2. By: Sana Khetarpal

3.  We know Valmiki as the great sage who first wrote the Ramayan, but he was not good and wise man in his early life.  Maharishi Valmiki was born as Ratnakara to sage Prachetasa.  At very young age Ratnakara was lost in a forest. A hunter saw Ratnakara and took him under his own care.  Under the care of his foster parents, Ratnakara forgot his original parents.  He became a hunter and killed so many animals and birds. He also married a girl from another hunter family.

4.  As his family grew larger, Ratnakara found impossible to feed them.  So, he became a robber and robbed people passing from village to village.  He attacked travelers going by lonely roads and stole their money and valuables.  He knew it was wrong, but he thought it was the only way he could live & support his family.

5.  Once, Narada Muni was passing through a jungle.  Ratnakara attacked Narada and tried to rob and kill him.  But Narada by his power stopped him. Ratnakara could not do anything.  Narada showed how Ratnakara was destined to suffer in hells and to be tortured for his hunting and robbing people.  Ratnakara cried and asked if his family would also share the sins. Narada asked Ratnakara to go and ask his family

6.  Came back and told Narada that they do not share his sins.  Narada showed mercy on Ratnakara  Asked him to chant the sacred name of 'Rama' and asked him to sit in chanting meditation (Tapasya) until Narada would come back.  But Ratnakara could not chant ‘Rama due to his unlimited sins.  Narada asked if he can chant ‘Mara’ at least. Ratnakara could do that..  If you chant ‘Mara Mara Mara …’ it then becomes ‘..Rama Rama Rama..’  He sat in meditation for thousands of years. His body was eaten by ants and ant hill formed over his body.

7.  At last, Narada came to see him.  He sprayed holy water from his Kamandala and Ratnakara got his original body.  Due to his severe tapasya, Ratnakara was bestowed with the honor of a Brahmarshi and given the name of Valmiki, since he was reborn from the Valmika (the ant-hill).  Sage Valmiki founded his ashram at the banks of River Ganga.  Narada visited Maharishi Valmiki in his ashram once and narrated the story of Lord Rama.  Thereafter he received a vision from Lord Brahma. He instructed Valmiki to write Ramayana in slokas, which the sage readily followed.

8. 1.What is another name for Sage Valmiki? 2.Why did Ratnakara turn into a robber? 3.Who was Ratnakara born to? 4.How was Ratnakara given the name of Valmiki? 5.Where is Sage Valmiki's ashram located? 6.What is another word for meditation? 7.Where did Narada narrate the story of Lord Ram?

9. http://www.iloveindia.com/spirituality/gurus/valmiki.html http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&rlz=1C1RNNN_enUS358US358&um=1& sa=1&q=narada+attacked&aq=f&oq=&aqi=&start=0 http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091012043015AArWHxK

10. Thank You !