bhakti era. They are separated byyears. They most probably refer Toto tally different people. While many assume the two are the same, others-especially whosRishi Valmiki as their patron saininsist they are two different storyland feel it is insulting to poet-sage Valmiki to be called a reformed iswhat is the truth? In a world of diverse storyteller have to respect the views of the faithful, and avoid the tendency to one truth ("my truth is the truth")especially in matters of faith, that causes hurt to one community. Thirespect for multiple truths lies at heart of Hinduism.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Devdutt Pattanaik and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Devdutt Pattanaik and Speaking Tree,Times of India