Valmiki was the first poet who authored the epic Ramayana which contains 24000 shlokas and 7 cantos including Uttara Kanda. He lived in Treta Yuga. He was also considered 'Adi Kavi' which means the first poet of the Sanskrit language. The sage who composed Ramayan, under the inspiration of Lord Brahma and Brahmarshi Narad. Guru of Lava and Kusha (son of Lord Rama).

Maharshi Valmiki

Ever thought about who was Valmiki before turning to Rishi?

A man called Ratnakar used to steal and serve his family. He took part in many terrible loots from his nearby village. Once Narad Muni passed by the forest, Ratnakar stopped him and tried to rob him. Narad Muni asked Ratnakar, Why do you do this job? to which Ratnakar replied that to raise his family.    

Naradji says are your wife, son, and parents with you in this sin? upon this Ratnakar says "yes why not they are with me". Naradji says let's make your family members judge and ask them whether they share those sins.

Ratnakar went home asking his wife, son, and parents whether they will be part of his sin ?. On this his wife uttered words, "I will be part of your joy and sorrows, not your sins". He was shocked to hear her answer. Afterward, he returned to Narad Muni who said if your parents and wife do not want to be part of your sin, then why are committing this sin for them? 

Ratnakar felt alone, he grabbed Narad Muni's feet. Naradji guided him to the knowledge of the truth.

Naradji taught him to chant Ram-Nam. However Ratnakar was unable to pronounce Rama's name, therefore Narad Muni instructed him to chant "Mara-Mara", and soon he recited Lord Rama's name. Years passed but Ratnakar was still meditating and reciting Ram-Nam. Anthill was created upon Ratnakar. 

One day Naradji was passing by the way and cleared the anthill (a nest in the form of a mound built by ants). With a smile on his face, Naradji declared Ratnakar a sage, from now you will be called Valmiki (reborn from anthill). With tears of happiness, the sage Valmiki started his new life near the Ganga river.

The dacoit in this story gave up his existing world and created his own new world again which we call Ramayana. History says that Ratnakar, the dacoit of the past later on became Valmiki, the creator of the saga of Ramayana. 

This was the story of how Ratnakar, became Sage Valmiki from a Dacoit (hunter).

Valmiki had a great power of thinking. He had a different perception to look towards the world. Sage Valmiki stressed positive thinking. For him, service and human dignity are at the top.

Valmiki's words are rays of hope for millions of poor Dalits, they instill a sense of hope and belief in them. 

According to him if a person has willpower then he can accomplish any task easily. It is willpower that gives the strength to many youths to accomplish extraordinary tasks.

Valmiki Jayanti is celebrated on a full moon night or Purnima of Ashvin month.

We will be always grateful to sage Valmiki for writing such a great scripture like Ramayana, which will be a guide for the younger ones.  

At last from his teachings, we can conclude that,

Chanting reversely Rama's name dacoit Ratnakar turned into Valmiki Maharshi who wrote the epic "Ramayana".

Happy Valmiki Jayanti

Long ago there was a demon called Mahishasura. He was given this name as he was in the form of bison. Being a powerful demon, Mahishasura wanted to conquer all the 3 worlds in the universe. He began to pray for Brahma to acquire a boom to fulfill his desire as his prayers continued for years, Brahma had to appear in front of Mahishasura. 'No man in this universe should be able to kill me, was the boon obtained by Mahishasura from Brahma deva. 

Goddess Durga defeated Mahishasura

After getting boon Mahishasura started torturing everyone. Even Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva were not able to restrain him. So they thought of finding ways to defeat Mahishasura. As there was a chance for women to defeat Mahishasura they wished to create a woman so powerful as to defeat him. They combined their power and created Goddess Durga, they gifted their weaponry to her who was ready to fight with Mahishasura with only 2 but 18 hands. The weapons she got from God were. With Sudarshan chakra from Lord Vishnu, Trident(Trishul) from Lord Shiva, and Vajrayudha from Lord Indra she mounted on Lion and started a battle with Mahishasura. Mahishasura likewise was ready, he attacked Goddess Durga with millions of soldiers. 

But Durga and her lion turned down the army of Mahishasura. After a fierce battle that lasted for nine days, Goddess Durga finally killed the demon Mahishasura. The gods celebrated this occasion which is now continued as Vijayadashami. 

The battle between Goddess Durga and demon Mahishasura Continued for 9 nights. the festival days of Vijayadashmi are called Navaratri. As the victory was achieved on the 10th day it was called Dusshera. Dusshera is celebrated as the 10th day of the Hindu month of Ashvin.

Here is the list of 7 facts that everyone should know about Navaratri & Dusshera.

1. The word Navratri is a combination of two words Nav means nine and Ratri means Night.
2. Nine days of Navratri signify one of the nine forms of Goddess Shakti; Durga, Bhadrakali, Jagadamba, Annapurna, Sarvamangala, Bhairavi, Chandika, Latika, Bhavani and Mookambika
3. Garba and Dandiya are two traditional dance forms that originate from the state of Gujarat and it is trendy in India during the Navratri festival.
4. Mahishasura had the head of a buffalo so Navratri people sacrifice buffalo in many parts of the country. It should be beheaded in a single stroke.
5. In some parts of India, women plant nine different kinds of food grain seeds in small pots. The newly grown saplings are then offered to Goddess.
6. On the ninth day of Navratri in Karnataka, people worship weapons.
7. In the southern part of India, in the state of Tamil Nadu, Dusshera is called Golu.

It is also said that on this day Lord Rama defeated king Ravan. Dusshera is celebrated to mark Lord Rama's victory over the Ravana.
On the 10th day i.e., Dusshera huge effigies of Ravana are burnt with fireworks which symbolize the quelling of darkness by light. 
Dusshera also brings joy on the way to the next big festival called Diwali. Diwali is celebrated 20 days after Dusshera and signifies the return of Lord Rama, Sita and Laxman to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.

10 things that shouldn't go to your head

 In early 1997-1998 when Inder Kumar Gujral was Prime Minister of Congress in India. He was treated as a weak Prime Minister and people used to bother him. So proving himself that his party Congress also gives equal importance to security as well. He decided to honor a man popularly known as Missile Man Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam with Bharat Ratna. He was the second person to receive Bharat Ratna after CV Raman in 1952.

APJ Abdul Kalam

Success Story of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

 Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam is famously remembered as Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. From a small boy born in a middle-class family on 15 October 1931 to growing up in Rameswaram dreaming big and becoming the country's 11 President and role model of many millennials and leaders, Abdul Kalam's life has been a tale of exceptional, determination, passion, courage, and perseverance.

Dr. Abdul Kalam was the world's renowned scientist. He worked with Satish Dhawan (Indian Aerospace Engineer) in ISRO with the successful launch of the Agni missile on 22nd March 1989 after several failures. After the successful launch of a missile, he was known as Missile Man. He wrote many books which include Ignited minds, Wings of Fire, Turning Points, and many more.

He was a humble man a creative thinker and a legendary vision man. He struggled a lot throughout his life to uplift his country's bright future. He faced several difficulties and failures throughout his life. As he once said, 

Man needs difficulties in his life because they are necessary to enjoy success.

Established on 8th October 1932, the Indian Air force is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. The role of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is to keep Indian air space safe from attacks during conflict situations.

Indian Air Force stands at 4th position in the list of the strongest airforce in the world. After India got independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept and served in the early of World War II. With the Transition of government to Republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was removed, and thus from 1950, it was called as Indian Air Force.

Marshal of Indian Air Force Arjan Singh Aulakh was a senior air officer of IAF. He was the first and so far 5-star rank officer of IAF in 2002 January. 

Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh is the current Chief of Air Staff in the Indian Air Force.

The Indian Air force is celebrating its 88th anniversary. The day is marked by the main event comprising a parade and flying in a similar pattern at Hindon Air Force Base. On Indian Air Force Day India showcases its aviation airpower. This year it will feature newly included Rafale fighter aircraft in the parade.

India's first operational squadron came into being in April 1933.

 Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had a significant amount of contribution to the world of Indian history. Becoming a Barrister from England and arriving in India, Gandhi had a great life, but it all started from removing him from the train by Britishers, and from that day Gandhi was not just a name and the Rest is history.

This year India may celebrate the 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Born as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on 2nd October 1869 in Porbander, Gujrat. When Gandhi was growing up, few people had predicted that one day he would attract millions of followers.

In fact, when Gandhi was young he was ordinary and was extremely shy. He even described running home from school so he wouldn't have to talk to anybody. He became 'Father of Nation' and was fondly addressed as Bappu. He used to read various books, Grants, and many other Hindu novels. While he had written many books based on his experience, which still shows us the new way of life through his experience, his thoughts are meaningful even today.

7 lessons we should learn from Mahatma Gandhi.

 Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?                           

                     - Mahatma Gandhi

Forgiveness is a trait of strong, not weak