Page 8 - Seers and Sages of India

A Few Prominent Rishis of Ancient India

Valmiki

Very little is known about Rishi Vālmīki, the composer of

the Ramayana. Said to have lived in the first millennium

BCE, his lineage is believed to be either that of Rishi

Bhirgu or of Bhargava. It is also believed that he was a

highway robber and murderer in his earlier life, by the

name of Ratnakar. A chance encounter with sage Narada

helped him understand the truth of life; the sage

subsequently initiated him into the mantra for salvation.

After tapasya of several years, a divine voice declared the

robber’s penance as complete and bestowed the name of

‘Vālmīki’ (meaning ‘one born out of ant-hills’, because

during tapasya ant-hills grew around the sage’s body).

Valmiki has also written ‘Akshara Lakshana’ which deals

with mathematics in general, and geometry, trigonometry,

algebra in particular.