Valmiki, the hunter

[Sudalaimuthu Palaniappan]

In 'Authority and meaning in Indian religions : Hinduism and the case of  
Valmiki', based on Taittiriya Praatisaakhya 5.34, 5.35, 5.36, 9.4, and  18.6,  
Julia Leslie discusses the possibility that Valmiki, a  grammarian, might have 
belonged to a community whose mother-tongue was not  Sanskrit. 
 
Can a grammarian not propound a rule based on his observation of language  
use by others? Is there any justification to assume Valmiki's rule is based on  
his own usage? I would appreciate any comments on this from the Sanskrit  
grammarians on this list.
 
Thanks in advance.
 
Regards,
S. Palaniappan
 
 
In a message dated 11/21/2006 6:47:10 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
ucgadkw at UCL.AC.UK writes:

This is  the subject of Julia Leslie's book _Authority and meaning in 
Indian  religions : Hinduism and the case of Valmiki_.  Curzon,  2003.

Best,
D