Sankshiptaparayana (Sundarakanda) Part - 1.

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Dear friends and devotees, Bhakti is eternal. (Part -1) The reminiscences of the creator of Ramayana It is a conventional obligation of our tradition to offer a prayer and recollect the autobiography of the author of any book, prior to its commencement. So let us pray Maharshi Valmiki. Kaivthaapranathi. (Prayer to Maharshi

Valmiki) kuujantam raama raamEti, madhuram madhuraaksharam, aruhya kavitaaSaakhaam vandE vaalmiiki kOkilam. vaalmiikE rmunisimhasya kavitaavanacaariNaha’ SruNvan raamakathaanaadam kO na yaati parangatim. yah piban satatam raamacaritaamrutasaagaram, atruptastam munim vandE praacEtasa makalmasham. &nbs

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p; Many believe that Valmiki was a hunter. It is not so. In Skandapurana, on the query of Vyasa Mahrshi about the details of Valmiki, Sage Sanathkumara had given the details: Valmiki in his purvashram was named Agni Sarma, the son of a Brahmin couple named Sumati and Koushika of Bharadwajasa gothra. Agni Sarma’s father was teaching Vedas to his students and some how, Agni Sarma could not learn the Vedic education properly. Those days the Brahmin community was living only on Vedic schools and charity. After Agni

Sarma’s marriage, there was huge drought and the demand for education had come to a still. Since there were no earnings, the setback of their livelihood had increased. Agni Sarma with his parents and family left the place and entered into a forest. There he had constructed a small Kutir (Hut) and used to live by collecting the roots, fruits and honey from the forest. Since he was not well- versed with Vedas and could not cultivate satvic (moral) life, made friendship with the dacoits of the forest to earn bread to his family. He began to rob the things from the persons travelling through the forest and lead his life. One day a group of saints, who were passing through the forest were caught by Agnisarma. They were having only Brahmadanda (Resting stick for japamala), Kamandala (Water kettle) and Krishnajina (Deer’s leather) etc. Agni Sarma demanded those articles or else threatening to kill them. Among those sages, Atri Maharshi questioned him for the reason for robbing the material even by taking the lives. Agni Sarma replied that he has to feed his family, children and parents, who were depending on

him. After finding him, who he was, Atri Maharshi by his inner thought, enquired from him, whether his family members who shared the food that he took home, were willing to share his sin of robbing the travelers and killing them. Agni Sarma thought they would share, but none of them were willing to do so. This upset Agni Sarma who repented and wanted to give up his sinful ways and search for a better life. He had also prayed the saints for a solution to pass

over the sins already committed. Then all the saints turned towards Atri Maharshi and requested “O Atri Maharshi you are the one above Adhyatmika (Spiritual) and Adiloukika (worldly affairs) and embodiment of sugunatatva (impeccable qualities). On your noble advice only, he who was a notorious dacoit had changed. You should only suggest him the way”. According to Skandapurana, Atri Maharshi did not tell him any Nama japa or Mantra etc. Instead he asked him to do Dhyana

(Meditation) as Antarmukha (Keeping all indriyas inside without having any outer vision), endlessly and ceaselessly. So saying, Atri Maharshi along with other sages went away. After some time, in his absorption of meditation, Agni Sarma did not notice that an anthill was built around him. antarmukha samaaraadhya, bahirmukha sudurlabha. The saints who were returning after thirteen years, found the anthill which was illuminating with a bright full light. They immediately found that there was Agni Sarma, who was under constant meditation, loosing the worldly knowledge. They demanded him to come out of the anthill. Since he came out of Valmika (Anthill), purified after washing away his sins with constant meditation, they renamed him as VALMIKI. vaalmiiki likhitE naama, bhuvikhyatam bhavishyatE. They said “Herein after people will call you as Valmiki”. He then prayed them to guide him for his future life. Atri Maharshi said: kuSasthalE mahaagamya, samaaraadhya mahESwaram. “O Valmiki! Go to a place named Kusasthali and there pray Lord Maheswara”. He carried out the instructions of Maharshi and on his extensive prayer of Maheswara, he attained the darshan of Para Brahma. Who is Para Brahma? HE is the Trinity, the administrator for, 1. Srushti (Creation), 2. Stithi (existence), 3. Laya (tranquility), of the universe. The three faces of Parabhrahma are nothing but Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. He first attained the blessings of “Maheswara”. Then “Brahma” appeared and ordered him to write Mahakavya. The Mahakavya (Ramayana)

written by him is of “Vishnu’s” incarnation. The Devine power not only enabled Valmiki to get Brahmopadesa (Advice of Lord Brahma) but also to get a Guru. In spite of his acquiring the benediction of the Almighty, a Guru should be there to guide. gurubrahma gururvshNO, gurudEvO mahESwaraha, gurusaakshaat parabrahma, tasmai Srii guravEnamaha. Who is called Guru? He who makes tapas (the penances and austerities) and helps the disciples to travel on

spiritual path is called Guru. Valmiki was blessed to get a full fledged Guru and he was Sage Narada, the Thriloka Sanchari (Used to visit all three lokas) Through him Valmiki became a sage and a poet. He was searching for a suitable hero whose story he wanted to write in a poetic form. In his pursuits, one day he saw a hunter killing one among the bird couple, which resulted in the heartrending cry of the other. This touched his heart and soon he met Sage Narada again. Narada requested him to write the story of Rama which revolves round the marital separation. This suited the poignant mood of Valmiki, whose mind was crying ever since he witnessed the death of the bird. An epic poem was

born. tapasvaadhyaaya niratam tapasvii vaagvidaam varam, naaradam paripapraccha vaalmiikE rmunipungavam. Anvaya / parsing: - tapasvii Valmikih tapah svaadhyaaya niratam vaagvidaam varam muni

pungavam naaradam pari papracCha tapasvii= sagacious thinker; vaalmiki = Sage (Poet) Valmiki; tapaha= in thoughtful-meditation; and; sva adhyaaya= in self, study (of scriptures); niratam= always - who is eternally studious in scriptures; and; vaak= in speaking (in enunciation); vidaam= among expert enunciators; varam= sublime one - with Narada; muni pungavam= with sage, paragon, with such a paragon sage Naarada; naaradam= with (such a sage) Naarada; pari papracCha = verily (inquisitively,) inquired about; (ellipt: sarva guNa samishTi ruupam purusham= all, merited endowments,

composite, in form - about such a man.) A thoughtful-meditator, an eternally studious sage in scriptures about the Truth and Untruth, a sagacious thinker, and a sublime enunciator among all expert enunciators is Narada, and with such a Divine Sage Narada, the Sage-Poet Valmiki is inquisitively enquiring about a man who is a composite for all merited endowments in his form and

caliber. Thus Valmiki with the blessings of Trinity, and with the pursuance of sage Narada, delivered a great Ramayana Mahakavya. He is considered as Adi- kavi. To be continued … Part - 2 With love and regards, Sastry

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