Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti

Valmiki Jayanti or Pargat Diwas is an Indian festival that is celebrated annually on Ashwin Purnima. According to the English calendar, it falls during the months of September-October. It is observed to mark the birth anniversary of the ancient Indian sage, poet, and philosopher Maharishi Valmiki. It is mainly celebrated by the religious sect Balmiki in the North Indian states.

Maharshi Valmiki; Image Source: Wikipedia

Valmiki Jayanti has great significance for Hindus because Valmiki wrote the Indian Epic Ramayana. Thus, the devotees of Lord Rama celebrate his birth anniversary with a lot of zeal and reverence.

On this day, Valmiki’s temples are decorated beautifully with flowers and his followers sing bhajans and his poems to remember the sage. Shobha Yatras or Religious Processions are organized on this occasion in some parts of India. Additionally, free food is distributed among the poor.

Valmiki is also known as the Adikavi or First Poet and the Poet of Poets of India. This is because he composed the first ever Sanskrit poem called the Adikavya. Amazingly, Adikavya is nothing but our own Ramayana, which is a collection of poems.

Valmiki or Ratnakkardah was born in ancient India along the banks of the Ganges to a sage called Prachetasa. Apparently, he got lost in the jungle as a child and was found by a hunter who raised him thereafter.

Some people even believe that Valmiki was a hunter like his father as well as a dacoit or a highway robber in his early days. During this time, he tried to rob Sage Narada Muni once. Narada Muni then made him understand that what he is doing is not right. Also, he gave him the Rama Nama mantra, which made Valmiki one of the biggest devotees of Lord Rama.

According to some narratives, Ratnakara had meditated for many years and hence, an ant-hill had grown around him. This is what gave him his new name 'Valmika' which means an ant-hill in Sanskrit.

Valmiki lived a simple life in a hut in the forests of northern India. It is believed that Lord Rama had met him during his exile. In fact, Valmiki was the one who gave shelter to Sita Maa in his hut when Rama had banished her. Kusha and Lava, the twin sons of Rama and Sita were also born in this hermitage itself.

It is said that Sita herself had narrated the story of Ramayana to Valmiki during this time. Valmiki then wrote it and also, taught it to his group of disciples which included Lava and Kush.

Valmiki is also known as Bala Shah or Lal Bekh or Beg as he is mostly depicted in red clothing. His followers believe that he is an avatar of God and consider his works the Ramayana and the Yoga Vasistha their holy scriptures.

The devotees of Valmiki come from different castes. In fact, many of his worshippers are Dalits. This is why Balmiki temples are open to everyone. The largest and oldest temple of Maharishi Valmiki is located at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai.

Valmiki was not just a patron saint and a harbinger-poet. His focus on social empowerment and equality also changed a lot of lives. Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti is a great time to celebrate this legend who was said to have the glow of a full moon!