Ardent Devotee

Valmiki Rishi is famed as the harbinger-poet in Sanskrit literature. He is the author of the epic Ramayanam. He is called Adi Kavi.

The Ramayanam Uttara Kandam speaks elaborately about Valmiki Rishi. Previously he was a highway robber and his original name was Ratnagor, Once, the robber tried to rob the divine sage Narada for the benefit of his family. Narada asked him that “O stupid thief don't you think stealing is a sin”? Robber replayed that “No I am feeding my family well so it is not sin” Sage asked him that' if your family would share the sin that you were incurring due to the robbery.? The robber replied to the sage that “Yes why not certainly they will accept “. Sage Naradha told him that “OK perhaps they may not agree about your job So you go and confirm this with your family.' The robber strait away went and asked his family, but none of one agreed to bear the burden of sin. He became vexed, then he finally understood the truth of life and asked for Narada’s forgiveness. Sage Narada said to the robber “see this is the world, if you truthful all will love you, not only your family even others; if you being earn wealth in wrong path no one will care about you, and all will be aloof from you, any way I bless you and teach you a mantra for salvation so you chant, then you will become pure”. Sage Naradha was thinking for a few seconds because the mantra in the name of lord Rama, was not to be given to murderers and the like. thus, Narada decided the path and told the thief to chant "mara mara " the robber meditated for many years, so much so that ant-hills grew around his body. Finally, an Ariel voice declared his penance is successful, bestowing him with the name "Valmiki": "one born out of ant-hills" (Valmikam in Sanskrit means ant-hill).

Valmiki rishi became Sri Rama devotee and written a big epic Sri Ramayanam.

The Ramayanam, consists of 23,000 ślokas and 7 Kandam including the Uttara kandam. It is said the Ramayanam is composed of about 480,000 words, the Rāmāyanam tells the story of a prince, Rāma of Ayodya, whose wife Sita is abducted by the demon-king Ravana of Lanka, The Valmiki’s Rāmāyanam is dated variously from 500 BC to 100 BC.

The Epic Sri Valmiki Ramayanam, prides about Bharatha's nature and his righteousness elaborately.

Bharata was the second brother of the main admirer Rama, it is said that after Rama, he was the symbol of dharma and nobleness. The Pandits description about Bharata, who is greater than Rama himself in virtuousness.

The deep love and esteem that Rama had for Bharata is evident from his declaration that his love for Hanuman and equally with Bharatha.

When Bharatha and Chatrukana entered in the Ayodhi from Kekaya he saw the differences, The Royal flag was not flying proudly as before, and the citizen of Ayodhi was not happy all felt sad, another notable action of citizen as soon as they saw his chariot all went in and shut the doors and some once, they see him straightaway went in and shut the doors loudly.

He went to see his mother Kaikeyi and heard the painful message from her and his sorrow arose the reason is he lost his father, and expulsion of his brother apart from all these he could not do his father's last right. Thinking about his misfortune his sorrow rose and bust out tears from his eyes Bharatha's sorrow knew no bounds. He lamented loudly, rolling on the ground. The minister Sumitrar came and convinced him. He did not convince so he told the minister that give announcement to the Ayodhi that he is leaving to forest tomorrow to see Rama and will bring him back to the country.

The next day he removed his royal dress and wearing thulasimalai and dressed up as hermits and started to the forest to meet Rama. Accompanied by all the citizen of Ayodhi, and Dasaratha’s queens, Vasister, and the minister of the royal court, and the King Janaka of Mithilapuri. Once he saw Rama he busted out with grief and he embarrassed him and he told the sad news to him.

Rama heard the painful news of their father's death, there were utter moan of grief. After finished the ritual of their father's death ceremony, Bharata requested Rama to return to Ayodya as emperor, but Rama firmly refused on the grounds that such a deed would be unrighteous. But Bharatha did not listen Rama's word again and again he pleaded Rama to return to country yet Bharatha heard king Janaka's explanation about Rama's love on Bharatha and Rama's duty and he will not cross his own discipline and righteous. Then Bharata gave up his efforts to take Rama back to Ayodya before the fourteen-year exile pass. Though deeply disappointed, Bharata returned to Ayodya after acquire a promise from Rama that he would return promptly at the end of the fourteen-year exile and takeover the throne. He vowed to Rama that if he did not return immediately when the fourteen years passed, he would immolate his life on.

Then he agreed to govern Ayodya, but not as its ruler, as Rama's representative. The people supported Bharata, as he became the "king" of Kosala and Ayodya, but Bharata himself placed Rama's “Paduka” of the royal throne, and neither ascent the throne nor crowned himself.

 Bharata's period of time was righteous and the kingdom was safe and prosperous, but Bharatha continuously longed for Rama's return. During this time, he did not forgive his mother Kaikeyi, and diligently served Kausalya, Rama's mother, and Sumitra, Lakshmana's mother.

It is said that during his ruling time Bharatha conquered Gandhara and created his kingdom of Dakshasila the existing Punjab, Pakistan, Afghanistan and parts of central Asia. The Pakistan city of Taxila is also a mark of his rule. Pushkalavati, the existing Peshawar, was named after his second son pushkala.

The 14-year period of exile over, Rama annihilated the Ravana kingdom

Remembering Bharata's vow, an anxious and worried so Rama sent Hanuman ahead of himself to prevent Bharata from sacrificing his life.

The koodalmanikyam temple in the Kerala state is the only temple to Bharata in India.

 When Rama walked into the river sarayu, he changed into his eternal and original Mahavishnu form. Bharata and shatrughna walked into the river also and united with him as their original form Chathugana as his shankam and Bharatha as his Sudharshanam.

Message:

The epic Ramayanam says the greatness of the Rama, Bharatha, Lakshmana and Chathurkana and their nature of nobleness; remarkable exceptionally superior and important; highly significance to mankind.

Alwars note about Adhisheshan 'Nadanthal Kudai, Amarnthal Aasanam, Paduthal Padukkai' like Lakshmana's act because he was an incarnation of Aadhisheshan. Chathurkana just an instrument his incarnation from Shankam but Bharatha is from Sri Vishnu's 'Sudharshanam his incarnation is from \Sudharshanam (Su- means clear dharsanam means vision) so Bharatha is an ardent devotee of Sri Rama he is the first Alwar in the earth (Bharathat alwar). he took Rama's patuka holding them on his head and he walked barefooted to Ayodhi that is devotional merits! the symbol even now we can see all the Vishnu temples the “Sadaari” with Sri Rama paduka on top of the Head.

The greatest instruction of the Ramayana. both Rama and Bharatha refused a position of power and the pleasures of the royal palace. No jealousy and no greed, outstanding supreme among the four brothers: love, duty and respect, simplicity, in every sense of the word, was their symbol of honor! The Ramayanam is a greatest institution to a mankind.