|| Om Namo Bhagavathey
Vasudevaya ||
Chapter – 131- The legend of Lord Rama -9
On their way, Rama and
Lakshman met the King of birds, ‘Jatayu’ who was brutally wounded by Ravana
while protecting Devi Sita from his custody.
Jatayu could pass on an unclear message about the abduction of Sita,
eventually left his mortal coil. Rama
performed the final rite of Jatayu and continued search for Devi
Sita. Rama killed Kabandha and arrives in
the hermitage of Sage Mathanga, where he met Shabari who is a passionate
devotee of Rama. Even though Shabari was born in a tribal clan, she sincerely
served Sage Mathanga and has elevated her soul with an intense devotion to
Rama, and qualified herself as the greatest devotee of Lord. She patiently followed the advice of Sage
Mathanga, and waited for the arrival of Rama.
Devi Shabari reverentially prostrates before Rama, and offers berries
she has collected from the woods, she bites every fruit and offers the best ones
to Rama.
Rama describes the
characteristics of supreme devotion to Lakshman who refuses to tastes the
fruits offered by Devi Shabari. “Oh! Lakshman, listen to me carefully, it is
impossible to attain the supreme Bhramam by taking a dip in countless holy rivers,
recitation of sacred chants and hymns, visiting a number of holy shrines,
undertaking numerous vows and fasting, performing various Yaga and Yagna,
without the knowledge of the ultimate object.
I shall narrate the significant steps of devotion to you. The devotion can be cultivated with the
association of saintly people,/Sadhusangama which could help for the constant
remembrance of supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings, he is the constant companion of the living beings/Sakhyam, Shravanam/keep listening to the glorious
myths of supreme Lord, and singing in praise of Lord/Keerthanam, constant contemplation upon Lord,/Smaranam
service to the devotees of Lord,/Sevanam and complete surrender to supreme Lord
with the realization of oneness-in-all.”
Thus, Devi Shabari attains liberation at the lotus feet of Lord Rama.
