Adikavi

Adikavi, literally the first poet, is an epithet of Brahma, and also of Valmiki.

In Hindu mythology, Brahma, the creator of the Universe, is said to have produced the Vedas, the scriptures (sacred books of Hindus), which contains Richas (a form of poetry in old Sanskrit literature).

However, there are many who believed it an epithet of Valmiki, the composer of the Ramayana, the first epic in Sanskrit.

It may be mentioned here that the Rigved (one of the four Vedas) is the oldest book of the world believed by many to have written around 1800 BC. Many dates it back many millennium before.

Ramayan is believed to have written in the 6th century BC, but many others claim it of earlier ages.

Nevertheless, if we consider the Supreme God as the producer of the Vedas, Brahma is the right epithet. However, for any known human being as a poet this epithet is rightly attached to the sage poet Valmiki.

The debate as to who is the first poet is yet to be settled.

Despite this controversy, we continue to use the epithet 'Adikavi' for both Brahma and Valmiki.

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