Life size figures of Shabari, Bhagwan Shri Ram and Lakshman Jati

Life size figures of Shabari, Bhagwan Shri Ram and Lakshman Jati in the premises of SitaRamAnjaneya Swamy Temple of East Yadavalli village belongs to Kamavarapukota mandal under West Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Shabari serving Bhagwan Shri Ram & Lakshman Jati by offering berry fruits that story is beautifully narrated in Aranya Kand of Ramayan.

SHABARI was a hunter’s daughter and belong to the Nishadh (Bheel) tribal community. The night before her marriage, she saw that thousands of sheep and goats 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 (Guru). After days of traveling, she met Sage Matang at the foothills of Rishyamuk Parvat and accepted him as guru, serving him with devotion. When her guru Matang Muni was about to take Shamadhi, Shabari—now an old woman—says that after serving him throughout her life, she wanted to reach the same “abode of peace” which Matang Muni reached. Thereupon, the Muni said that by the virtue of her seva (service), Bhagwan Shri 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 Shri Ram.

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 berry 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. The thought never came to her that she should not taste it before it was offered to a deity. Traditional writers use this narrative as to indicate that in bhakti, faults are not seen by God. Thus collecting a few fruits, Shabari went back to her ashram and eagerly anticipate Ram’s arrival. Shabari is commonly used as a metaphor for an endless wait for God.

As per narrated in Ramayan, even though hundreds of other yogis were waiting to receive Bhagwan Shri Ram in their ashrams, Shri Ram went only to Shabari’s ashram because of her sincere devotion. On seeing Bhagwan Ram, 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 sees 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 berry fruits she had meticulously collected to Ram. When Ram was tastings them, Lakshman raised the concern that Shabari had already tasted them and therefore unworthy of eating. To this Shri Ram said that of the many types of food he had tasted, “nothing could equal these berry fruits, offered with such devotion. You taste them and then alone will you know. Whomsoever offers a fruit, leaf, flower or some water with love, I partake of it with great joy.” Lakshman Jati didn't taste the berry fruits. He brought them to his mouth but threw them aside considering them as impure.

Pleased with Shabari's devotion, Lord Ram blesses her with his vision. Shri Ram 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 Ram to take help from Sugreev and where to find him. Shabari redirects Ram & Lakshman towards Hanuman and Sugreev.

Bhagwan Shri Ram delivers his discourse on Nava-Vidha/Navadha Bhakti (Ninefold Devotion) to Shabari.

After this divine incident and darshan of Bhagwan Shri Ram & Lakshman obviously Shabari attained Moksha (Liberation).