Valmiki Jayanti celebrated in Jaipur

30 October, 2012

Valmiki Jayanti was celebrated on October 29 in Jaipur with active involvement of Akhil Bhartiya Valmiki Maha Sabha, Valmiki Uthan Manch and Valmiki Welfare Society, Morning processions, garlanding of Valmiki statues and Prayers at Shri Mataji temple were organized.

THE VALMIKI community was urged to shun addictions and participate actively in collective marriage ceremonies as a social reform. At a separate function the talented and meritorious students of Valmiki community were honoured.

Valmiki is regarded as the poet harbinger or Adi Kavi in Sanskrit literature who wrote the first ever Sanskrit verse or shaloka. He is also the author of the epic Ramayana.

Valmiki was born on Sharad Purnima in tribal Bhil family as son of Sumali. He was intially a highway robber who soon discovered that spirituality is the path to equitable society and rose to become a Maharishi. He undertook penance to be free from all his past sins to gain wisdom and become a creative writer.

As legend has it, Valmiki had Sita in his hermitage wherein Kusa and Lava were born and brought up to be taught Ramayana by him.

Valmiki was truly a Maharshi as scholar Panduranga Rao describes him in these words: "He was purity, penance, benevolence and meditation personified and the sole object of his dedication and contemplation was how a man leaves his selfish existence, and lives for others identifying himself with the composite culture of the cosmic creation."