Ayodhya' Princes Ram, Lakshman, Bharat & Shatrughn learning Astra-Shatra Vidya (Bow & Arrow) in Guru Vashishth’s Ashram

As the Princes Ram, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughn grew up; the Ayodhya King Dasharath decided to send them to the Guru Vashishth’s Ashram for all-round education befitting for the Princes.

There they were to live as continents (brahmacharis) till the age of 25 years and attain knowledge at the feet of the great guru.

The Princes were soon informed that they were to go to the hermitage of the royal priest. So, they prepared themselves for that. Soon, they got their hair shorn and dressed up as continents in coarse clothes of saffron colour.

Then the Princes, led by Ram; went to their mothers (Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra) to seek their permission to leave the palace. The mothers felt shocked at the very idea of separation from their sons. But the family tradition was to be followed.

So, they had to send them off but with heavy hearts and tears in their eyes.

At Sage Vashishth’s hermitage, the Princes started learning various disciplines at the feet of the great guru. The Sage imparted them knowledge of Astra-Shatra Vidya-अस्त्र-शस्त्र चलानेकी विद्या-(Bow & Arrow) befitting the Princes of a great kingdom.

The Princes devoted themselves to studies and served the Sage as humbly as they could. Sage Vashishth imparted them to the knowledge of the three aspects of God’s Power – Creation, Preservation and Destruction.

Also, he told them that the life-span of a man has four parts:-

(1) From birth to the age of 25 years Brahmacharya (continence)

(2) From the age of 25 years to the age of 50 Girhasth (house-holder)

(3) From the age of 50 years to the age of 75 Vanaprartha (detachment)

(4) From the age of 75 years to death Sanyas (renunciation)

Guru Vashishth imparted instruction on state matters too to the four Princes. Apart from it, he guided them in day-to-day worldly dealing as well. He explained to them the use of Saam (allurement), Daam (greed), Dand (punishment) and Bhed (division).

As for the spiritual teaching, the great guru said, “Three qualities are found in human-beings.”

(1) The Satva (higher values, i.e. virtues)

(2) The Rajas (worldly values, i.e. luxuries)

(3) The Tamas (baser values, i.e. vices)

“Every person has one type of the above mentioned qualities in himself/herself prominently. Whereas virtues lead a man to piety and goodness, vices lead him to impiety and evil.”

Sage Vashishth explained to the Princes that human body is made up of five elements – Air (वायु), Water (जल), Sky/Space (आकाश), Earth (पृथ्वी) and Fire (अग्नि). Also, that man is the supreme creature among all living-beings.

The Sage said. “One must hold his parents and gurus in high esteem. They must be loved, served and respected.”

“Moreover, truth is the greatest power and it always conquers in the end. Untruth or falsehood leads to sins.”

“Love of creatures is love of God whereas hatred earns his wrath.”

The Princes took an oath to follow the instructions of the great guru to the letter. They were now well-informed to step into the life of house-holders.

The Princes were just nearing the end of Brahmacharya period. So, Sage Vashishth decided to teach them the duties of a good ruler and the art of state-craft.

The Sage said, “A ruler must know that the crown he wears is not a sign of greatness. It is a basket of duties towards his subjects. If a ruler performs his duties well, he is certainly great. But if he ignores them, he is sure to have a fall. Protection of the people is the first and foremost duty of a ruler.”

“Secondly, he must be just and impartial in every matter.”

“Thirdly, he must try to make his people happy and prosperous.”

“In short, if a king is greater than his people, his duties are far heavier and harder too,” said the great guru.

The education of the Princes having been complete, Sage Vashishth sent message to King Dasharath. The King at once followed that the Sage wanted the Princes to return to Ayodhya.

Jatayu in Ramayan

Bhagwan Shri Ram and Sheshavatar Lakshman came to their Panchavati hut but they found no sign of Sita there. They felt worried and went about looking for her but all of no avail. Shri Ram felt extremely unhappy. So Lakshman said, “Don’t lose hope so soon, brother. She might have gone into the forest or to the river. Let us go and see.” Saying so Lakshman along with Shri Ram, went southwards looking for Sita.

Going over a considerable distance, they found Gidh-Raaj Jatayu lying half dead on the ground. They ran to him and recognized him. Shri Ram said, “Lakshman ! He is Jatayu, our father’s friend.” Saying so, both the brothers seated beside the dying Vulture King Jatayu.

“Dear Sire, what reduced you to this condition ? What sinner has clipped your wings ?” Lord Ram asked to Jatayu.

“You have come Ram ! I was waiting for you, I held on to my life, O Ram ! I wanted to tell you about sita”. Jatayu was just on the verge of death. So he could speak a few words with difficulty.

“News of Sita ! Where’s she ?” Questioned Shri Ram.

“He abducted her….” Said Vulture Jatayu.

“Abducted her ! You saw Sita ?” Canvassed Ramchandra.

“My son, I’m very very ashamed, O Ram ! That I couldn’t save Sita from him.” Responded Gid-Raaj.

“Save her from whom ? Who took her away ? Queried Shri Ram.

“He, the Evil Ravan, flew in air away with her in his flying chariot.” retorted Jatayu.

“Flew through air ?” Interrogated Raghuveer.

“Yes, Ravan-The king of demons, carried her away. The poor girl Sita cried out for help all the way. I wanted to stop Ravan, I fought with him too, but with his Chandrahas Sword, he cut off my wings, and I fell to earth.” Repudiated Vulture Jatayu.

“Sire, in which direction did he go ?” Inquired Bhagwan Ram.

“He went southwards.” Claimed Gidh-Raaj.

“Southwards ! Give me his direction.” Catechized Shri Ram.

“I don’t know where Ravan went, My daughter Sita was very unhappy. My son Ram ! free her from this danger soon. To protect one’s wife, it is the first duty of every husband.” replied Jatayu.

“Rest Assured, Sire Wherever the sinner has flied, none can save him from me. Heaven, earth or netherworld hide where he may, I’ll find him and light his pyre there ! Not even Brahma can save him from my arrows now.” Said Ram.

“O Ram ! May you, may your purpose bear fruit, I am going now to my friend Dasharath, Give me leave Ram.” Said Vulture King.

“O noble soul, you have sacrificed your life for me, I am eternally indebted to you. You protected my wife Sita as my Father would, and I shall avenge your murder as a son.” Responded Lord Ram.

“This is what I had hoped of you.” Told Gidh-Raaj Jatayu.

“I have this request to you, when you ascend heaven and meet King Dasharath, Please don’t tell him of Sita’s abduction. I promise you, If I be my Father’s son, I shall soon dispatch Ravan and all his house to heaven, He’ll tell my Father all that happened !” revealed Shri Ram.

“God will surely give you victory son” Saying so, Jatayu breathed his last in God Shri Ram’s lap.

“Lakshman, brave beings like Jatayu who follow the Dharm of protecting the weak are born among birds and beasts too. A warrior who dies fighting a brave enemy in war ascends the heaven of valour, he too will ascend the same heaven. He’ll attain salvation. Like King Dasharath, he is as a Father to be revered by us. You gather wood from the forest; I shall perform the last rites as a son should.” Shri Ram instructed to Lakshman.

Lakshman acknowledged and do what Shri Ram told.

Asking for the boon of uninterrupted devotion, The vulture King Jatayu ascended to God’s realm. The last rites, with all due ceremony, a devoted Shri Ram performed with his own hands.

“O Great Vulture Soul, may you ascend the highest heaven, May you be blest” Vocalized Lord Shri Ram.

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).