Changes

{{for|the [[Bollywood]] movie|Shabri}}

{{ToBeEdited}}'''Shabari''' is an elderly woman ascetic in the ''[[Ramayana]]''. She is described as an ardently devoted woman who received [[Rama]]'s [[Darśana|darshan]] and blessing due to her [[Bhakti]] to him.

'''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 ==

== 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" />

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" />

=== Arrival of Rama ===

=== 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>

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. 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's discourse ===

Shabari redirects Ram and Lakshman towards [[Hanuman]] and [[Sugriv]].<ref name="keshavadas_124"/>

Shabari redirects Ram and Lakshman towards [[Hanuman]] and [[Sugriv]].<ref name="keshavadas_124"/>

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Sages in the Ramayana]]

[[Category:Sages in the Ramayana]]

[[Category:Hindu mythology]]

[[Category:Hindu mythology]]