<p>Sage Valmiki, who lived on the banks of the Tamasa, was asked by Brahma to compose the Ramayana in the form of slokas. Valmiki was originally Ratnakara, a dreaded robber. Once Sage Narada advised him to mend his ways and asked him whether the people who were living on the fruits of his robbery would partake of his sinful acts. Ratnakara confidently approached his parents, people, wife and son only to be told that they were not willing to make his burden of sins lighter. In disbelief, he gave up robbery and tried to redeem himself by severe tapas, meditating upon Lord Rama's name. He did this until he was covered by anthills and the saptharishis, the Devas and Narada appeared before him. Ratnakara attained a new radiant birth after his tapas and came to be know as Valmiki as 'Valmika' means 'mole hill'. Lord Srihari who gave him a number of boons also made three divine bows out of the bamboo grass growing on the mole hill. Valmiki then built an ashram at the foot of the Chitrakoota hill and played host to Rama, Lakshmana and Sita during their sojourn in the forest. Again, it was the sage who took care of Sita when she was sent to the forest to prove her purity to the people of Ayodhya. He taught the Vedas to Lava and Kusha, took them and Sita back to Ayodhya and vouched for Sita's fidelity. After handing over the bright boys to their father, Rama, and witnessing Sita being absorbed by Mother Earth, he returned to his ashram.</p>
