Who is Valmiki, The Author of ‘The Ramayana’?

WHO IS VALMIKI,
THE AUTHOR OF ‘THE RAMAYANA’?

Dr. K. Avatara Sarma

Who wrote Ramayana in Sanskrit? Everybody’s answer is - ‘VALMIKI’. If we put this question directly to Ramayana itself, we get the answer doubly folded here under as follows:

‘Bhargavena Tapaswina’and ‘Bhargavena Mahatmana’which means the author of Ramayana is Bhargava, who is Tapaswin a sage as well as Mahatma. If we refer the same to our tradition, we will be in greater confusion as it propounds - ‘Vedah Prachetasadaseet Sakshad Ramayanatmana’- i.e.. Ramayana is the evolution of Veda in its real form from the pen of Prachetasa. It also reiterates - ‘Chakre’ Prachetasah Putrah - Tam Brahmapyanvamanyata’- It was written by the son of Prachetas and accepted by Brahma the God of creation. In this particular context Vishnpurana names him as ‘Rksha and describes him as Bhargava the son of Bhrugu* - as ‘R Kshobhud Bhargavastasmad’- During our search for internal evidence, we find another twist, when Rama visited the hermitage of Valmiki, Valmiki introduces himself as ‘Prachetasoham Dasamah Putrah’which means - ‘I am the tenth son of Prachetas’. This is his personal version. The sum-total of all these arguments will puzzle the average seeker here-under as follows-who is the real author of Ramayana? What is him name? Does he belong to Bhrugu’s family or family of Kiratas as tradition puts him? Or do all these names refer to the same person? If so how?

Sometimes we find clues to such puzzles in the puranic lore of the Sanskrit Literature. That is how the word - PURANA named so, which means literally, ‘Pura Api Navam’i.e., though old it looks ever new. If we read them again and again for several times, in every reading we find some new message or new interpretation or a suggested solution to a problem which we might, be experiencing in our daily life. That is the unique feature of the writings of our seers!

Now let us turn our attention to Vishnu Purana which says ‘R Kshobhud Bhargavastasmad Valmikirybhi dheeyate’. This means Ramayana was from R’Ksha, born in the family of Bhrugu, who was named as Valmiki.

We find more details in this matter from the ‘Uma-Samhita’ part of Skandapurana, in which a small story has been narrated: - ­Once sage Sanatkumara was discussing seriously about a ritual with Bhrugu. While the discussion was going on, Harita son of Bhrugu playing with a peacock went there frequently and interrupted the argument several times. Inspite of repeated warnings, he continued to disturb them badly. Then Sanatkumara couldn’t control his anger and cursed him to become Kirata. Under this influence Harita became Kirata and joined the kirata family - with R’ksha as his name. Later he was married and adopted robbery as his profession.

To this it is added - once he caught hold of some seers. They asked him - what he was doing in the presence of his fellow men, he replied:-­

‘Vane Charamah’ (We wander in the forests)
‘Vasu chaharamah’ (get wealth by robbery)
‘Nadeestaramah’ (cross the rivers)
‘Na Bhayam smaramah’ (Never think about fear)

Thus, while answering he uttered the two syllables ‘Ra’ and ‘Mah’, which form the ‘Taraka Mantra’, four times. Actually R’Ksha was not are of the greatness of Ramamantra. This astonished the seers. Unless he has some previous divine experience or God’s grace, such a sacred Mantra could not have occurred in one’s speech. By their divine vision, they knew, who he was, and why he became so. They convinced him and made him realise his sinful life and gave him initiation to Chant the Taraka Mantra in its reverse order as ‘Ma­-Ra’. During the period of his penance for several years bushes grew around him and white-ants built their abode ‘Valmika’ over him. Later he got eternal bliss along with revelation and realisation, and became a Maharishi. Then Prachetas the god of rains made him reveal from then onwards, he was named as Valmiki and Prachetasa. The ‘Bhruguvalli’, of Taittereyopanishad propounds Bhrugu as the son of Varuna the rain god who is otherwise named as prachetas.

On the basis of these arguments they is the plea that Valmiki was originally the son of Bhrugu and afterwards got converted as Kirata, under the influence of the curse of sage Sanatkumara and at last he could regain his status as Brahmarshi through his severe penance and was recognised by all. That is why Lakshmana, while introducing him to Sita says - “Sakha Paramako Vipro Valmikih’ Sumaha, yasah”. Here stress is given on the word ‘Paramako Viprah’which means ‘an extra ordinary Brahmin’. Not only Lakshmana but also Lord Brahma the god of creation, addresses him in the beginning as ‘Brahmin’! So says he -­

“Mat Chanda deva te Brahman!
            Pravartteyam Saraswathi”

Thus there is a theory that Valmiki was a Brahmin belonging to Bhrugu family. He was the grand son of Varuna and wrote the First poem in Sanskrit and became famous as ‘Adikavi’ – the first poet. He wrote the Ramayana according to a divine plan which is again a subject of deep discussion.

* The word Bhargava can also be dissolved as ‘Bhrugoh’ Gotrapatyam Puman - means a person born in Bhrugu’s Family

‘Bhrgurvei Varunigh’ - (Bhruguvalli)
‘Pracheta Vaeunah Pasih’ - (Amarakosa)