"I don't even want the Heavens Sita, if I cannot have You by My side. I may have broken the bow kept at the wedding, but I shall never break My wedding vows."
Love is a promise to walk through everything hand in hand. Whether it's the palace gardens...
The words escaped His mouth spontaneously, and magically, in a poetic rhythm.
These same words would pave the way for the creation of the world's first epic and first poem, and Rishi Valmiki would be known as the Adi Kavi, the first poet of the world.
He was on His way to bathe in the River Ganga before praying at the temple. Bharadwaj, His disciple, had accompanied Him.
But He stopped midway when He saw a crystal clear stream, the Tamsa River. He changed His mind and decided to bath here instead.
"Look, how clear is this water, like the mind of a good man! I will bathe here today."
As He was on His way to take a dip in the waters, He saw a crane couple mating. He was so pleased and enchanted at the sight that He kept gazing at them with admiration in His eyes.
Suddenly, an arrow gushed with tremendous speed and hit the male bird. It died on the spot. Filled with sorrow at the death of her mate, the female bird screamed in agony and died of shock.
Rishi Valmiki's heart melted at this pitiful sight. He looked around to find out who had shot the bird. He saw a hunter with a bow and arrows nearby.
He was furious and fuming with rage and grief. And He parted His lips to speak the shloka which would soon be famous in citing Him as a great writer.
But Rishi Valmiki was not always like this. He had a tragic past which was a lesson to mankind about how the will to change and transform can also change anyone's destiny.
Before He was Rishi Valmiki, He was Agni Sharma.
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"Mara... Mara... Mara..."
Lohajangha kept reciting the name Devarshi Narada had advised Him to.
"Rama... Rama... Rama..."
He was unmoved by the changing seasons, drought, sunlight or rain. So engrossed was He in His penance that a huge anthills formed all around Him, until He was no longer visible to the external world.
The son of Brahmin Pracheta, He had a beautiful wife and family. He was a devoted son and doting husband.
But when there was no rain in the region of Anarta, for twelve long years, Lohajangha, for the sake of his hungry family, started robbing people that He found in the forest.
On one such venture, He accidentally tried robbing Devarshi Narada. He felt pity on the robber and tried to counsel Him to mend His ways.
"You should recite the name of Lord Vishnu, He can cleanse all Your sins if You're sincere in Your devotion."
But no matter how much He tried, His mind was confused and He couldn't concentrate. He had never uttered any holy words or mantras, and He could not bring His mouth to speak the holy name of the Lord.
He parted His lips to speak but no words escaped from His mouth.
Devarshi Narada understood His despair and knew that He sincerely wanted to change. He didn't give up and thought of another way to help Him.
"If that name is difficult to pronounce, then You may also recite another name of the Lord. Meditate on His name as Lord Rama, since it's the easiest to pronounce, with only two syllables but the power of a penance of two lifetimes."
But even when Lohajangha tried to speak the name 'Rama', He could not. Years of abstinence from practice had an ill effect on His speech.
Tears flowed down His cheeks in desperation and frustration. "I cannot even do one pious action, nor even take the name of the Lord, even though I honestly wish to change into a better human. I have only been a horrible human and a disappointment to My family. It is better for me to give up this life as a human and die. Let Mrityu conquer Me for I cannot conquer My own mind. Let Me die and be Mara."
Suddenly, an idea came to Devarshi Narada as He listened to His plea and sorrow. "If You cannot recite the name 'Rama', then try reciting 'Mara'. It sounds the same as Rama backwards, with the same harmonious vibrations. And it shall yield the same benefits."
And thus with Devarshi Narada's counselling and advice, He began His penance. He was undeterred in His meditation for long years.
The Saptarishis were so pleased with His devotion that They blessed Him. "You are thus cleansed from all sins through meditation on the name of Lord Rama. You've achieved great Siddhi, and one day You shall be instrumental during an event in the Lord's story when He incarnates on the Earth, as well as a well known poet, who will bring His story to the world, through art forms. Yo shall be skilled in writing, poetry, theatre, acting and storytelling."
From that day, He was known as Valmiki, the One who achieved penance while seated within a Valmika, an anthill.
With a new purpose to His life, He set out to a new direction.
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।। श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम ।। ।। जय श्री सियाराम ।। ।। जय बोलो श्री राम लक्ष्मण जानकी जय बोलो श्री राम भक्त हनुमान जी की ।।
