What is in news : Valmiki Jayanti celebrated

About :

• Considered as the Adi Kavi
• First poet of the Sanskrit language
• Great sage and author of the epic Ramayana.
• Celebrated on Ashwin Purnima as per the Hindu lunar calendar.
• Also known as Pragat Diwas
• Was a contemporary of Lord Sri Rama
• Lord Rama met Valmiki during his period of exile and interacted with him.
• Valmiki provided shelter to Devi Sita in his hermitage when Lord Rama banished her. In his hermitage, Kusha and Luv, the twin sons of Lord Rama were born.
• Valmiki taught Ramayana to both twins.
• In his early life, Maharishi Valmiki was a highway dacoit whose name was Ratnakar. He used to rob people after killing them. It is said that Sage Narad Muni transformed Ratnakar and became a great devotee of Lord Rama.
• Narad Muni advised Ratnakar to perform great penance by reciting the Mantra of Rama Nama.