SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY’S
SRI RAMACHARITRYA MANJARI
(ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿರಚಿತ “ಶ್ರೀ
ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ)
Srirama’s stay on the banks of Pampasarovar/ಪಂಪಾಸರೋವರದ ತೀರದಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸ
“Saha RAmaha PampAteeram gachChan iha krutavasatihi” (ಸಃ ರಾಮಃ ಪಂಪಾತೀರಂ ಗಚ್ಛನ್ ಇಹ
ಕೃತವಸತಿಃ): As
requested by Kabandha, Srirama travelled in the direction of east. As suggested
by him, Srirama reached the western side of Pampasarovar with the intention of
establishing friendship with Sugreeva. Srirama also decided to live on the
banks of Pampasarovar for some period. Therefore, Srirama halted the drama of searching
for Seetha for some time. He took to grace and bless a female devotee, Hanumantha,
Sugreeva, Jambavantha and others. By doing this, he showed to the world that
the search for Seetha was, in reality, meant to bless the devotees. The search
for Seetha was only to make the demons believe that he was only a human being.
Sri Raghavendra Swamy has employed the word “BhaktituShTaha”
in this stanza to convey the primary reason for Srirama to live on the banks of
Pampasarovar. It was at this place where the Ashram of Matanga Rishi existed.
In close proximity to that Ashram was the place where his devotee Shabari was
also living. In Mount Rushyamooka lived his another ardent devotee Hanumantha
and his servants Jambavantha, Sugreeva and others. Vali and others, who were
his devotees but were suffering for ignoring Sri Hanuman, were also living in
that region. The region around Pampa Sarovar was as sacred as Vaikuntha since
Hanumantha was living there. Srirama had to bless them and that is why he
decided to live in that region and to temporarily stop the drama of searching
for Seetha.
Salvation for Shabari/ಶಬರಿಗಿತ್ತ ಮೋಕ್ಷದಾನ
Shabaryai muktim datwA — RAmaha PampAteerE
MatangasyAshramE IndrasameepE krutAti darpahEtOho shachyA shaptAyai
Apsarastriyai agnipravEshEna swwapadamichChantyai, taThA krutwA|
ಶಬರ್ಯೈ ಮುಕ್ತಿಂ ದತ್ವಾ — ರಾಮಃ ಪಂಪಾತೀರೇ
ಮತಂಗಸ್ಯಾಶ್ರಮೇ ಇಂದ್ರಸಮೀಪೇ ಕೃತಾಂತಿ ದರ್ಪಹೇತೋಃ ಶಚ್ಯಾ ಶಪ್ತಾಯೈ ಅಪ್ಸರಸ್ತ್ರಿಯೈ ಅಗ್ನಿಪ್ರವೇಶೇನ
ಸ್ವಪದಮಿಚ್ಛಂತ್ಯೈ, ತಥಾ ಕೃತ್ವಾ|
Srirama arrived at the banks of Pampasarovar and lived
there for some period. He visited the Ashram of Shabari, which was there in
that region. Shabari came running towards Rama and Lakshmana immediately on
seeing the duo. She fell on the feet of Srirama, saluted Lakshmana with
devotion, made them sit on a seat, washed their feet and sprinkled that water
on her head. She offered fruits, roots and flowers to the two brothers.
Srirama asked Shabari: “Are you able to continue
penance without any disturbance? Have you succeeded in reducing the desire for
food and won over the anger? Are you following the traditions perfectly? Is your
mind cool, calm and happy?”
Shabari replied: “Lord Padmanabha, due to your grace
and kindness, I am in continuous touch with the Rishis and Munis, who are
incessantly remembering you. Because of your grace, I am able to practice and
retain all the qualities mentioned by you, now. Sage Matanga is kind enough to make
me aware of your qualities. I am fortunate to be seeing you in person. I am
excited and thrilled by seeing you. I request you to stay with me for some
time. I want to sacrifice my body in the holy fire that I want to set and
perform in front of you.”
After Srirama nodded in approval, Shabari set fire,
revolved around Srirama and Lakshmana, prostrated before the duo, offered
prayers to Rama and Lakshmana and entered the flames. Immediately after her
body caught fire, a divine form emanated from the flames. Shabari regained her
original Apsara form and got into the celestial chariot that was waiting in the
sky, saluted Rama and Lakshmana with folded hands and departed to the heavens.
Background of Shabari/ಶಬರಿಯ ಪೂರ್ವ ವೃತ್ತಾಂತ
Shabari was devoted to Lord Vishnu from time
immemorial. Due to the grace of Lord Vishnu, she had secured a very respectable
position among Apsara women. Lord Indra was attracted by her charm and beauty
and began loving her intimately. Because of her extraordinary beauty, Shabari
too exhibited pride in front of Indra. Shachidevi, the consort of Indra,
observed her attitude and cursed her: “Be born in hunters’ caste”.
This incident proves that irrespective of the
background, every person, whether celestial or ordinary human, should reap what
is sown. Another important aspect of the story of salvation of Shabari is that
Srirama bestowed upon Shabari the salvation even though she was born in hunter
community, which was not ‘eligible’ to study Vedas. Study of Vedas is not
mandatory for salvation. All that salvation needs is pure devotion, which was
displayed by Shabari.
There is a popular belief that Srirama consumed fruits
that Shabari had bitten once. The intention behind biting the fruit was to
check whether it was ripe and delicious. Some scholars rule out such a scenario
while some maintain that the Lord does not differentiate between bitten or
non-bitten fruits offered to him. He will only ‘care’ for ‘purity of heart’.
However, the fact that Shabari had accumulated ripe,
delicious and pleasant fruits after tasting them once to ascertain their quality,
and offered them to Rama and Lakshmana, finds mention in Sri Valmeeki Ramayana,
Sri Sangraharamayana as well as Sri Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya of Sri
Madhwacharyaru. Compositions of Sri Purandara Dasa and other Dasas also mention
this. Therefore, several commentators dismiss this instance as non-controversial.
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