Valmiki Jayanti 2024: Date, History, Benefits & its Importance

Valmiki Jayanti 2024: Welcome to our new blog. Today in this article, we will talk about Valmiki Jayanti and all about Maharishi Valmiki. Valmiki Jayanti is marked every year on the full moon day of Ashwin month. Maharishi Valmiki, the author of Ramayana, was born on this day. This year, Valmiki Jayanti is on 17 October 2024.

In Hinduism, Maharishi Valmiki is considered to be the best guruji; it is said that earlier, Valmiki ji was a dacoit, but then something happened that changed his life, and he wrote the epic Ramayana based on the life of Lord Rama. Maharishi Valmiki’s life has been full of struggles.

Maharishi Valmiki’s birth anniversary is celebrated on the day of Sharad Purnima. However, Goddess Lakshmi and the Moon are worshiped on the day of Sharad Purnima. Maharishi Valmiki’s birth anniversary also has special significance on this day.

The story of Valmiki ji’s name and his becoming a Maharishi is fascinating. Let us know the information related to Maharishi Valmiki and Valmiki Jayanti 2024.

Valmiki Jayanti 2024 Date

According to the Hindu calendar, in the year 2024, Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti will be celebrated on October 17, Thursday.

Ashwin Purnima Tithi will Start on – 16 October 2024 at 08:45 pm and
Ashwin Purnima Tithi will End on – 17 October 2024 at 04:50 pm.

Who was Maharishi Valmiki?

Maharishi Valmiki was a great poet. He composed the epic Ramayana in Sanskrit language. In which the entire lifestyle of Lord Shri Ram is shown. According to mythological belief, Maharishi Valmiki was born to Maharishi Kashyap and Aditi’s ninth son Varun, i.e., Aditya. His mother’s name was Charshadi. Nevertheless, no definite proof has been found for this.

But according to religious belief, when Maharishi Valmiki was born, then a tribal woman, Bhilni stole him and started bringing him up. When Maharishi Valmiki grew up, due to a lack of knowledge, he began robbing travelers passing through the forest. Suddenly, one day, Maharishi Narad ji was passing through the same forest when he met Maharishi Valmiki.

Valmiki Jayanti 2024 Katha – How did he become Maharishi from a Dacoit?

There are many opinions about the birth of Maharishi Valmiki, according to which he was the son of Maharishi Kashyap’s 9th son Varun, and his wife, Charshaani. Rishi Bhrigu is considered his elder brother. Born in a Brahmin family, Valmiki ji became a dacoit in his youth.

It is said that after birth, in his childhood, people of the Bhil community kidnapped him. He was brought up there. Before Valmiki, he was called Ratnakar. Ratnakar used to do wrong things like looting and theft, but one incident changed his life completely.

Once, the robber Ratnakar captured Narad Muni in the forest. Narad ji asked what you would get from these wrong deeds. Ratnakar said I am doing this for the family. Narad ji told him to ask the person for whom you are walking on the wrong path whether he will bear the consequences of your sinful deeds.

Ratnakar did the same as Narad ji said, but all the family members refused to do so. Ratnakar was very saddened by this incident and abandoned the wrong path and immersed himself in the devotion of Ram. Only after this he got the inspiration to compose the epic Ramayana.

How did he get the name Valmiki?

According to the legend, once Maharishi Valmiki was sitting in meditation. He was so engrossed in this meditation that it lasted for many days, and termites covered his entire body.

Maharishi opened his eyes only after completing his meditation. Then, he removed the termites. The place where termites make their home is called Valmiki. Hence he came to be known as Valmiki.

According to another mythology, It is said that inspired by Narad Muni, Ratnakar (Valmiki ji) started chanting the name of Ram, but instead of Ram, the words ‘Mara Mara’ were coming out of his mouth. Narad Muni said keep repeating this, Ram is hidden in it.

After this, such a passion for the name of Ram arose in Ratnakar’s mind that seeing his penance, Brahma himself appeared before him, and witnessing the bamboo on his body, Brahma named him Valmiki.

Maharishi Valmiki got the inspiration to compose the Ramayana from Brahma himself. He wrote Ramayana in Sanskrit, which is considered to be the oldest Ramayana, and it is said that it has 24000 verses.

Importance of Valmiki Jayanti 2024

Valmiki Jayanti is the day dedicated to the birthday of the renowned sage and the author of Ramayana, Maharishi Valmiki. It is believed that he was an ardent devotee of Lord Shri Ram.

According to Hindu mythology, Valmiki Rishi was the person who gave shelter to Goddess Sita when she left the kingdom of Ayodhya and went to the forest. Not only this, the mother gave birth to Luv Kush in his ashram.

Valmiki Jayanti is also celebrated as Pragat Divas. Through this day, people remember him and express their gratitude for the knowledge and education given by him. He was such a great saint who told about Maryada Purushottam Lord Ram through Ramayana.

Maharishi Valmiki had united Shri Ram with Luv Kush

Luv Kush tied the Ashwamedha Yagya of Lord Rama in Maharishi Valmiki’s ashram itself. Due to this, Lord Rama had to come to Valmiki Ashram. It was here that Luv Kush met their father, Lord Rama, for the first time.

Later, Maharishi Valmiki introduced Lord Rama to Luv Kush. And when Goddess Sita went to the lap of Mother Earth, Valmiki handed over Luv Kush to Lord Rama.

Maharishi Valmiki’s Meeting with Lord Hanuman

Once Maharishi Valmiki saw the Ramayana written on stone, he was surprised and started thinking about who wrote such a good Ramayana. Meanwhile, Hanumanji came there and told that this was his Ramayana. Valmiki was saddened by this and said to me that after reading the Ramayana written by you, who will read my Ramayana?

Knowing Valmiki’s feelings, Hanumanji picked up his Ramayana written on stones and threw it into the sea. Hanumanji told Valmiki that from now on, the world will read your Ramayana, and it will be famous.

It is said that Maharishi Valmiki’s next birth was in the form of Tulsidas Ji and he also composed Ramcharit Manas by being immersed in Ram Bhakti.

How is Valmiki Jayanti Celebrated?

People of the Valmiki sect worship Valmiki Rishi and consider him as a form of God, the place dedicated to Valmiki Rishi or his temples are decorated with flowers. One of the oldest temples dedicated to Sage Valmiki is located in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. This temple is believed to be 1300 years old.

It is believed that Sage Valmiki rested here after finishing the holy book Ramayana and later, his disciples built a temple at that place. Sadhaks feed the needy people on this auspicious day. People also chant mantras and slokas from Ramayana on this particular day, which brings the full blessings of Lord Rama.

Valmiki Jayanti 2024 Puja Vidhi

Friends, now let us also know the method of performing the puja, which is as follows:

• On the day of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, all the devotees wake up early in the morning and go to the holy river Ganga to take a bath.
• If there is no Ganga river near you, then you can go to any pond or stepwell and take a bath.
• You can take a bath and meditate by adding Ganga water to the bathing water.
• After taking a bath, wear new or clean clothes.
• After this, offer water to Lord Sun.
• Then, bow down to the place of worship and remember all your favorite deities.
• And worship him with full rites and ceremonies.

Conclusion

Valmiki Jayanti 2024, also known as Pragat Diwas, is a Hindu festival celebrated to mark the birth of sage Maharishi Valmiki by Balmiki religious groups.

Maharishi Valmiki was born in Treta Yuga. The entire life of Maharishi Valmiki paves the way for abandoning evil deeds and following the path of good deeds and devotion. Valmiki Jayanti is celebrated to spread this great message to the people.

On this occasion, processions are taken out at many places and a feast is also organized at his statue site on this day. Along with this, the story of Valmiki is also propagated through various types of programs.

The Indian lunar calendar determines the Valmiki Jayanti date and falls on the full moon (Purnima) of the month of Ashwin, typically in late September or early October. This year, Valmiki Jayanti will fall on 17 October 2024.