The Sage Valmiki is the reputed author of the most popular Sanskrit epic-Ramayana. He is stated to be a contemporary of Rama, the hero of his epic. Ramayana is called the Adikavya-the first portry in classical Sanskrit and in its present form is dated variously by scholars like Prof. Jacobi as 6th Century B.C., by Dr. Keith as 4th Century B.C. and by Dr. Winternitz as 3rd Century B.C. Its story is older than that of the other great epic, Mahabharata, the authorship of which marks the end of the Vedic era. It would, thus, appear that the present form of Ramayana in proper classical Sanskrit was due to some re-editing accomplished in the Valmiki School of trading by a later rishi. Thus, the date of Valmiki is unknown and uncertain. 2. There are several anecdotes narrated about his life. One of them states that he was a bandit in his early life and repeented his actions when ir was pointed out to him that he alone would answer for his misdeeds, since none of those sharing in his earnings would share his mis-fortunes, when they would inevitably arrive. The origin of this fable cannot be ascertained, though it finds a place in a later composition called the 'Adhyatma-Ramayana'. 3. His very name is said to be a later acquisitionand not his origianl name.

Practishing penance for his misdeeds, he became enveloped by an ant-hill(Valmika) from which he had to be dug out and hence he came to be known as Valmiki--born from Valmika. As a sage, he had his hermitage on the bank of the river.Tamasa, tributary of Ganga. When one day, he saw a hunter killing the male bird from a mating Krouncha(Curlew) couple, he uttered his famous sloka out of anguish: ((hindi version:)Oh hunter, you shall not attain a stable state for eternal years; because you have killed the male bird in love out of the couple of the couple of the Krounchas.) This utterance apparently started the classical metre in its refined form.

The Sage, however, became restless immediately after the utterance of sloka on account of the torment he thereby inflicted due to his anger on the hunter. Tradition recites: Whose grife took the form of a Sloka-a verse, and as an antidote, he was advised by the Lord Creator to compose the story of Rama, the King of Ayodhya. Ramayana has it that later on when Rama abandoned his queen Sita out of his deference to popular comment, the pregnant queen found her way to the hermitage of the Sage Valmiki and there gave birth to her twins Lava and Kusha. The princes in exile were then taught all the lore which a prince shouldmaster, all the arts of the wise and the crafts of the warriorand among them the sage taught them to recite his epic compositoin, the Ramayana, without their knowing that this was the story of their own illustrious father. The last Volume-Uttarakanda was hidden from them.

Even Ramayana tells us no more about this great poet but his influence through his epic has been everlasting. Several later poets have been inspired to re-tell the story in their own way and even today recitations from Ramayana are carried on at various homes and shrines. Valmiki's Ramayana will always be one of the world's greatest epics.

The Posts and Telegraphs Department is happy to bring out a special commemorative stamp in honour of Maharsi Valmiki, the reputed author of the epic Ramayana, on the occasion of his Jayanti Celebration on the 14th October, 1970.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India