PREFACE | INTRODUCTION | ABOUT THE RAMAYANA | THE IDEOLOGY OF MAHARISHI VALMIKI’S RAMAYANA | THE ASHRAM | VALMIKI WEDDING | FESTIVALS | ARTI | ARDAS |

ABOUT THE RAMAYANA

Maharishi Valmik’s Ramayana is one of the great epic poems of India. The Ramayana tells a story unparalleled in qualities and attributes of a literary work. It is a unique combination of scripture, literature and ethics in one. The Ramayana foretold the fortune of Rama.

Ironically it was the British who discovered the past at the end of the 18th Century, the British searching for information on traditional law and custom stumbled upon fragments of India’s great literature, and the 19th Century saw the translation of the great sacred works of the Ramayana.

The Ramayana is popular in Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Nepal, are some of the countries which follow the Sanskrit version of the Ramayana. Rishi Valmik’s Ramayana has also been modified and built upon in various parts of South-East Asia to enhance it’s impact and meaning, and the Ramayana has served as a model for folk tales, film, plays, stories, and poems throughout the Hindu world.

For Valmiki’s in India the Ramayana has served to provide a cultural and religious foundation and was the link during colonial rule which labourers took with them when they went from India.

The Ramayana is divided into seven books called Kandas. Each Kanda is divided into several (cantos).

The books (Kandas) are called :

1. Balakanda (Interpolation)

2. Ayodhyakanda

3. Aranyakanda

4. Kiskindhakanda

5. Sundarakanda

6. Yuddhakanda

7. Uttarakanda (Interpolation)

It is generally believed by most Scholars both Western and Indian that books 2-6 constitute the genuine part of the Ramayana, where as books 1 and 7 are later additions.

According to popular Hindi belief the origins of the Ramayana began something like this; Rishi Valmik went to the river Tamsa for a bath, where he found a Kraunca bird slain by a hunter; he was so moved by the sorrow of the femal companion of the bird that automatically a verse came to his mouth.

It read as follows :

Ma Nisada Pratistham Tuamagamah Sasvitih Samah/Yat

Krauncamitthunadekamavahih Kamamohitam

Roughly translated it means since you have slain one of the Krauncas, when it was engrossed in love, you will not find a place to live peacefully in years to come.

At this point Rishi Valmik was advised by Brahma (The Creator of the universe) to narrate the life of Rama. However, the Valmiki community fundamentally differs from the Hindus, in that they do not believe that Rishi Valmik was instructed by Brahma to write the Ramayana. Hence, because of this fundamental difference Valmikis are a separate sect of Hinduism, in that they worship only one God, called Maharishi Valmik and have their own temples of worship called Ashram’s devoted entirely to the worship of Rishi Valmik.

Essentially the Ramayana is the story of Rama and his endeavor to win the hand of Princess Sita. After successfully competing for the hand of Sita in marriage Rama returned to Ayodha. However, at his Kingdom of Ayodha Rama’s step-mother plotted against him and as a result, he was exiled to live in the forest, with Sita and Lakshmana Rama’s half brother.

During their stay in the forest the demon King of Lanka, Ravana, sent a beautiful golden deer into the forest. Sita asked Rama to catch it for her. When Rama failed to return, Sita asked Lakshmana to look for him. Rama had instructed Lakshmana to guard Sita, but on this occasion he disobeyed Rama’s instruction.

Sita was left alone and King Ravana appeared before her and disguised as a holy man, he seized her and returned to Sri-Lanka. When Rama and Lakshman returned and found Sita gone, they prepared to rescue her and in doing this so enlisted the help of Hanuman, the warrior from the monkey tribe.

Hanuman, helped Rama to find Sita and attack, Lanka, on returning to Ayodha with Hanuman, Sita and Lakshman, Rama was crowned King.

However, all was not well in Rama’s Kingdom as some of Rama’s subjects suspected Sita of being unfaithful for accepting Sita after her living in Ravana’s Kingdom. In order to prove himself  the ideal King who respects the sentiments of his subjects Rama banished her to the forest. There she was looked after by the hermit Maharishi Valmik  and in his hermitage she gave birth to Luv and blessed with Kush.

Rama to prove himself the mightiest of Kings, Rama released a horse, the capture of which would result in battle with King Rama and his forces.

Luv and Kush, disciples of Rishi Valmik, captured this horse, King Rama’s army led by his half-brother Lakshman was defeated by the two brothers.

On discovering that Luv and Kush had destroyed members of their own family Maharishi Valmik sprinkled holy water called ‘Amrit’ onto the whole army and bought them back to life again.

Finally, the whole family was to unite, but Sita was forced to call on Mother Earth to swallow her up to testify her fidelity to Rama.

Maharishi Valmik’s Ramayana has remained for Scholars the world over a subject of persistent research in literature, anthropology, history and art. It has gone beyond the frontiers of India and almost every nation is open to its appeal.

Griffith, R.T.H. - The Ramayana of Valmiki

Goldman, Robert Petal – The Ramayana of Valmik, Madras Christian Literature Society for India 1898.

Murdock, J. - The Ramayana of Valmiki

Are to name a few of the English research institutions and translations on the Ramayana.

However it’s appeal across frontiers has seen many translations into the following languages: -

And other translations include :

The Ramayana of Valmiki, in the original Sanskrit : By William Carey and Joshua Marshman Seramore, 1806-1810).

Ramayana : Poema Sanscrito Di Valmiki: Testo Sanscrito Secondo Icondici Manuscriti Della Scuola Gaudana Per Gaspare Gorresio Parigi, 1843-1850.

Indeed it can be said that there are hundreds of translations of Rishi Valmiks Ramayana, in all the major languages of the world.

Finally, the appeal of the Ramayana inspired one of the Indian great poet’s Rabindranath Tagore to write his first play “The genius of Valmiki”.

Answer to Valmiki Critics