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Shabari's previous janma



7/3/09

We all know the story of Shabari, one of the greatest devotees of Lord Rama. She was born as a Nishaada woman and with out any formal education or any knowledge of scriptures she became the greatest devotee of Lord Rama. Only the satsangam of the sages of Mathangaashramam elevated her to that pedestal. Here is the story of her previous janma.
 
In her previous janma, Shabari was the daughter of a gandharvan (celestial beings) called Chithrakavachan. Her name was Maalini and she was married to another gandharvan called Vithihothran. Unfortunately she fell in love with a kiraathan (forest dwellers) called Kalmaashan. Vithihothran was a devoted husband and was very hurt by his wife's extramarital affair with Kalmaashan. So he cursed his wife Maalini to be born as a Nishaada woman ( forest dwelling tribal woman) Shabari. Maalini apologized profusely and asked for Shaapamoksham.
 
Then Vithihothran gave shaapamoksham :

" In thretha yuga Lord Rama will come to the forest where you live and will give moksham to you."
 
Shabari was an ignorant woman and happened to go near the Mathagaashramam. She was attracted by the pious life of the sages and wanted to serve them. But being a nishaada woman she did not dare to go near them. So she started cleaning the narrow path to their aashramam and around the aashramam. Then she started collecting beautiful and fresh flowers from all over the forest for their pooja. She did not forget to offer all the sweet fruits she got from different parts of forest. This continued for a long time. Sages were very pleased with her attitude of surrender and blessed her to have Lord Raama's darshan.
 
She waited for  Lord Raama and one day Lord came and accepted her offerings of fruits (with intense devotion) and gave her salvation.
 
This reminds us of the verse Bhagavan told Uddhava in Bhgavatham:
 
na sādhayati māṁ yogo
na sāṅkhyaṁ dharma uddhava
na svādhyāyas tapas tyāgo
yathā bhaktir mamorjitā
 
"My dear Uddhava, the unalloyed devotional service rendered to Me by My devotees brings Me under their control (or I am pleased with bahkthi and total surrender ). I cannot be thus controlled or pleased by those engaged in mystic yoga, Sankhya-philosophy, pious work, Vedic study, austerity or renunciation."

Also Bhagavan tells Durvasas Maharhsi in Ambreesha Charitham that He is practically a slave of His devotees or bhakthaas.

 The only wealth Shabari had was intense Bhakthi and Lord was immensely pleased by that.

Achanchala Bhakthim Dehi Tava charane
Manjula komala mangala charane!

Oh! Lord! Bestow me with unshakable love, for thy ( Feet)
Soft, tender and propitious Feet

Sreekrishnaarpanamasthu.




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