For sixty thousand years Ratnakar sat, meditating on the name of Rama. In this long period, he was oblivious of his surroundings. Where Ratnakar was sitting, an ant hill grew and slowly the ants started spreading over his body and eating away his flesh. Ratnakar did not feel anything. All he did was utter the name of Rama.
Soon all flesh was eaten away and only bones remained. Over a period of time, grass and bushes grew over the mass of bones. The name of Rama did not stop.
Brahma and Narada had stepped away for a minute. This was sixty thousand years in human time. When Brahma and Narada got back they could not see Ratnakar.They looked around but no signs. While they could not see anyone, they could hear the name of Rama being uttered. Tracing back to the source of the sound, they came to an overgrown ant hill. They saw the name of Rama coming from the ant hill. So Ratnakar is here, Brahma thought. He called for Indra, God of Rains, and asked him to rain non stop for seven days and seven nights.
After the rain, Brahma saw a human skeleton uttering the name of Rama, With the grace of Brahma, Ratnakar got back his human form. Getting up, he prostrated himself before Brahma. You gave me the name of Rama, he said. Today I am free.
Brahma asked him to get up and said. You were Ratnakar. Today you get a new name. Eaten by the ants (Valmika), you will hence forth be known as Valmiki.
Valmiki wanted to know what to do next. Brahma said, go write the story of Rama, in seven chapters (Kanda).
Valmiki said he would do the same, but he was not very educated. How would he able to write an epic about Rama?
Brahma said - Do not worry. When it is time, Devi Saraswati, Goddess of all learning, will sit on your tongue. What ever you say about Rama, Rama will perform those tasks. Saying this Brahma and Narada left.
Soon all flesh was eaten away and only bones remained. Over a period of time, grass and bushes grew over the mass of bones. The name of Rama did not stop.
Brahma and Narada had stepped away for a minute. This was sixty thousand years in human time. When Brahma and Narada got back they could not see Ratnakar.They looked around but no signs. While they could not see anyone, they could hear the name of Rama being uttered. Tracing back to the source of the sound, they came to an overgrown ant hill. They saw the name of Rama coming from the ant hill. So Ratnakar is here, Brahma thought. He called for Indra, God of Rains, and asked him to rain non stop for seven days and seven nights.
After the rain, Brahma saw a human skeleton uttering the name of Rama, With the grace of Brahma, Ratnakar got back his human form. Getting up, he prostrated himself before Brahma. You gave me the name of Rama, he said. Today I am free.
Brahma asked him to get up and said. You were Ratnakar. Today you get a new name. Eaten by the ants (Valmika), you will hence forth be known as Valmiki.
Valmiki wanted to know what to do next. Brahma said, go write the story of Rama, in seven chapters (Kanda).
Valmiki said he would do the same, but he was not very educated. How would he able to write an epic about Rama?
Brahma said - Do not worry. When it is time, Devi Saraswati, Goddess of all learning, will sit on your tongue. What ever you say about Rama, Rama will perform those tasks. Saying this Brahma and Narada left.
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