Valmiki the saint who narrated epic Ramayan and who was the guru of Lav and Kush (Rama's son),used be a well known bandit named Ratnakar.
Though born in to a bhramin family, Ratnakar had turned bandit by being with bad company of others. He used to loot the people who would travel through the lonely paths of wood. He was destined to become the great sage Valmiki, the transformation of Ratnakar to sage Valmiki is an well known and inspirational story that motivates one to give up all the bad qualities and become a better person. The story of transformation of Ratnakar bandit to sage Valmiki is as below :-
One day, Narada Munni was crossing by the wood where Ratnakar used to reside and loot people. When he saw Narada, he challenged Narada to stop. Unafraid by him, Narada turned to him and said, " Look brother, I do not possess anything that you would like to take.Why are you engage in killing innocent people. There is no sin greater than killing another fellow mate. And for whom you are committing such heinous crime?
Ratnakar was accustomed of watching frightened faces that used to cry and beg for his mercy. Ratnakar, was astonished to see Narada, he was not bit afraid and moreover had courage to question him. He was impressed by Narada and answered, to feed my large family, I loot people and take their wealth.
Narada replied: " Brother, go and ask them, if they are willing to share your sins for whom you are committing these sinful actions. And don't think that I would run away, if you don't believe me then you an tie me with this rope to the tree. Remember, everyone repents for their part of sin after death."
Ratnakar after tying Narad with the rope went to his home and asked everybody the same question: " Is anybody ready to share my sins?" The same reply came from each member of his family:" It is your duty to look after me, to feed us. It is not my concern as to by which method you earn wealth, so why should I share your sins?"
Ratnakar was disillusioned. He who was toiling, committing sins, taking risks, day and night for them and here they were not even ready to share his sins. He saw the futility of his actions he had been committing. Ratnakar went back to the forest and untying Narada fell at his feet and started crying and said: O learned man ,how can a mean person like me achieve salvation?
Narada after thinking for a while asked him to chant the name of God Rama but for Ratnakar even pronouncing it was difficult. When Narada saw that even after trying very hard, Ratnakar was not successful in his attempts to chant Rama's name, he asked him to pronounce it backwards that is 'Mara' and then Narada went away. Ratnakar started to chant 'Mara, Mara' sitting there. He continued with this chant for 4 days, months, years and even Yuga! He did not get up for a single moment, even opened his eyes. His body was so still that termites made his body their home and his whole body was covered with them. Lord Brahma after being by his penance blessed him and gave him the name Valmiki because of the termites, which are called Valmik in Sanskrit.
One, who was a cruel bandit, whose only duty was to kill became the most noble sage because of the effect of chanting God's name though backwards.
We all have enormous power inside us, if we want to perform anything we can do it, be it the most difficult task of transforming from a cruel bandit to sage with the grace of god.
Though born in to a bhramin family, Ratnakar had turned bandit by being with bad company of others. He used to loot the people who would travel through the lonely paths of wood. He was destined to become the great sage Valmiki, the transformation of Ratnakar to sage Valmiki is an well known and inspirational story that motivates one to give up all the bad qualities and become a better person. The story of transformation of Ratnakar bandit to sage Valmiki is as below :-
One day, Narada Munni was crossing by the wood where Ratnakar used to reside and loot people. When he saw Narada, he challenged Narada to stop. Unafraid by him, Narada turned to him and said, " Look brother, I do not possess anything that you would like to take.Why are you engage in killing innocent people. There is no sin greater than killing another fellow mate. And for whom you are committing such heinous crime?
Ratnakar was accustomed of watching frightened faces that used to cry and beg for his mercy. Ratnakar, was astonished to see Narada, he was not bit afraid and moreover had courage to question him. He was impressed by Narada and answered, to feed my large family, I loot people and take their wealth.
Narada replied: " Brother, go and ask them, if they are willing to share your sins for whom you are committing these sinful actions. And don't think that I would run away, if you don't believe me then you an tie me with this rope to the tree. Remember, everyone repents for their part of sin after death."
Ratnakar after tying Narad with the rope went to his home and asked everybody the same question: " Is anybody ready to share my sins?" The same reply came from each member of his family:" It is your duty to look after me, to feed us. It is not my concern as to by which method you earn wealth, so why should I share your sins?"
Ratnakar was disillusioned. He who was toiling, committing sins, taking risks, day and night for them and here they were not even ready to share his sins. He saw the futility of his actions he had been committing. Ratnakar went back to the forest and untying Narada fell at his feet and started crying and said: O learned man ,how can a mean person like me achieve salvation?
Narada after thinking for a while asked him to chant the name of God Rama but for Ratnakar even pronouncing it was difficult. When Narada saw that even after trying very hard, Ratnakar was not successful in his attempts to chant Rama's name, he asked him to pronounce it backwards that is 'Mara' and then Narada went away. Ratnakar started to chant 'Mara, Mara' sitting there. He continued with this chant for 4 days, months, years and even Yuga! He did not get up for a single moment, even opened his eyes. His body was so still that termites made his body their home and his whole body was covered with them. Lord Brahma after being by his penance blessed him and gave him the name Valmiki because of the termites, which are called Valmik in Sanskrit.
One, who was a cruel bandit, whose only duty was to kill became the most noble sage because of the effect of chanting God's name though backwards.
We all have enormous power inside us, if we want to perform anything we can do it, be it the most difficult task of transforming from a cruel bandit to sage with the grace of god.
Every soul is potentially divine.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you for what you are doing to motivate change in the way men are thinking. I send you my blessings and prospers in your undertaking. Go and prospers.
ReplyDeleteIn sarg-96 of Uttar Kaand of Ramayana written by Sage Valmiki, he specifically denoted that he hadn't committed any sin and if this contention is true, then what else authenticates your story of transformation!
ReplyDelete@Prakash Patwardhan I have heard the story of Valmiki from childhood and same way I presented it. May be this has some reference in some Granth, Upnisad or somewhere. I do not have the details as you refered in your comments. What can authenticate mythology is a bigger question? All the writers have produced their own interpretation of mythology. I do not go by authenticating it. This story is motivational and encourages hope and positive thinking. This is why I like this and I shared it.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all kindly don't call the sacred texts as mythology its old history,not in chronological order over various ages,that's why call Purana.
ReplyDeleteThis story of Ratnakar to Valmiki is mentioned in Brahmanada Purana.
Thanks.
Thankyou for rectifying my mistake. My sincere apologies for hurting any sentiments attached to this. I just write these so as to read it myself again and again and keep myself busy with positive and spiritual thoughts. My writing may not be accurate or hold significance to exact Purana, stastra or upanishad as I am just a beginner.
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