Maharishi Valmiki | |
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![]() Maharishi Valmiki composing the Ramayana. | |
Philosophy | Religious movement called Valmikism is based on Valmiki's teachings. |
Titles/honors | Revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka. |
Composed Ramayana |
Maharishi Valmiki (Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि, vālmīki) (during Lord Rama's time)[1] is celebrated as the poet harbinger in Sanskrit literature. He is the author of the epic Ramayana, based on the attribution in the text of the epic itself.[2] He is revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka i.e. first verse, which set the base and defined the form to Sanskrit poetry.
At least by the 1st century AD, Valmiki's reputation as the father of Sanskrit classical poetry seems to have been legendary.