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Rishi Vaalmeeki composed Raamaayan. It is regarded as the first epic not only for Hindu, but for the the entire mankind. Even Rishi Ved Vyaas had studied Raamaayan. After Yudhishthir requested Ved Vyaas Jee he wrote Raamaayan Taatparya Deepikaa as a commentary on Raamaayan before he composed his own great epic Mahaabhaarat.

Literary Importance of Raamaayan

The other epics of the world such as Mahaabhaarat, Iliad, Odyssey, and Paradise Lost were composed centuries later. Vaalmeeki’s Raamaayan has been translated in all the languages of the world. The original Raamaayaninspired many subsequent writers to compose different versions of the same story, of which Shree Raam Charit Maanas, composed by Tulasee Daas in Hindi (Avadhee dialect) is most read. Besides many other salient features, Tulasee Daas' literary masterpiece stands out for being the only epic in the entire literature of the world, where feminine beauty of the heroine has been described by the author visualizing her in the image of his own mother, rather than beloved. Though Seetaa is projected as the most beautiful women of the universe. She is virtuous and reverend and referred by the poet from beginning to the end in the form of his own mother.

Vaalmeeki’s Raamaayan has served as the fountainhead of inspiration not only for subsequent epics on the same theme, but has been a global trendsetter in the style of epic writing, and has influenced other formats of literature. The theme of this epic continues to attract dancers, musicians, story tellers, dramatists, cinema and folk arts in India, South East Asia in particular and the rest of the countries in general.

--The pictorial quality of Vaalmeeki’s description is superb. His description of a feast arranged by Sage Bharadwaaj to welcome Bharat’s army would dwarf the arrangements of any five-star hotels of our times.
--When the entire Europe did not know the existence of Pacific Ocean till 16th century, Sugreev‘s briefing given to his subordinates for tracing Seetaa has listed all the four major oceans and prominent land marks existing on the surface of the globe today.
--The take off by Hanumaan to cross ocean for going to Lankaa in search of Seetaa contains all the details of future concord taking off. These are treats to the imagination yet to be surpassed in literature and convince scientific mind as well.

Conceptual Effect of Raamaayan

The environment depicted in Vaalmeeki’s epic is not of a primitive human society, but that of a well-developed civilization. It contains geographical references, dynastic charts, social customs, diplomatic protocols, and political concepts that are being followed even by advanced nations of the modern world. Vaalmeeki’s description of military organizations, weaponry, tactics, intelligence gathering system and military maneuvers are valid even today. It preceded even Sun Tzu’s military doctrines, Aristotle’s theories, and Arth Shaastra of Kautillya, which are regarded authentic texts on Military Science and Diplomacy.

Raamaayan has influenced and affected social customs and Indian society in every walk of life for thousands of years. Hindu society is molded that way. Raam and Seetaa represent an ideal couple for every Indian household. The story of prince Raam living an ideal life has inspired millions of Indians as a model for the roles that a person has to perform in life under different situations. The illustration of Raam discharging his obligations in the roles of an obedient son, a caring husband, an affectionate brother, a sincere friend and an ideal king have universal appeal irrespective of religion to every human being of the civilized world today. While Raam has been projected as Maryaadaa Purushottam, the other characters of Raamaayan are mixed of human strengths and weaknesses found in every society.

Historical Importance of Raamaayan

Ramayana with her characters and sites makes every human being proud of this universal heritage of mankind in general and to every Indian in particular since we are closely related to it. This epic contains early history for the mankind.

Some Westerners and a few Anglicized Hindu regard Raamaayan as a fictional literature since its historical substance cannot be established according to the parameters set by western historians. They purposely ignore the fact that in ancient India historical records were kept by way of epics as well as chronicles like Pauraanik stories. It was much later that some Kings had chronicles written by foreign travelers also. The authenticity of historical events of past thousands years cannot be established as per European standards today. In the style of epic writing the descriptions used to be metaphorical, and to some extent the poets could be biased to favor or denounce their patrons and rival kings. The same custom continued all over the world. Even Mahamood Gaznavee of Medieval period had his biography written by Persian poet Firadausee. All such records are taken in to account for linking the past where fool-proof evidence is not available. History is nothing but a legend agreed upon. It is also an indisputable fact that much of Hindu historical evidence in the form of literature, chronicles and historical sites has been destroyed during Muslim rule.

How ironical it was that we had to wait till 20th century to be told by British historian Sir John Marshal that we were the oldest civilization on the globe after the excavations of Harappaa and Mohan-jodaaro. Efforts are needed to trace and connect the missing links in our past, but due to vote bank politics and anti Hindu politicians the same has been kept in abeyance. On the other hand vested interests had contemplated destruction of our ancient heritage. The plan to destroy Raam Setu was a treacherous step in the same direction. The recorded evidence is available in Vaalmeeki Raamaayan. While returning to Ayodhayaa after freeing Seetaa, Raam points out to Seetaa from His Pushpak Vimaan the bridge that He had got constructed to transport his army across the ocean. It goes as under:
ऐष सेतुमर्या बद्धः सागरे लवणाणर्वे।
तव हेतोविर्शालाक्षि नल सेतुः सुदुष्करः।। (16 Yuddh Kaand, Sarg 123)
“O large eyed Seetaa, to rescue you there lays the bridge to be remembered by the name of "Nal Setu". With great difficulty the bridge had been laid across the saline water of the ocean on my orders."

The ongoing controversy about the authenticity of Raamaayan, the existence of Raam, and Raam Setu is a nefarious plan to destroy the cultural pride of India. Can any person deny the existence of his grandparents’ grandparents? Certainly No, but in spite of having own great grandparents lived about hundred years ago, no person can provide any historical proof about the existence of great grand parents. Every living person is a conclusive proof to support the fact that not only he had his parents, but also had a chain of great grandparents; otherwise he would not have come into existence. Similarly the faith and belief about Raam and the Raam Setu named after Him does not require any proof to be presented. Raam Setu stands out as the first man-made, and recorded archeological land mark for the entire mankind. It has been referred as Adam’s Bridge, in the atlases published by other nations also.

A mischievous theory was advanced to justify British colonial rule that the story of Raam symbolized the Aaryan aggression over Draavidian culture. This is absurd since Raavan was also a part and parcel of the Aaryan culture. Raamaayan tells that Raavan was a Braahman, son of a reverend Rishi Vishravaa from Sumaalee's daughter Kaikasee, and was well versed in Ved. He performed Yagya, worshiped Lord Shiv several times and had obtained his blessings. How can he be a non-Aaryan? Raavan’s flag insignia depicting a human scalp has come to be regarded as a warning sign for danger all over the world.

Vaalmeeki Raamaayan opens up a window to peep in the past of our cultural heritage. It contains valuable data on multiple subjects including Aayur Ved, Tantra, Astrology, Music, Evolution of life on Earth, History, Geography, Diplomacy and protocols, Economics and Military Science. The instances can be corroborated to match other ancient accounts given by different saints and learned persons on different occasions and places. Every one cannot be suspected to have fabricated history through identical narration of details. All of the account put together suggests the existence of a well-developed human civilization in ancient India.

Raamaayan is therefore the historical record of mankind, but having been living in close proximity Hindu have deep sentimental attachment for the epic. The attributes of this great classic can be known properly by reading the original text.
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That is why Vaalmeeki Jee is said to be the "Aadi Kavi" (First Poet). If he had not been the first poet, how could he write the first poetry?