Story of Śabarī

A woman of the tribe of forest-dwellers. Śrī Rāma, during his life in the forest, gave her salvation.

Former life.

Śabarī, in her former life, was the only daughter Mālinī of the Gandharva King, Citrakavaca. An erudite scholar, Vītihotra, married her. As he was ever immersed in contemplation of Brahman his wife Mālinī, (later Śabarī) kept one hunter, Kalmāṣa, as her paramour, and her husband cursed her thus: "As you have become a lover of the hunter, you turn out to be a hunter-woman."

At the Suburbs of Mataṅga’s hermitage.

Mālinī in tears sought redemption from the curse from her husband, and he told her that she would get absolution from her infamy and the curse from Śrī Rāma. Immediately she was transformed into a hunter-woman and she came to the suburbs of Mataṅgāśrama. She took a special liking for the place, the reason being that the flowers in the āśrama possessed a special fragrance. Once while the disciples were carrying a load of flowers for the muni (Mataṅga) a few drops of sweat from their bodies fell on the ground, and the muni blessed that the trees and creepers, which grew up from the sweat and their flowers would never fade. This is described as follows in Canto 73, Araṇyakāṇḍa of Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.

"Oh! Rāma! nobody plucks and wears those flowers. They neither fade nor fall down. While the disciples of Mataṅga were carrying a load of flowers for him, they sweated on account of exhaustion and some drops of sweat fell on earth which developed themselves into flowers due to the prowess of the guru’s tapas. Even today may be seen there Śabarī, who has taken to sannyāsa and who tends the flowers. She will attain heaven only after seeing you."

Śabarī lived for long there serving Mataṅga’s disciples, performing tapas and learning knowledge about Brahman. At the time of the munis giving up their physical bodies they blessed Śabarī that without further delay she would meet Rāma and get redemption from the curse. They also blessed that she would possess divine eyes to see hidden things and also the past and the future. After that she was spending her days awaiting the arrival of Rāma.

It was the period of the life in the forest of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. After visiting various āśramas Rāma at last came to Mataṅgāśrama. Hearing about Rāma’s visit Śabarī had gathered a lot of fruits. Now, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa came and Śabarī received them most respectfully. After herself biting each fruit to test its taste she gave the fruits for them to eat. The left-overs of Śabarī appeared as nectar to Rāma. Then Śabarī told Rāma thus: "When you go a short distance southwards there is the beautiful stream called Pampā. You cross Pampā and advance a little further and you will reach mount Ṛṣyamūka. On the top of that mountain lives Sugrīva, son of Sun, and if you enter into alliance with him you will succeed in finding out and getting back Sītā after annihilating the enemies. Oh! Lord! my salutations."

After speaking thus, Śabarī the great anchorite and chaste woman closed her eyes. Immediately she was transformed into Mālinī, the Gandharva damsel, and all at once a handsome Gandharva prince appeared there in a divine plane. It was Vītihotra, the husband of Mālinī. After saluting Śrī Rāma he took away his wife in a chariot to the Gandharva city. (Kamba Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa).