Valya became Valmiki

 Dear friends, this is a story of a robber named Valya koli and a sage Naradmuni. Long time ago Valya koli lived in forest. He used to scare travelers and rob them off their money and jewelry. He made his family's livelyhood with this money. Naradmuni was a sage of Gods and a devotee of Srivishnu. He used to continuously chant 'Narayan Narayan!'

         Once Nardadmuni passed by the road on which Vallya Koli used to rob travelers. He felt very bad on witnessing all this. He felt If Valya koli continued to sin like this, then he would have to suffer hell. He accosted Valya koli and said, “Why are you committing such crimes? It is a really sinful to torture people by taking away their money.” Valya koli replied, “I have to commit these acts to feed my wife and children.” Nardmuni asked, “If you are doing this for their sake, then go and ask them, whether they are ready to share half part of your sins, you are committing their sake?” When Valya koli went home and asked his wife and children this question question, they said, “We will not share your sins. If you earn money by torturing people then only you will have to suffer these sins.” On hearing this, Valya koli felt bad. For last so many years, he had tortured innocent people. He felt repentant for his actions. He immediately surrendered unto Naradmuni and said, “Please forgive me and free me from this sin.” Naradmuni said, “Valya, are you feeling repentant now? If yes, then start chanting 'Ram Ram' to become free from all your sins. Continue doing so till I return”. thenNaradmuni left for some other mission. Valya koli started chanting by sitting in one posture. Initially, he could not say 'Ram Ram'; hence he used to chant like 'Mara Mara'. But he used to chant very sincerely. Naradmuni did not return for a long time. But Valya koli never stopped chanting. Red ants started forming an ant-hill around him where he was sitting in the forest. But it did not disturb him. Soon, his entire body was covered by an ant hill. But he firmly decided to continue chanting till Naradmuni returns. When he continued chanting for hundreds of years without eating food, God blessed him and said, “I am pleased because of your chanting and I free you of all your sins”. From now on you will be recognized as sage Valmiki and not as Valya Koli. This sage Valmiki wrote great epic Ramayana. Valmiki was so loving by nature that, tigers and deers used to stay together in his Aashram. All this was possible because of the chanting. Hence we will also write the name of God in our notebook every day and also chant this name. Naradmuni helped in transforming Valya koli into Valmiki Rishi.

Moral : Valya felt repentant for his sins because of holy company of Naradmuni. That means we become good citizen because of the holy company. But if our company is bad, then will we will not have desire to improve our character. Hence, we should always remain in a company of good children.