Every year, Valmiki Jayanti celebrates on the full day of the Ashwin month. The month commemorates the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki. Northern and central India celebrate Valmiki day widely. People popularity called it Pragat Diwas. According to mythology, he was the first poet who writes the epic Ramayana.
Moreover, he was also a first-ever who drafted Sanskrit shlokas. He was also revered as the first poet of Sanskrit Literature. People also refer to him as ‘Adi Kavi’. Moreover, he was a great sage at that time. He was the author of Ramayana which consists of 24,000 verses and seven cantos (Kandas) including the Uttara canto.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wishes everyone on the occasion He took to Twitter and tweets,” I bow in revernce to Maharishi Valmiki on this special occasion.
I bow in reverence to Maharishi Valmiki on the special occasion of Valmiki Jayanti. We recall his seminal contributions towards chronicling our rich past and glorious culture. His emphasis on social empowerment keeps inspiring us. pic.twitter.com/Q9NMTEkzwt
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 20, 2021
Valmiki Jayanti 2021 date and time:
- Valmiki Jayanti Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2021
- Purnima Tithi Begins: 07:03 PM on October 19, 2021
- Purnima Tithi Ends: 8:26 PM on October 20, 2021
History and Significance of Valmiki Jayanti
Maharishi Valmiki was the creator of the epic Ramayana. As per the folklore, he was dacoit before he wrote the epic Ramayana. Further, it was after he met Narada Muni that he transformed himself into a learned sage. After that, he received divine and knowledge. According to conceptions, Narada Muni made Valmiki realize that one had to reap their sins later.
Further, Valmiki performed penance for several years in the Ratnakar forest. According to the legends, he stood at one place for such a long time that ants started building their nests on his body. Even, under those circumstances, he didn’t let his morale down.
Further, as per epic Ramayan, Lord Shri Rama met Valmiki during his period of exile. Lord Rama also integrated with him. Later, Valmiki gave shelter to Goddess Sita in his hermitage when Rama banished her. Further, Lord Rama and Sita’s sons- Kusha and Lava- were born in the hermitage of Valmiki. Maharishi taught Ramayana to both twins.
Hence, Maharishi Valmiki has a very significant role to play in Hindu Mythology. So, his birth anniversary is an important festival for devotees. Devotees offer free food to people and decorate temples of Maharishi Valmiki.
About Maharishi’s Sanskrit Shloka
People believe that Maharishi Valmiki drafted the first Sanskrit Shloka. Once Maharishi Valmiki was watching a bird couple. They were busy making love when all of a sudden a hunter shot one of the birds down with an arrow. The bird dies immediately. The sight infuriated Maharishi. Overwhelmed with pain and anger, Maharishi penned down a Shloka. It considers as the first Sanskrit Shloka ever.
Valmiki Jayanti Puja
On this day, many worship the poet by reciting verses of Ramayana at Valmiki temples across the country. Everyone believes that Maharishi Valmiki has a ‘shine’ like a full moon. Hence, people started celebrating Valmiki day on the full moon day.
The most prominent Valmiki temple is in Chennai. The name of the temple is Thiruvanmiyur after the sage Valmiki. The temple’s name means here is the temple of Valmiki. Also, people believed that it is 1300 tears old built during the Chola Empire and after he has written the Ramayana and rested over the place.
On this day, followers of the Valmiki carry out Shobha Yatras or processions and sing devotional songs and bhajan. They also recite the verses and Sholkads of Ramayana on auspicious occasions. Further, on the day, people decorate the temple of Valmiki Ji and offer flowers, food, and fruits.
