#Dashdharma # Patience - Shabari

#Patience

Shabari

Shabari, a well-known character in the Ramayana is revered and celebrated for many things. It is cited as an example of how God doesn’t discriminate as per varna. Her tale is one of complete unconditional devotion and patience. She waited for Rama because her Guru told her to wait with no idea when that event will happen.

Shabari was a forest dweller and belonged to the forest community called the Bhils. In one version of her life story, it is believed that she was engaged to get married to another person from her community. She left her tribe the day before the marriage as she was unable to take the animal slaughter that happened to celebrate the wedding. This early life incident is perhaps a testimony of Shabari’s Sattvik nature.

Shabari came to the part of the forest where Rishi Matanga’s hermitage was located. She wanted to serve the Rishi and his disciples but was afraid to do so because of her birth in a different varna.

She served the hermitage silently by removing the pebbles and the sharp thorns on the path between the ashram and the river where the people of the hermitage walked often. She did this work at night for fear of being admonished.

Rishi Matanga started noticing that the path to the river had become smoother and free of under growth. He realised someone was serving him and his students quietly.

One day, he told his disciples to hide and understand the truth. The boys saw Shabari patiently removing the thorns, stones and under growth. They brought her to their Guru.

Shabari was scared as she felt that the Rishi might get angry and curse her. On the contrary, Matanga was pleased with her service and took her as a student even though she did not belong to the Brahminical varna.

Shabari served Matanga and the ashram for many years. As the sage aged, he realised that his time on earth was coming to an end. He called Shabari and told her to wait at the ashram for the avatar of Vishnu, Lord Rama and his brother to pass through the forest. He instructed her that she should serve them well and then she will attain moksha.

Rishi Matanga died soon after. Shabari continued to wait in Rishi Matanga’s hermitage for the avatar of Vishnu. Shabari waited for many years in the middle of the forest waiting for Rama to come. Since she did not know when that event will happen, everyday she went out to the forest and collected fruits and berries and kept them in the ready in case the unexpected guests turned up.

Time passed and she became old and frail. But Shabari’s routine of keeping the hut ready for the visitors by cleaning it, fetching fresh water and fruits never varied.

One day, the event for which Shabari waited all her life happened. Two tired looking men came through the forest. They saw the hut and decide to take some rest. They see Shabari and tell her that they are sons of King Dasratha and that their names were Rama and Lakshmana.

Shabari is overjoyed and washes their feet. She gives them water and fruits. Since she is very aged by then, she is unsure whether the fruits are raw or ripe. She bites into the fruits and gives only the ripened ones to the guests, Rama and Lakshmana. Pleased with her simplicity and devotion, they accept the half bitten fruit from her.

They then tell her that they are looking for Sita who had been abducted by the demon king. Shabari suggests that they travel further and meet King Sugreeva in Kishkinda. She tells them that he should be able to help them in the search for Sita.

Rama and Lakshmana are pleased with the old lady’s unconditional love and devotion. Rama blesses her and they proceed onward. Having waited patiently on the word of her Guru and being blessed by Rama, Shabari attained moksha soon after.