The Great Devotee Shabari: The Adivasi Saint of Ramayana

It would not be wrong to call Ramayana a story about devotion.

It is a tale of Ram’s devotion to his father. Lakman’s devotion to his brother. Bharat’s devotion to values. Seeta’s devotion to her husband Ram. Hanuman’s devotion to his master Lord Rama.

It is a story about Vibhishana’s devotion to Dharma or rightfulness and Kumbakarna’s devotion to his nation Lanka.

But there is one devotee of Lord Rama that transcends everyone: Shabari the knowledgeable, Adivasi saint of Ramayana.  

Shabari has been mentioned as a knowledgeable saint in Ramayana and here is why her character is so unique:

1.  Love and Patience Transcends Everything

Shabari symbolizes the characteristics of an ideal devotee in Ramayana. Devotion has many forms and you can be devoted to anything.

Shabari was devoted to Lord Rama and waited for years for Rama’s arrival with the utmost love. She would go out to look for the best berries for Rama, taste it herself and if sweet would put them in her basket.

She was so immersed in devotion and love that she did not care about anything else. Whether or not Rama liked berries, whether or not it was suitable to offer tasted berries or anything else.

She simply wished to do all she could to offer the best and the sweetest to Rama. Proper or improper. Suitable or unsuitable. Right or wrong. It did not matter to her.

Her love in the form of devotion and her patience transcended all boundaries to connect her with Rama. 

2.   Devotion Tastes the Sweetest

There were sages and learned men of all kinds waiting to receive Rama at their ashrams, but Shree Rama chose Shabari’s small hut.

When Shabari offered the berries she had collected, Lakshmana, his brother raised a concern stating that were already tasted.

To this Lord Rama replied: "nothing can equal these berries, 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 in it with great joy."

Shabari is the devotee, through whom, Lord Rama imparts the most important message: “Devotion is the sweetest for the Divine be it in any form, manner, mode, or method.”

Devotion is a state of consciousness that can be attained only through love alone.

3.  Rama’s Arjun for Bhakti Yoga

While in Mahabharata, Shree Krishna exhibited his “Vishavatar” to Arjun and explained him about “Karma Yoga”, Ramayana mentions how Shree Ram provided the discourse on “nine-fold devotion” to Shabari.

Lord Rama explained how pure devotion is expressed in nine ways:

1. The First is Satsang, which involves association with devoted devotees and righteousness people.

2. The Second is by hearing stories and tales on the Divine.

3. The Third is by doing service to one’s guru, a type of Bhakti.

4. The Fourth is Kirtana or together signing devotional hymms.

5. The Fifth includes Japana or doing Bhajanas. 

6. The Sixth includes practicing modesty and doing self-less service.

7. The Seventh includes worshipping Saints.

8. The Eight includes being content with oneself and not finding faults in others.

9. The Ninth and the highest stage is to surrender to God with ultimate devotion.

Shabari, the Adivasi Saint of Ramayana is a manifestation of an ideal devotee, who attains the divine with her patience and devotion. She is the Arjun for Bhakti Yoga in Ramayana, to whom Lord Rama provides discourse on Bhakti.

Not only that, it is also believed that Shabari was the one who advised Lord Ram to take help from Sugriva and told him about the location where he could find Sugriva. She was an Adivasi. She was from a socially backward community. But she transcended all through her knowledge and Bhakti.