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{{for|the [[Bollywood]] movie|Shabri}}
[[File:Sabari Rama statues at Gangadhara Simhachalam.jpg|thumb|250px|Sabari Rama statues at [[Simhachalam]]]]
[[File:Shabari's Hospitality.jpg|thumb|250px|Shabari Offers Berries to Rama]]
'''Shabari''' ({{lang-sa|शबरी}}) is an elderly woman ascetic in the later versions of the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Epic poetry|epic]] ''[[Ramayana]]''. She is described as an ardently devoted woman who received [[Rama]]'s [[Darśana|darshan]] and blessing due to her [[Bhakti]] to him.
== Story ==
Shabari was a hunter's daughter<ref name="keshavadas_121">{{harvnb|Keshavadas|1988|p=121}}</ref> and belong to the [[Nishadha]] tribal community.<ref>{{Harvnb|Dodiya|2001|p=148}}</ref> The night before her marriage, she saw that thousands of goats and sheep were brought by her father, which were going to be sacrificed for the marriage dinner. Moved by compassion, during the early hours of the morning, she renounced the world and ran away to meet a Master. After days of traveling, she met [[Wise old man|Sage]] [[Matanga (Ramayana)|Matanga]] at the foot of the Mountain [[Rishyamukha]] and accepted him as ''[[guru]]'', serving him with devotion.<ref name="keshavadas_121"/> When her guru Matanga was about to die, Shabari— now an elderly lady— stated that after serving him throughout her life, she now sought to reach for herself the same "abode of peace" which Matanga reached.<ref name="keshavadas_121"/> Thereupon, the sage said that by the virtue of her ''[[Selfless service|seva]]'' (service), Lord Ram shall give her ''darshan'' and asks her to wait for his arrival. Saying thus, the sage sitting in lotus posture attains ''[[Mahasamadhi]]''. As per her guru's words, Shabari waits for the arrival of Ram.<ref name="keshavadas_121" />
Everyday Shabari would go out of her ''[[ashram]]'', with the help of a walking stick and pluck berry fruits for Lord Ram. She would pluck a fruit, first taste it, and if it was sweet she would put it in her basket and discard the bitter ones. She wanted to give the good and sweet fruits to Ram.<ref name="keshavadas_122" /> The thought never came to her that she should not taste it before it was offered to a deity. Traditional writers use this narrative to indicate that in ''[[bhakti]]'', faults are not seen by the deities. Thus collecting a few fruits, Shabari went back to the ''ashram'' and eagerly anticipated Lord Ram's arrival.<ref name="keshavadas_122">{{harvnb|Keshavadas|1988|p=122}}</ref> Shabari is commonly used as a metaphor for an endless wait for God.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/09/28/stories/2007092851440400.htm|title=A novel attempt |last=Raj|first=Sundara|date=2007-09-28|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=2009-06-11}}</ref>
=== Arrival of Rama ===
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 berry fruits. May it please you, my Lord." Saying so, Shabari offered the fruits she had meticulously collected to Rama. When Rama was tasting them, [[Lakshmana]] raised the concern that Shabari had already tasted them and were, therefore, unworthy of being eaten. 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=English|date=27 August 1999}}</ref> said that of the many types of food he had tasted, "nothing could equal these berry fruits, 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 it with great joy." Lakshman did not taste the fruits. He brought them to his mouth but threw them aside considering them as impure. 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.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}} 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>
=== Ram's discourse ===
Ram 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 ''[[kirtan]]'' (communal chorus) (...) ''[[Japa]]'' or repetition of My Holy name and chanting My ''[[bhajan]]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>
Shabari redirects Ram and Lakshman towards [[Hanuman]] and [[Sugriv]].<ref name="keshavadas_124"/>
==See also==
*[[Backward-caste Hindu Saints]]
== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}
== References ==
{{refbegin|2}}
* {{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=http://books.google.com/books?id=3XIatVGyjmQC}}
* {{citation|last=William Buck|first=B. A|coauthors=Van Nooten|title=Ramayana|publisher=University of California Press|year=2000|pages=432|isbn=978-0-520-22703-3|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=4Wzg6wFJ5xwC&printsec=frontcover}}
* {{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=http://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.)
{{Ramayana}}
{{HinduMythology}}
[[Category:Sages in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Hindu mythology]]
[[File:Sabari Rama statues at Gangadhara Simhachalam.jpg|thumb|250px|Sabari Rama statues at [[Simhachalam]]]]
[[File:Shabari's Hospitality.jpg|thumb|250px|Shabari Offers Berries to Rama]]
'''Shabari''' ({{lang-sa|शबरी}}) is an elderly woman ascetic in the later versions of the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Epic poetry|epic]] ''[[Ramayana]]''. She is described as an ardently devoted woman who received [[Rama]]'s [[Darśana|darshan]] and blessing due to her [[Bhakti]] to him.
== Story ==
Shabari was a hunter's daughter<ref name="keshavadas_121">{{harvnb|Keshavadas|1988|p=121}}</ref> and belong to the [[Nishadha]] tribal community.<ref>{{Harvnb|Dodiya|2001|p=148}}</ref> The night before her marriage, she saw that thousands of goats and sheep were brought by her father, which were going to be sacrificed for the marriage dinner. Moved by compassion, during the early hours of the morning, she renounced the world and ran away to meet a Master. After days of traveling, she met [[Wise old man|Sage]] [[Matanga (Ramayana)|Matanga]] at the foot of the Mountain [[Rishyamukha]] and accepted him as ''[[guru]]'', serving him with devotion.<ref name="keshavadas_121"/> When her guru Matanga was about to die, Shabari— now an elderly lady— stated that after serving him throughout her life, she now sought to reach for herself the same "abode of peace" which Matanga reached.<ref name="keshavadas_121"/> Thereupon, the sage said that by the virtue of her ''[[Selfless service|seva]]'' (service), Lord Ram shall give her ''darshan'' and asks her to wait for his arrival. Saying thus, the sage sitting in lotus posture attains ''[[Mahasamadhi]]''. As per her guru's words, Shabari waits for the arrival of Ram.<ref name="keshavadas_121" />
Everyday Shabari would go out of her ''[[ashram]]'', with the help of a walking stick and pluck berry fruits for Lord Ram. She would pluck a fruit, first taste it, and if it was sweet she would put it in her basket and discard the bitter ones. She wanted to give the good and sweet fruits to Ram.<ref name="keshavadas_122" /> The thought never came to her that she should not taste it before it was offered to a deity. Traditional writers use this narrative to indicate that in ''[[bhakti]]'', faults are not seen by the deities. Thus collecting a few fruits, Shabari went back to the ''ashram'' and eagerly anticipated Lord Ram's arrival.<ref name="keshavadas_122">{{harvnb|Keshavadas|1988|p=122}}</ref> Shabari is commonly used as a metaphor for an endless wait for God.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/09/28/stories/2007092851440400.htm|title=A novel attempt |last=Raj|first=Sundara|date=2007-09-28|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=2009-06-11}}</ref>
=== Arrival of Rama ===
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 berry fruits. May it please you, my Lord." Saying so, Shabari offered the fruits she had meticulously collected to Rama. When Rama was tasting them, [[Lakshmana]] raised the concern that Shabari had already tasted them and were, therefore, unworthy of being eaten. 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=English|date=27 August 1999}}</ref> said that of the many types of food he had tasted, "nothing could equal these berry fruits, 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 it with great joy." Lakshman did not taste the fruits. He brought them to his mouth but threw them aside considering them as impure. 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.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}} 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>
=== Ram's discourse ===
Ram 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 ''[[kirtan]]'' (communal chorus) (...) ''[[Japa]]'' or repetition of My Holy name and chanting My ''[[bhajan]]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>
Shabari redirects Ram and Lakshman towards [[Hanuman]] and [[Sugriv]].<ref name="keshavadas_124"/>
==See also==
*[[Backward-caste Hindu Saints]]
== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}
== References ==
{{refbegin|2}}
* {{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=http://books.google.com/books?id=3XIatVGyjmQC}}
* {{citation|last=William Buck|first=B. A|coauthors=Van Nooten|title=Ramayana|publisher=University of California Press|year=2000|pages=432|isbn=978-0-520-22703-3|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=4Wzg6wFJ5xwC&printsec=frontcover}}
* {{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=http://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.)
{{Ramayana}}
{{HinduMythology}}
[[Category:Sages in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Hindu mythology]]