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{{short description|Legendary Indian poet, author of the Ramayana}}
{{about|the Indian sage|the Indian caste community|Valmiki caste|other uses}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| honorific-prefix = [[Maharishi]]
| works              = ''[[Ramayana]]''<br>''[[Yoga Vasistha]]''<br>[[Valmiki Samhita]]
| birth_name         = 
| image              = Valmiki Ramayana.jpg
| religion           = [[Hinduism]]
| caption            = Sage Valmiki composing the ''[[Ramayana]]''
| title              =
| known_for          = Composing the ''Ramayana''<br>[[Guru]] of [[Lava (Ramayana)|Lava]] and [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kusha]]<br>[[Avatar]] of [[Brahma]]
| movement           = [[Dharmic]] movement called [[Balmiki sect|Valmikism]] is based on Valmiki's teachings
| father             = 
| honors             = {{Plainlist|
* Adi Kavi
* Maharishi
}}
| lineage            = Rama Mantraraj<ref>{{cite book|author=Srinivasha Shastri|title=Ramayana of Valmiki-With Three Ancient Commentaries-: Tilaka of Rama, Ramayanasiromani of Sivasahaya and Bhusana of Govindaraja|url=https://archive.org/details/ValmikiRamayanaWithThreeCommentaries/page/n28/mode/1up?view=theater|pages=9}}</ref> (mentioned by Govindaraja)
}}

'''Valmiki''' ({{IPAc-en|v|ɑː|l|ˈ|m|iː|k|i}};<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/valmiki "Valmiki"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305015729/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/valmiki |date=5 March 2016 }}. ''[[Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary]]''.</ref> {{langx|sa|वाल्मीकि|Vālmīki}}, {{IPA|sa|ʋɑːlmiːki|}}){{efn-ua|Valmiki is also known by devotees as Balmiki, Lal Beg and Bala Shah.<ref name="ISD2000"/><ref name="O'Brien2006">{{cite book |last1=O'Brien |first1=John |title=The Construction of Pakistani Christian Identity |date=2006 |publisher=Research Society of Pakistan |isbn=978-969-425-096-0 |page=125 |language=en}}</ref>}} was a legendary poet who is celebrated as the traditional author of the epic ''[[Ramayana]]'', based on the attribution in the text itself.<ref name="ISD2000">{{cite book |title=Encyclopaedia of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes |date=2000 |publisher=Institute for Sustainable Development |isbn=978-81-261-0655-4 |page=479 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Golgman1">{{cite book | author = Valmiki, Robert P. Goldman | title = {{IAST|The Ramayana of Valmiki}}: An Epic of Ancient India | volume = 1 | publisher = Princeton University Press | year = 1990 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/ramayanaofva01valm/page/14 14–15] | isbn = 0-691-01485-X | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/ramayanaofva01valm/page/14 }}</ref> He is revered as ''Ādi Kavi'', the first poet, author of ''Ramayana'', the first epic poem.

The ''Ramayana'', originally written by Valmiki, consists of 24,000 [[shloka]]s and seven [[canto]]s (kaṇḍas).<ref>{{cite web |title=Valmiki Ramayan |url=https://valmikiramayan.net/ |website=valmikiramayan.net |publisher=Desiraju Hanumanta Rao & K. M. K. Murthy |access-date=11 May 2020 |archive-date=13 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913082833/https://www.valmikiramayan.net/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The {{IAST|Ramayana}} is composed of about 480,002 words, being a quarter of the length of the full text of the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' or about four times the length of the ''[[Iliad]]''. The ''Ramayana'' tells the story of a prince, [[Rama]] of the city of [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]] in the [[Kosala|Kingdom of Kosala]], whose wife [[Sita]] is abducted by [[Ravana]], the demon-king ([[Rakshasa]]) of [[Lanka]]. The scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th to 4th centuries BCE,{{sfn|Goldman|1984|p=20–22}}<ref name="Mumbai mirror">{{cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/was-ram-born-in-ayodhya/articleshow/77380259.cms|title=Was Ram born in Ayodhya|first=Devdutt|last=Pattanaik|website=mumbaimirror|date=8 August 2020|access-date=8 August 2020|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814150318/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/was-ram-born-in-ayodhya/articleshow/77380259.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> and later stages extending up to the 3rd century CE,<ref name="Brockington1998">{{cite book|author=J. L. Brockington|title=The Sanskrit Epics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HR-_LK5kl18C&pg=PA379|year=1998|publisher=BRILL|isbn=90-04-10260-4|pages=379–}}</ref> although original date of composition is unknown. As with many traditional epics, it has gone through a process of interpolations and redactions, making it impossible to date accurately.

British satirist [[Aubrey Menen]] says that Valmiki was "recognized as a literary genius," and thus was considered, "an outlaw," presumably because of his "[[philosophic scepticism]],"<ref>Menen, Aubrey (1954). "Introduction", ''The Ramayana'', p.4. Charles Scribner's Sons: New York. {{pre-ISBN}}. {{LCCN|54035716}}.</ref> as part of an "Indian Enlightenment" period.<ref>Menen (1954). "The Indian Enlightenment", p.9.</ref> Valmiki is also quoted as being the contemporary of Rama. Menen claims Valmiki is "the first author in all history to bring himself into his own composition."<ref>Menen (1954). "The Heritage of the Gluttons", p.81.</ref>

== Early life ==
[[File:Narada visits Valmiki.jpg|thumb|250px|The youthful sage [[Narada]] at the white-bearded Valmiki's hermitage]]
According to scriptures, Valmiki has a mythological origin, according to which he is the tenth son of the god [[Varuna]], born after Varuna's seed fell into a termite hill, which earned him the name of "Valmiki".<ref>Puranic Encyclopedia: a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature, Vettam Mani, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1975, p. [https://archive.org/stream/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft#page/822/mode/2up 822].</ref> In his youth, Valmiki once met the great sage [[Narada]] and had a discourse with him on his duties. Moved by Narada's words, Valmiki began to perform penance and chanted the word "Mara" which meant "die". As he performed his penance for several years, the word became "Rama",{{efn|"mara" repeated several times is -maramaramaramaramaramaramara- which may be read - as well as pronounced - as ramaramaramaramaramaramarama.}} a name of the god Vishnu. 

There also exist some legends about Valmiki having been a thief before turning into a rishi. The Nagara Khanda of the [[Skanda Purana]] in its section on the creation of Mukhara Tirtha mentions that Valmiki was born a [[Brahmin]], with the name of Lohajangha and was a devoted son to his parents. He had a beautiful wife and both of them were faithful to each other. Once, when there was no rain in the region of [[Anarta]], for twelve long years, Lohajangha, for the sake of his hungry family, started robbing people that he found in the forest. In the course of this life he met the seven sages or the [[Saptarishi]] and tried to rob them as well. But the learned sages felt pity on him and showed him the folly of his ways. One of them, [[Pulaha]] gave him a Mantra to meditate upon and the Brahmin turned thief got so engrossed in its recitation that ant-hills came up around his body. When the sages returned and heard the sound of the mantra coming from the ant-hill, they blessed him and said, "Since you achieved great Siddhi seated within a Valmīka (an anthill), you will become well-known in the world as Vālmīki."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Skanda Purana, Nagara Khanda, Chapter 124, Creation of Mukhara Tirtha|url=https://cloudup.com/cYfWSvnuieF|access-date=8 May 2020|archive-date=15 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315224838/https://cloudup.com/cYfWSvnuieF|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Skanda Purana, Part 17, (Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Series, Vol. LXV)|url=https://www.abebooks.fr/Skanda-Purana-Part-Ancient-Indian-Tradition/7588930100/bd|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.|year=2002|page=506|access-date=8 May 2020|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030215237/https://www.abebooks.fr/Skanda-Purana-Part-Ancient-Indian-Tradition/7588930100/bd|url-status=live}}</ref>

== The first shloka ==
[[File:A fowler kills a bird and the cry of its mate gives Valmiki the measures in which he composes the "Ramayana".jpg|thumb|A fowler kills a bird and the cry of its mate gives Valmiki the measures in which he composes the Ramayana|left]]
[[File:An illustration to a Ramayana series Valmiki and the death of the Sarus crane, India, Kangra circa 1775-1800.jpg|thumb|Valmiki and the death of the Sarus crane]]



Valmiki was going to the river Ganges for his daily ablutions. A disciple by the name [[Bharadwaja]] was carrying his clothes. On the way, they came across the [[Tamsa river|Tamasa]] Stream. Looking at the stream, Valmiki said to his disciple, "Look, how clear is this water, like the mind of a good man! I will bathe here today." When he was looking for a suitable place to step into the stream, he saw a [[Crane (bird)|crane]] couple mating. Valmiki felt very pleased on seeing the happy birds. Suddenly, hit by an arrow, the male bird died on the spot. Filled by sorrow, its mate screamed in agony and died of shock. Valmiki's heart melted at this pitiful sight. He looked around to find out who had shot the bird. He saw a hunter with a bow and arrows, nearby. Valmiki became very angry. His lips opened and he cried out,

{{poemquote|
मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः।
यत्क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकमवधीः काममोहितम्॥'

''mā niṣāda pratiṣṭhā tvamagamaḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ''
''yat krauñcamithunādekam avadhīḥ kāmamohitam''<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rys/rys1002.htm Sacred-Texts.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207161728/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rys/rys1002.htm |date=7 December 2016 }} IAST encoded transliteration (modified from original source to accurately reflect sandhi rules)</ref>

You will find no rest for the long years of Eternity
For you killed a bird in love and unsuspecting<ref>Buck, William and van Nooten, B. A. ''Ramayana''. 2000, page 7</ref>
}}

Emerging spontaneously from Valmiki's rage and grief, this couplet is considered the first [[sloka meter|shloka]] in [[Sanskrit literature]]. Valmiki later composed the entire ''[[Ramayana]]'' in the same meter. Valmiki is revered as ''Adi Kavi'' (the first poet); the ''Ramayana'' is revered as the first [[kavya]] (poem).

== Role in ''Ramayana'' ==
[[File:Ravivarmapress_Rama_family.jpg|thumb|274x274px|[[Rama]] with [[Sita]] on the throne, their children [[Lava (Ramayana)|Lava]] and [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kusha]] on their laps. Behind the throne, [[Lakshmana]], Bharata and [[Shatrughna]] stand. [[Hanuman]] bows to Rama before the throne. Valmiki to the left.]]
Valmiki played an important role in ''Uttarakāṇḍa,'' the last chapter of the epic ''Ramayana''. The ''Uttarakāṇḍa'' may not have been originally worked by Valmiki. The scholars Robert and Sally Goldman, for example, have pointed out: "Much of the narrative focuses on figures other than Rāma and is narrated only indirectly by Vālmīki, being placed in the mouths of other figures such as Agastya."<ref name="uttara">''The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: The Complete English Translation,'' ed. Robert P. Goldman and Sally J. Sutherland Goldman, Princeton Univ. Press, 2021, p. 19. ISBN 978-0-691-20686-8.</ref> It is believed to have been taken up from ''Sesha Ramayana.'' {{citation needed|date=February 2022}} According to the legend, Rama sent Sita to the forest. Sita finds refuge in Sage Valmiki's ashram, where she gives birth to twin boys [[Lava (Ramayana)|Lava]] and [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kusha]]. Lava and Kusha were Valmiki's first disciples, to whom he taught the ''[[Ramayana]]''. [[Balakanda|Bala Kanda]] of the epic also tells the story of Valmiki narrating the Ramayana to Lava and Kusha, who become his disciples.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Rao|first1=T. S. Sha ma|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TRnDAgAAQBAJ&q=Lava+kusha|title=Lava Kusha|last2=Litent|date=2014|publisher=Litent|language=en}}</ref>
== Role in ''Mahabharata'' ==
Valmiki was alive during the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', and he was one of the many sages that visited [[Yudhisthira]] after the war. He told Yudhisthira the benefits of worshipping [[Shiva]]. Once upon a time, some ascetic possessors of the [[Homa (ritual)|homa]] fire{{clarify|date=May 2023}}{{better source needed|date=May 2023}} cursed Valmiki as guilty of [[brahmahatya|brahminicide]]. The sin possessed him as soon as he was cursed. So he prayed to Shiva and he became cleansed of all his sins. Valmiki told Yudhisthira that he should also pray to Shiva like him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mahabharata, Book 13: Anusasana Parva: Anusasanika Parva: Section XVIII |url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13a018.htm |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=sacred-texts.com |archive-date=24 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124160511/https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13a018.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:Hermitage of Valmiki, Folio from the "Nadaun" Ramayana (Adventures of Rama) LACMA AC1999.127.45.jpg|thumb|250px|Sita in Valmiki hermitage]]

==Reincarnation==
''Vishnudharmottara Purana'' says that Valmiki was born in the [[Treta Yuga]] as a form of [[Brahma]] who composed ''Ramayana'' and that people desirous of earning knowledge should worship Valmiki.<ref>''Mythology of Vishnu and His Incarnations'' by Manohar Laxman Varadpande (2009), p. 166.</ref> He was later reincarnated as [[Tulsidas]], who composed the ''[[Ramcharitamanas]]'', which was the [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]]-[[Hindi]] version of the ''[[Ramayana]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-04|title=When is Tulsidas Jayanti; why is it celebrated?|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/when-is/tulsidas-jayanti-celebrated-1502905999.html|access-date=2020-07-07|website=The Statesman|language=en-US|archive-date=9 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709084404/https://www.thestatesman.com/when-is/tulsidas-jayanti-celebrated-1502905999.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Pragat Diwas ==
{{Main|Pargat Diwas}}

[[File:Idol of Sage Valmiki at center, Lava and Kusha on both sides of Valmiki, the horse of Ashwamedha Yajna of Ram at left corner, and Sita on the right corner, at the Valmiki Jayanti celebration at Bihutali, Duliajan.jpg|thumb|Idol of Sage Valmiki at center, [[Lava (Ramayana)|Lava]] and [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kusha]] on both sides of Valmiki, the horse of [[Ashvamedha|Ashwamedha Yajna]] of [[Rama]] at left corner, and [[Sita]] on the right corner, at the Valmiki Jayanti celebration at Bihutali, [[Duliajan]].]]

The full moon day of Hindu month of [[Ashvin (month)|Ashvin]] is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the poet. The day is also known as [[Pargat Diwas]] or Valmiki Jayanti, and is a major festival of the followers of the [[Balmikism|Balmiki]] religious sect of Hinduism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lakhanpal |first=Ujjwala |date=2021-10-19 |title=Valmiki Jayanti 2021 Date: History, Significance and Puja Timings |url=https://www.thequint.com/lifestyle/valmiki-jayanti-2021-history-significance-and-puja-timings |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=TheQuint |language=en-GB |archive-date=17 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017163743/https://www.thequint.com/lifestyle/valmiki-jayanti-2021-history-significance-and-puja-timings |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Temples==
The [[Balmiki sect]] of Hinduism reveres Valmiki, where he is also known as '''Lal Beg''' or '''Bala Shah''', as a [[patron]] saint, with a plethora of [[Ashram (Balmiki)|mandirs]] (temples) dedicated to him.<ref name="ISD2000"/><ref name="Dalal2014">{{cite book |last1=Dalal |first1=Roshen |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |date=2014 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-277-9 |language=en}}</ref>

In the [[Siddhar]] tradition of [[Tamil Nadu]], Valmiki is known as [https://anaadifoundation.org/blog/parnika/siddhar-charithiram-vanmikar/ Vanmeegar] and is revered as one of the 18 esteemed [[Siddhar]]s of yore.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Siddhar Charithiram Vanmikar |url=https://anaadifoundation.org/blog/parnika/siddhar-charithiram-vanmikar |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=anaadi.org/blog |archive-date=19 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419020901/https://anaadifoundation.org/blog/parnika/siddhar-charithiram-vanmikar/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Ettukudi Murugan Temple, [[Nagapattinam]] is home to his [[Jiva|Jeeva]] [[Samadhi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=18 Siddhars |url=https://soonyata.home.xs4all.nl/18siddhars.htm |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=satsang-darshan.com |archive-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512081309/https://soonyata.home.xs4all.nl/18siddhars.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

An area in [[Chennai]], [[Tiruvanmiyur]] is believed to derive its name from Sage Valmiki, Thiru-Valmiki-Oor. There is a temple for Valmiki located in this place, which is believed to be 1300 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Archive News|url=https://www.thehindu.com/archive/|access-date=2020-11-28|website=The Hindu|language=en|archive-date=5 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105105627/https://www.thehindu.com/archive/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Maharishi Valmiki temple|url=http://www.columbuslost.com/2015/01/maharishi-valmiki-temple-at.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019124953/https://www.columbuslost.com/2015/01/maharishi-valmiki-temple-at.html|archive-date=2019-10-19|access-date=2020-11-28|website=Columbo Post}}</ref>

Shree Valmiki Mata Maha Samsthana is a temple dedicated to Valmiki in Rajanahalli, [[Karnataka]].

[[Valmiki Ashram]], a site considered to be the original ashram of Valmiki, is located in [[Chitwan District|Chitwan district]] of [[Nepal]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=माडीको मणि वाल्मीकि आश्रम चेपुवामा |url=https://www.karobardaily.com/news/34709 |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=Karobar Daily |language=en |archive-date=17 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017163000/https://www.karobardaily.com/news/34709 |url-status=live }}</ref> The site is near the [[Triveni Dham]] pilgrimage site.<ref>{{Cite web |title=चितवनको वाल्मीकिको साधनाभूमि र सीता आएर बसेको स्थल वाल्मीकि आश्रम Nepalpatra |url=https://nepalpatra.com/visit/98712/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=nepalpatra.com |date=5 June 2020 |archive-date=17 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017163003/https://nepalpatra.com/visit/98712/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
Several Indian films have been made on the life of the poet, beginning with G. V. Sane's ''Valmiki'' (1921); it was followed by Surendra Narayan Roy's ''Ratnakar'' (1921), [[Ellis Dungan]]'s ''Valmiki'' (1946), [[Bhalji Pendharkar]]'s ''Valmiki'' (1946), [[Sundar Rao Nadkarni|Sundarrao Nadkarni]]'s ''[[Valmiki (1946 film)|Valmiki]]'' (1946), [[C.S.R. Rao]]'s ''[[Valmiki (1963 Kannada film)|Valmiki]]'' (starring [[Dr. Rajkumar|Rajkumar]] 1963) and ''[[Valmiki (1963 Telugu film)|Valmiki]]'' (starring [[N. T. Rama Rao]]; 1963), and Arvind Bhatt's ''Sant Valmiki'' (1991).<ref>{{cite book|author1=Ashish Rajadhyaksha|author2=Paul Willemen|title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SLkABAAAQBAJ&pg=PT315|year=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-94318-9|page=315}}</ref><ref name="oberoi">{{cite LIIofIndia|litigants=Suresh Oberoi and Ors v. Dev Singh Assur and Ors|link=|court=INPBHC|year=1991|num=10311 |parallelcite=|date=1 February 1991|courtname=auto|juris=}}</ref>

Bhatt's film which starred [[Suresh Oberoi]] in the title role remains unreleased after a case was filed against Oberoi for remarks deemed offensive by members of the [[Valmiki caste]] in India.<ref name="oberoi"/>

==See also==
* [[Valmiki Samhita]]
* [[Balmiki caste]]
* [[Maithili Maha Upanishad]]
* [[Chuhra]]
* [[Vyasa]]
* [[Valmikeshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir]]

==Footnotes==
{{notelist|1}}

== References ==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=upper-alpha}}

===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{Cite book | last = Goldman | first = R. P. | title = The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume I: Balakāṇḍa | year = 1984 | publisher = Princeton University Press | jstor = j.ctt1gsmwgz | url = http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1gsmwgz | access-date = 7 January 2024}}

== External links ==
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* {{wikisource author-inline}}
* {{Gutenberg author | id=7984}}
* {{Internet Archive author}}
* {{Librivox author |id=1812}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Valmiki}}
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[[Category:Hindu poets]]
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