Maharishi Valmiki or Balmiki Jayanthi day 2016 or महर्षि वाल्मीकि जयंती 2016 in Hindi. Valmiki is also known as Maharishi Valmiki or known as the Adi Kavi i.e. the first poet of Sanskrit language. Maharishi Valmiki’s birth anniversary which is also known as his Valmiki Jayanti is celebrated on Ashwin Purnima as per Hindu lunar calendar.
Ramayana which consists of 24,000 shlokas and 7 cantos (kaṇḍas) including Uttara Kanda and composed of about 480, 002 words is originally written by Valmiki.
Maharishi Valmiki Jayanthi date and time
Maharishi Valmiki Jayanthi 2016 is on 16th October and Purnima Tithi Begins at 13:25 on 15th October 2016 which ends (Purnima Tithi Ends) at 09:53 on 16th October 2016.
Interesting stroy about Maharishi Valmiki and his counter with Narada
Valmiki was born as a low born Ratnakkardah, a cruel bandit and hunter who slew travellers in the jungle and robbed them of their belongings. One day, he met the great sage Narada who questioned him of his duty. Moved by Narada’s words, Ratnakara began to perform penance and chanted the word “Mara” which meant “kill”. As he performed his penance for several years, the word became “Rama”, the name of Lord Vishnu. Huge anthills formed around Ratnakara and this earned him the name of Valmiki. Narada declared Ratnakara to be a great Sage and Brahmin, a member of the high caste. Ratnakara, rechristened as Valmiki, learnt the scriptures from Narada and became the foremost of ascetics, revered by everyone.
Maharishi Valmiki’s First Shloka
One day he was at bank of Ganga river or his daily ablutions. He saw a crane couple mating. Valmiki felt very pleased on seeing the happy birds. Suddenly male bird hit by an arrow and died on the spot. Filled by sorrow, its mate screamed in agony and died of shock. 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. Valmiki became very angry. His lips opened and he cried out,
मां निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः।
यत्क्रौंचमिथुनादेकम् अवधीः काममोहितम्॥’