Article Title: Valmiki Jayanti
09-10-2022
History & Art and Culture Prelims Plus
Why is in news? PM greets the nation on Valmiki Jayanti
Valmiki Jayanti is observed on October 9 every year.
The day marks the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki who is credited with writing the original Ramayana during the lifetime of Lord Ram.
Valmiki Jayanti is also known as PragatDiwas.
Maharishi Valmiki is also called the Adi Kavi or the first poet in the Sanskrit language.
He is also responsible for writing the first-ever Sanskrit shlokas.
It is believed that Maharishi Valmiki, who lived in TretaYug, learned the story of Lord Rama from Narad Muni, and under his guidance, he wrote the epic Ramayana.
The Ramayana, originally written by Valmiki, consists of 24,000 shlokas and seven cantos (kandas).
He is also believed to be the author of Yoga Vasistha, a text that elaborates on a range of philosophical issues.
VishnudharmottaraPurana says that Valmiki reincarnated as Tulsidas, who composed the Ramcharitamanas, which was the Awadhi-Hindi version of the Ramayana.
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