Shabari
| Sabari | |
|---|---|
 Sabari Rama statues atSimhachalam. | |
| Devotee of | Rama |
| Teacher | Rishi Matanga |
| Information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Sabari(Sanskrit:शबरी,IAST:Śabarī) is an elderly woman ascetic in theHinduepicRamayana.She is described as an ardently devoted woman who receivedRama's blessing due to herbhaktitowards him.
Story
[edit]Shabari was a woman from a village.[1]According to Krishna Dutt, she was a seeker of knowledge and wanted to know the meaning of Dharma. After days of travel, she met Sage Matanga at the foot ofMount Rishyamukha.She accepted him asguru,serving him with devotion for many years.[1]When Matanga was about to die, Shabari, now elderly, stated that after serving him throughout her life, she now sought to reach for herself the same "abode of peace" which Matanga had reached.[1]The sage responded that, if she offeredseva(service), the godRamawould give herdarshana.He told her to await Rama's arrival. Then, while sitting in lotus posture, the sage attainedMahasamadhi.Following her guru's advice, Shabari awaited Rama's arrival.[1]
Every day, Shabari would go out of herashram,with the help of a walking stick, and pluck berries for Rama. She would pluck one, taste it and, if it was sweet, she would put it in her basket, discarding the bitter ones. She wanted to give the good berries to Rama.[2]She didn't know that offerings must not be tasted. Thus, collecting a few berries, Shabari would return to theashramand eagerly await Rama's arrival.[2][3]
Rama's Arrival
[edit]According to the scriptural account, even though hundreds of otheryogiswere waiting to receive Rama in theirashrams,Rama went only to Shabari's ashram because of her sincere devotion. On seeing Rama, Shabari became ecstatic and said, "There were so many exaltedyogiswaiting for yourdarshan,but you came to this unworthy devotee (...) This clearly shows that you will neither see whether a devotee lives in a palace or humble hut, whether he is erudite or ignorant (...) neither see caste nor color. You will only see the truebhakti(...) I do not have anything to offer other than my heart, but here are some berries. May it please you, my Lord. "Shabari offered the fruits which she had meticulously collected. As Rama tasted them,Lakshmanaraised the concern that Shabari had already tasted them and they were, therefore,unworthy of eating.To this, Rama[4]responded that, of the many types of food he had tasted, "nothing could equal these berries, offered with such devotion. You taste them, then alone will you know. Whomsoever offers a fruit, leaf, flower or some water with love, I partake in it with great joy." Traditional writers use this narrative to indicate that inbhakti,faults are not seen by the deities.
Pleased with Shabari's devotion, Rama blesses her with his vision. Rama notices thedonas,or bowls, of handmade leaves in which she had offered the fruits and is impressed by the hard work Shabari has gone through to make them and, hence, blesses the tree so that the leaves naturally grow in the shape of a bowl.[5]Shabari also tells Rama to take help fromSugrivaand where to find him. The Ramayana says that Shabari was a very bright and knowledgeable saint.[6]
Rama's discourse
[edit]Rama delivers his discourse onnava-vidha bhakti(ninefold devotion) to Shabari,[7]
Such pure devotion is expressed in nine ways. First issatsangor association with love-intoxicated devotees and righteous people. The second is to develop a taste for hearing My nectar-like stories. The third is service to theguru(...) Fourth is to sing Mykirtana(communal chorus) (...)Japaor repetition of My Holy name and chanting Mybhajanasare the fifth expression (...) To follow scriptural injunctions always, to practice control of the senses, nobility of character and selfless service, these are expressions of the sixth mode ofbhakti.Seeing Me manifested everywhere in this world and worshipping My saints more than myself is the seventh mode ofbhakti.To find no fault with anyone and to be contented with one's lot is the eighth mode ofbhakti.Unreserved surrender with total faith in My strength is the ninth and highest stage. Shabari, anyone who practices one of these nine modes of Mybhaktipleases Me most and reaches Me without fail. That which is most difficult for the greatestyogiswas easily attained by you, Shabari, because of your sincere devotion.[7]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^abcdKeshavadas 1988,p. 121
- ^abKeshavadas 1988,p. 122
- ^Raj, Sundara (28 September 2007)."A novel attempt".The Hindu.Archived fromthe originalon 18 February 2008.Retrieved11 June2009.
- ^"Rosary of Divine Wisdom".Brig. Partap Singh Ji (Retd.). 27 August 1999.
- ^Dodiya 2001,p. 297.
- ^Keshavadas 1988,p. 123
- ^abKeshavadas 1988,p. 124
References
[edit]- Keshavadas, Sadguru Sant (1988),Ramayana at a Glance,Motilal BanarsidassPubl., p. 211,ISBN978-81-208-0545-3
- William Buck, B. A; Van Nooten (2000),Ramayana,University of California Press, p. 432,ISBN978-0-520-22703-3
- Dodiya, Jaydipsinh (2001),Critical perspectives on the Rāmāyaṇa,Sarup & Sons, p. 297,ISBN978-81-7625-244-7
External links
[edit]
- Lord Rama only thirsted for the Prema of Shabri Jiby Brig. Partap Singh Ji Jaspal (Retd.)
- The Legend of Bhakt ShabriArchived20 October 2021 at theWayback Machine
