Yuva Bharati / March 2018 / 23SABARI,
THE IDEAL
DEVOTEE
Sri Rama and Lakshmana had lost Sita, and their dear Jatayu breathed his
last after indicating the southerly direction in which Ravana, Sita's abductor
had gone.
They were moving southwards in a mood of deep dejection. A huge headless
monster Kabandha accosted them. They killed him and cremated him at
his request. The monster then recovered his beautiful form. Kabandha
counselled Sri Rama to seek the alliance of Sugriva, a monkey chief,
living on Rishyamuka hill along with a few confidants. Those talented and
energetic monkeys would forge alliance with Sri Rama in confronting the
well-organised army of Ravana. Sugriva was well informed of the haunts
of the ogres. The brothers had to travel towards Matanga Muni's ashrama
before reaching Rishyamuka near the Pampa lake. Finally they reached
Matangavana near the lake.
The hermitage of Matanga was rich with fruit-laden trees and flowering
plants around. It was kept in excellent order by an old Yogini Sabari, in
memory of her departed Guru, Sage Matanga.
Sabari received Sri Rama and his brother saying that her yoga, tapasya and
her very birth had borne fruit on seeing the divine princes. The disciples of
Matanga had ascended to heaven in aerial cars of incomparable splendour
(Valmiki R/3/74/14). They had asked Sabari to live on, so that she could see
the blessed Sri Rama who would certainly visit Matanga ashrama. Sabari
showed the duo all the sacred places associated with the exalted Matanga
Muni and his disciples. The respect Sri Rama and Sabari had was mutual.
Even as Sri Rama was watching, Sabari raised a fire and entered it, rising to
the holy realm which her teachers had attained (Valmiki R/3/74/35). Admiring
the tapasvini, Sri Rama and Lakshmana walked towards the Pampa.Panel-49