MAHARISHI VALMIKI  : THE AUTHOR OF RAMAYANA

By Anshika Khera

Valmiki Jayanti is celebrated to honor the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki, the revered sage and the author of the Ramayana, one of India’s greatest epics. It is observed on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Ashwin, which usually falls in September or October. This year it is celebrated on 7 October. 

Maharishi Valmiki is regarded as the Adi Kavi, or the first poet of Sanskrit literature. His epic, the Ramayana, narrates the life and virtues of Lord Rama and serves as a timeless guide to righteousness, devotion, and duty. Valmiki’s transformation from a hunter named Ratnakar into a saint through deep meditation and devotion symbolizes the power of repentance and the potential for spiritual awakening in every human being.

On Valmiki Jayanti, devotees across India organize processions, recitations from the Ramayana, and prayers in temples and Valmiki ashrams. Many people also engage in charitable acts and community services, reflecting the sage’s teachings of compassion and equality.

The celebration of Valmiki Jayanti is not only a tribute to a great sage and poet but also a reminder of the universal message of morality, humanity, and the victory of truth that his life and works embody.