author
Valmiki
Tradition remembers him as the sage behind the Ramayana, one of the foundational epics of Indian literature. Revered as the Adi Kavi, or “first poet,” he stands at the beginning of a storytelling tradition that has shaped religious and literary culture for centuries.
16 Audiobooks
The Rāmāyana, Volume 4. Uttara Kānda
by Valmiki
The Rāmāyana, Volume 3. Yuddhakāndam
by Valmiki
Hindu literature : Comprising The Book of good counsels, Nala and Damayanti, The Ramayana, and Sakoontala
by Toru Dutt, Kālidāsa, Valmiki
Morte de Yaginadatta Episodio do poema epico - O Ramayana
by Valmiki, Cândido de Figueiredo
About the author
Ancient Indian tradition identifies Valmiki as the author of the Sanskrit Ramayana, the great epic that tells the story of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman. He is widely honored as the Adi Kavi—the first poet—and his name has become inseparable from one of the most influential works in South Asian literature.
Traditional accounts also place him within the story itself, as a sage whose hermitage gives shelter to Sita and whose teaching helps preserve and pass on the poem. Because Valmiki belongs to legend as much as history, many details of his life are framed through long-standing religious and literary tradition rather than modern biography.
Even so, his legacy is unmistakable. The Ramayana has inspired retellings, performances, translations, and devotional traditions across India and far beyond, making Valmiki one of the most enduring and celebrated figures in world epic literature.