Shabari - Revision history

TanyaBertrand6: updated page

2025-03-28T21:34:09Z

updated page

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:04, 29 March 2025
Line 3:		Line 3:
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2017}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2017}}
	{{Infobox character		{{Infobox character
	\| image = ~~Sabari Rama statues at Gangadhara Simhachalam~~.jpg		\| image = The Shabari episode, from an early-20th-century print.jpg
	\| info-hdr=Information		\| info-hdr=Information
	\| caption = ~~Sabari Rama statues at [[Simhachalam]].~~		\| caption = The Shabari episode, from an early-20th-century print
	\| name = ~~Sabari~~		\| name = Shabari
	\| gender = Female		\| gender = Female
	\| religion = [[Hinduism]]		\| religion = [[Hinduism]]
Line 15:		Line 15:
	}}		}}

	'''~~Sabari~~''' ({{~~IAST3~~\|~~Śabarī~~}}, {{~~lang-sa~~\|~~शबरी~~}}) is an elderly woman ascetic in the [[Hinduism\|Hindu]] [[Epic poetry\|epic]] ''[[Ramayana]]''. She is described as an ardently devoted woman who received [[Rama]]'s ~~[[Darśana\|darshana]] and~~ blessing due to her [[bhakti]] to him.		'''Shabari''' ({{langx\|sa\|शबरी}}, {{IAST3\|Śabarī}}), also known as '''Bhilni''', '''Bhilani''', and '''Shramana''', is an elderly woman ascetic in the [[Hinduism\|Hindu]] [[Epic poetry\|epic]] ''[[Ramayana]]''. She is described as an ardently devoted woman who received [[Rama]]'s blessing due to her [[bhakti]] towards him.

	== Story ==		== Story ==
Line 26:		Line 26:
	According to the scriptural account, even though hundreds of other ''[[yogi]]s'' were waiting to receive Rama in their ''ashrams'', Rama went only to Shabari's ashram because of her sincere devotion. On seeing Rama, Shabari became ecstatic and said, "There were so many exalted ''yogis'' waiting for your ''darshan'', 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 true ''bhakti'' (...) 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, [[Lakshmana]] raised the concern that Shabari had already tasted them and they were, therefore, [[Uchchhishta\|unworthy of eating]]. To this, Rama<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.babanandsinghsahib.org/rosary/thermometer.htm\|title=Rosary of Divine Wisdom\|publisher=Brig. Partap Singh Ji (Retd.)\|language=en\|date=27 August 1999}}</ref> 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 in ''[[bhakti]]'', faults are not seen by the deities.		According to the scriptural account, even though hundreds of other ''[[yogi]]s'' were waiting to receive Rama in their ''ashrams'', Rama went only to Shabari's ashram because of her sincere devotion. On seeing Rama, Shabari became ecstatic and said, "There were so many exalted ''yogis'' waiting for your ''darshan'', 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 true ''bhakti'' (...) 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, [[Lakshmana]] raised the concern that Shabari had already tasted them and they were, therefore, [[Uchchhishta\|unworthy of eating]]. To this, Rama<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.babanandsinghsahib.org/rosary/thermometer.htm\|title=Rosary of Divine Wisdom\|publisher=Brig. Partap Singh Ji (Retd.)\|language=en\|date=27 August 1999}}</ref> 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 in ''[[bhakti]]'', faults are not seen by the deities.

	Pleased with Shabari's devotion, Rama blesses her with his vision. Rama notices the ''donas'', 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.{{Sfn\|Dodiya\|2001\|p=297}} Shabari also tells Rama to take help from [[Sugriva]] and where to find him. The Ramayana says that Shabari was a very bright and knowledgeable saint.<ref name="keshavadas_123">{{harvnb\|Keshavadas\|1988\|p=123}}</ref> The ashram in which Shabari stayed and waited for Rama was called as Shabari Narayan which was situated in today's [[Shivrinarayan\|Shivrinaryan]], a town located in [[Janjgir–Champa district\|Janjgir-Champa]] district in [[Chhattisgarh]].<ref name=":0" />		Pleased with Shabari's devotion, Rama blesses her with his vision. Rama notices the ''donas'', 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.{{Sfn\|Dodiya\|2001\|p=297}} Shabari also tells Rama to take help from [[Sugriva]] and where to find him. The Ramayana says that Shabari was a very bright and knowledgeable saint.<ref name="keshavadas_123">{{harvnb\|Keshavadas\|1988\|p=123}}</ref>

	=== Rama's discourse ===		=== Rama's discourse ===
Line 47:		Line 47:

	==External links==		==External links==
			{{Commons category}}
	* [http://www.babanandsinghsahib.org/rosary/thermometer.htm Lord Rama only thirsted for the Prema of Shabri Ji] by Brig. Partap Singh Ji Jaspal (Retd.)		* [http://www.babanandsinghsahib.org/rosary/thermometer.htm Lord Rama only thirsted for the Prema of Shabri Ji] by Brig. Partap Singh Ji Jaspal (Retd.)
	*[https://www.vedicinsight.in/legends/the-legend-of-bhakt-shabri/ The Legend of Bhakt Shabri]		*[https://www.vedicinsight.in/legends/the-legend-of-bhakt-shabri/ The Legend of Bhakt Shabri] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020174716/https://www.vedicinsight.in/legends/the-legend-of-bhakt-shabri/ \|date=20 October 2021 }}

	{{Ramayana}}		{{Ramayana}}

WikiDwarfBOT: robot: add new article

2023-07-22T03:57:16Z

robot: add new article

New page

{{Short description|Mythological character}}
{{for|the [[Bollywood]] movie|Shabri}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox character
| image = Sabari Rama statues at Gangadhara Simhachalam.jpg
| info-hdr=Information
| caption = Sabari Rama statues at [[Simhachalam]].
| name = Sabari
| gender = Female
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| lbl1 = Devotee of
| data1 = [[Rama]]
| lbl2 = Teacher
| data2 = Rishi Matanga
}}

'''Sabari''' ({{IAST3|Śabarī}}, {{lang-sa|शबरी}}) is an elderly woman ascetic in the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Epic poetry|epic]] ''[[Ramayana]]''. She is described as an ardently devoted woman who received [[Rama]]'s [[Darśana|darshana]] and blessing due to her [[bhakti]] to him.

== Story ==
Shabari was a woman from a village.<ref name="keshavadas_121">{{harvnb|Keshavadas|1988|p=121}}</ref> 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 of [[Kishkindha|Mount Rishyamukha]]. She accepted him as ''[[guru]]'', serving him with devotion for many years.<ref name="keshavadas_121"/> 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.<ref name="keshavadas_121"/> The sage responded that, if she offered ''[[Selfless service|seva]]'' (service), the god [[Rama]] would give her ''[[Darśana|darshana]]''. He told her to await Rama's arrival. Then, while sitting in lotus posture, the sage attained ''[[Mahasamadhi]]''. Following her guru's advice, Shabari awaited Rama's arrival.<ref name="keshavadas_121" />

Every day, Shabari would go out of her ''[[ashram]]'', 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.<ref name="keshavadas_122" /> She didn't know that offerings must not be tasted. Thus, collecting a few berries, Shabari would return to the ''ashram'' and eagerly await Rama's arrival.<ref name="keshavadas_122">{{harvnb|Keshavadas|1988|p=122}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/09/28/stories/2007092851440400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218193252/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/09/28/stories/2007092851440400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-02-18|title=A novel attempt |last=Raj|first=Sundara|date=2007-09-28|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2009-06-11}}</ref>

===Rama's Arrival===

According to the scriptural account, even though hundreds of other ''[[yogi]]s'' were waiting to receive Rama in their ''ashrams'', Rama went only to Shabari's ashram because of her sincere devotion. On seeing Rama, Shabari became ecstatic and said, "There were so many exalted ''yogis'' waiting for your ''darshan'', 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 true ''bhakti'' (...) 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, [[Lakshmana]] raised the concern that Shabari had already tasted them and they were, therefore, [[Uchchhishta|unworthy of eating]]. To this, Rama<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.babanandsinghsahib.org/rosary/thermometer.htm|title=Rosary of Divine Wisdom|publisher=Brig. Partap Singh Ji (Retd.)|language=en|date=27 August 1999}}</ref> 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 in ''[[bhakti]]'', faults are not seen by the deities.

Pleased with Shabari's devotion, Rama blesses her with his vision. Rama notices the ''donas'', 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.{{Sfn|Dodiya|2001|p=297}} Shabari also tells Rama to take help from [[Sugriva]] and where to find him. The Ramayana says that Shabari was a very bright and knowledgeable saint.<ref name="keshavadas_123">{{harvnb|Keshavadas|1988|p=123}}</ref> The ashram in which Shabari stayed and waited for Rama was called as Shabari Narayan which was situated in today's [[Shivrinarayan|Shivrinaryan]], a town located in [[Janjgir–Champa district|Janjgir-Champa]] district in [[Chhattisgarh]].<ref name=":0" />

=== Rama's discourse ===
Rama delivers his discourse on ''nava-vidha bhakti'' (ninefold devotion) to Shabari,<ref name="keshavadas_124">{{harvnb|Keshavadas|1988|p=124}}</ref>
<blockquote>Such pure devotion is expressed in nine ways. First is ''[[satsang]]'' or 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 the ''guru'' (...) Fourth is to sing My ''[[kirtana]]'' (communal chorus) (...) ''[[Japa]]'' or repetition of My Holy name and chanting My ''[[bhajana]]s'' are 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 of ''bhakti''. Seeing Me manifested everywhere in this world and worshipping My saints more than myself is the seventh mode of ''bhakti''. To find no fault with anyone and to be contented with one's lot is the eighth mode of ''bhakti''. Unreserved surrender with total faith in My strength is the ninth and highest stage. Shabari, anyone who practices one of these nine modes of My ''bhakti'' pleases Me most and reaches Me without fail. That which is most difficult for the greatest ''yogis'' was easily attained by you, Shabari, because of your sincere devotion.<ref name="keshavadas_124" /></blockquote>

==See also==
*[[Nath Sampradaya]]
*[[Sabarimala]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation|last=Keshavadas|first=Sadguru Sant|title=Ramayana at a Glance|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] Publ. |year=1988|pages=211|isbn=978-81-208-0545-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3XIatVGyjmQC}}
* {{citation|last=William Buck|first=B. A |author2=Van Nooten |title=Ramayana|publisher=University of California Press|year=2000|pages=432|isbn=978-0-520-22703-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Wzg6wFJ5xwC}}
* {{citation|last=Dodiya|first=Jaydipsinh |title=Critical perspectives on the Rāmāyaṇa|publisher=Sarup & Sons|year=2001|pages=297|isbn=978-81-7625-244-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QQRkuduNXTkC&pg=PA14}}
{{refend}}

==External links==

* [http://www.babanandsinghsahib.org/rosary/thermometer.htm Lord Rama only thirsted for the Prema of Shabri Ji] by Brig. Partap Singh Ji Jaspal (Retd.)
*[https://www.vedicinsight.in/legends/the-legend-of-bhakt-shabri/ The Legend of Bhakt Shabri]

{{Ramayana}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Sages in the Ramayana]]