Encyclopedia.com > Dictionaries, Thesauruses, Pictures, and Press Releases > The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions > January 1997

Vālmīki

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | 655 words | Copyright

Vālmīki. Legendary author of the epic Rāmāyaṇa, which he claimed to have visualized in the Vedas; in fact, Rāmāyaṇa bears signs of different layers of composition, but Vālmīki may have been a kuśīlava (‘bard’) who introduced the śloka, the epic metre of two lines, each of two parts with eight syllables in each, which was used also for much of Mahābhārata. To him is attributed another epic work, Yoga-Vaisiṣtha, but there is no real historical evidence for him. For the community revering Vālmīki, see BĀLMĪKĪ.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN BOWKER. "Vālmīki." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Vālmīki." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Vlmki.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Vālmīki." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Vlmki.html

Learn more about citation styles

Find thousands of answers for hundreds of subjects at Answers Encyclopedia .

All answers verified by trusted sources at Encyclopedia.com

Try Answers Encyclopedia now!

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including: