Maharishi Valmiki Story

 How Maharishi Valmiki Got His Name

In the dense forest of Dandavan near the ganges river  a habitat  of  ferocious man- eaters , poisonous snakes, reptiles, and wild  animals lived a very merciless and brutal dacoit called Ratnakar with his gang. 

Daku Ratnakar was a very big and strong man and very merciless he would kill and rob travelers and villagers who passed through the dense forest and take away all their belongings.

The king after receiving such news about dacoits residing in the forest came to him sent his  army  to catch the dacoit gang but failed in all the attempts and also many of the kings soldiers lost their lives in such anattack  on the gang  many of the kings soldiers lost their lives. The king then made an announcement warning the people to stay away from the jungle but still, some travelers unknowingly went into the forest and they were robbed by the Dacoit.

Once Narada muni was reciting the name of Narayana   and  passed through the forest of dandavan all of a sudden from the trees came down dacoit Ratnakar and told him to give all his belongings but Narada muni was smiling and chanting the name of Lord Narayana seeing this Daku Ratnakar became angry and raised his sword to kill him but Narada muni was still smiling seeing this  Dacoit Ratnakar asked him are you not afraid of dying.

 Narada muni replied; I am  a Sevak  of Lord Narayana and his life is given to me  by lord Narayana and he is  the one who can take me away from the world hearing this  daku  Ratnakar  asked him do you believe so much in Narayana.

 Narada   muni smiled and answered he is the creator of the universe and whatever is happening is with his wish Narada muni then asked dacoit  Ratnakar  can I ask you something you are doing a very great sin by killing and robbing people  but have you ever asked your family your wife your children’s whether they will be a part of this sin which is committed by you.

 Dacoit Ratnakar was taken aback by this question he answered definitely as they are living on whatever loot I get from the   people  and I am doing this so they can live a good life

 Narada muni said if that is so then please go to your family and ask them whether they would be a part of the sin which you are doing.

Ratnakar asked Narada muni to wait in a nearby cave till he came back .

Ratnakar was very sure that his family will be a part of this sin.

Once reaching home dacoit Ratnaker asked his wife can I ask you a question I am looting people killing them and feeding you and the   family are you a part of the sin I am committing his wife refused to be a part she answered him taking care of me and my family is  responsibility but for that whatever you are doing is your work I am a part of your good deeds not your sin, listening to this Ratnakar was shocked, without wasting another  moment he ran to Narada muni seeing his smiling face Ratnakar knew that Narada muni has showed him the facts of life.

He fell on the feet of Narada muni and pleaded Narada muni to enlighten him smiling Muni told him to repeat chanting the word ‘MA RA’  till he came back.

Years passed by and Ratnakar remained in tapasya meditation  and his body was fully covered by anthill.

How Dacoit Ratnakar got the name Valmiki

Narada muni visited the place and saw the full body of Ratnakar covered by anthill he removed and cleaned the anthill and told Ratnakar to come out of his tapasya . Ratnakar was a fully changed person and his life was completely transformed and he was given the name of Valmiki as he was reborn from the valmika  ( the anthill).