Valmiki And The Significance: Of Folklore, Faith & Formations

The land of India has evolved witnessing a pantheon of several gods and goddesses and their legacies. The most notable sacred texts holding testimony to their legacies would undoubtedly be the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas. Interestingly, it was not only the divine characters, mentioned in these texts, who were revered in our society; it also transcended to the ones who birthed these epics.

The Adikavi of Ramayana, Valmiki Muni, or Rishi Valmiki, is one such composer, who, to date, is remembered through temples dedicated to him. The homage does not stop at just temples, the Valmiki community of India believe their ancestry can be drawn to the Rishi. His story of personal transformation, commitment to equality, and enduring literary legacy provide them with a sense of identity, inspiration, and the strength to persevere in their quest for a more just and inclusive society.

His predecessors, the Valmiki Community, built in his name, the Valmiki Mandir, on Mandir Marg, Delhi. The community, consisting of Dalits, found their place in the mainstream culture of the Indian Society through him. They are taking back the literary spaces for themselves and, in the process, creating a counter-narrative of this epic that allows them to break free from the constraints of their positionality. 

There has been a major shift within the Indian Valmiki community. This community has experienced a notable change in their social standing after being marginalised and stigmatised in the past, primarily as a result of their labour in manual scavenging and sanitation. By adopting the moniker "Valmiki," people have started a journey to recover their sense of self and identity, and in doing so, they have detached themselves from the historical stigmas associated with their particular professions. 

The Valmikis have faced a long history of discrimination, marginalisation, and social injustice, often being relegated to the lowest castes within society. Their already marginalised condition was made worse by their traditional jobs as manual scavengers.

A significant shift has occurred, with a number of individuals and groups within this community choosing to accept the name 'Valmiki' as a means of overcoming their previous associations and resolutely and honourably reaffirming who they are. The term has important social and cultural connotations. This is an example of tenacity since it challenges the societal norms that have contributed to their continued persecution. By taking on the name of the great sage Valmiki, people identify with a well-known scholar and spiritual figure in Hinduism and therefore assert their right to a dignified and honourable life. 

The tale of Saint Valmiki, in particular his conversion from highway robber to sage, is a potent metaphor for how individuals and societies may change. Those who have historically experienced prejudice and isolation can relate to his journey from a life of crime to one of spirituality and enlightenment. The idea that anyone may alter their fate and make a meaningful contribution to society is embodied by Valmiki's metamorphosis.

The memory of Saint Valmiki reminds us of the ongoing struggle for social justice and equality. Dalits in Punjab and Haryana draw inspiration from his teachings to struggle for their rights and to challenge the prejudice and inequity they continue to encounter in modern society. His teachings place a strong emphasis on treating everyone with kindness and respect, regardless of their social class or caste.

The origin of Valmiki remains thoroughly debatable

Of the many narratives, one claims that he was born as the Agni Sharma to a Brahmin Pracheta of the Bhrigu gotra. Influenced by the words of the Narada, he followed certain acts of penance, during the course of which huge anthills formed around him and he was, since then, known as the 'Valmiki'. The same tradition pointed out that he learnt certain scripture from the Narada and became an ascetic. 

Contrary to this, the most accepted and celebrated version of his origin was that of a transition from a robber to a Rishi. The Skanda Purana mentions his birth as a Brahman named Lohajhangha. Due to dire circumstances and his responsibility to provide for his parents, he turned to robbery. During one of these robberies, he mistakenly attacked Saptarishi. On realising his mistake and wanting to attain salvation, he chanted a mantra and engrossed himself in wanting to come out of a life of crimes. The trance of the mantra made him lose track of time and led to the formation of anthills around his body. Anthills, or Valmika, was where the Rishi derived his name from. 

Traditionally, Valmiki has been viewed as a contemporary of Lord Ram, thus, making him worthy of documenting his great truths. In being a contemporary of a divine Avatar of Lord Vishnu, Rishi Valmiki materialises his stature as a God in the hearts of countless people of various communities in India. Valmiki’s portrayal of characters in the Ramayana as both human and divine allowed his work to connect to the masses. This is the tale of those who let their avarice, lust, greed, and self-interest to rule their lives, resulting in immense pain for all living creatures.

In Valmiki's epic, basic human drives are depicted and made eternal through the construction of a durable literary framework. He depicted the underlying essence of human existence and the interactions people form in the physical world by skillfully fusing the notions of "bhava" (state of being) and "rasa" (the resulting effect from bhava). Therefore, through the pages of this brilliant piece of writing, one can experience the breadth of knowing the social, cultural, and political fabric of the Indian state. 

Saint Valmiki's life, teachings, and literary contributions hold immense significance for the Dalits of our country, apart from playing a major role in the hegemonic cultural ethos of the rest of the country. Saint Valmiki remains an emblem of faith and the formation of a safe space for these communities, transcending the boundaries of time and caste to continue influencing their lives positively.

Authored by Debarati Mitra, M.A. Sociology, Ambedkar University Delhi.  

Views expressed by the author are their own.

Suggested reading: An Excerpt From Maryada: Searching for Dharma in the Ramayana By Arshia Sattar