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WOMEN IN EPICS

Role in Ramayana.

Sabari is one of the woman saints in Ramayana period, She belonged to the hunters tribe andwas attached to Mathangha ashram, right from her youth. She used to pick fresh tasty fruitsand keep them on the way of Matangha and stay away from them. When sage asked about aperson who does this painstaking service, she presented herself and joined in that ashram.Before Matangha attained Heavenly abode, he told Sabari that Lord Rama will come to ashramshortly and bless her. Thus it is believed that sweating of Mathangha's disciples transformedas flowers then. Sabari was then waiting for Rama's arrival in the same hermitage.

During search of Sita, Rama and Lakshmana killed Kabhandan who then changed as asura.He told Rama and Lakshmana about waiting of Sabari in Matangha's ashram. Then they visitedashram and saw sabari. She told about Mathangha and his disciple's Heavenly abode. Sheinformed as Mathangha told her about the Rama and Lakshmana ,the Royal brother's visit toAshram and then she will be able to do necessary services to them in the ashram. .Sabari offered fruits and showed the Yagna place to Royal brothers. Finally she soughtliberation from the world and entered fire with deer skin in her body. Sabari transformedherself into Satwik devotee. Satwika joy according to Krishnas definition in Gita is experienceonly when the mind gets purified trough constant practice of meditation on God. Man seekingredemption should constantly find enjoyment in satwika joy alone.

Rama then pleased with Acharya bhakthi, and Archana Bhakthi, and granted boons to join herAcharya in Paramapadam. As She emerged out of it, as a pretty woman wrapped in silk dressand in beautiful jewels, attained heavenly abode and rejoined Mathangha, with the blessings ofRama.

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GLORIES

Rama redeemed and gave salvation to three characters in Ramayana. They are Jatayu, Guhaand Sabari. Sabari was helpless and hapless old woman with no one to look after. Herpreceptor told about Rama. She was yearning the arrival of Rama, whom she considered to beher saviour. She was then deeply absorbed in the contemplation of Rama's name at all times

and in all places.

Tara in kishkintha, Mandodari in Lanka, Sumitra in Ayodhya , and Sabari in Matangha's ashramare all having uniform understanding on Rama as the supreme phenomenon "Parathathvam "the main cause of the entire universe. Sri Vedanta Desika in Raghuveera Gadhyam narratesthis episode as "sabari moksha sakshi bootha". The greatness of service, devotion and faith ofcommon woman and the grace of Gurus and the Almighty even to a hunter woman areexcellent features in this episode. Sabari finds place in first sarga of Valmiki Ramayanam itselfin In Samshepa Ramayanam sloka 55. This is stated as Rakshasa stood for sometime in thesky and advised Rama to contact Sabari who was knowledgeable of Dharma , who wasfollowing its percepts and who renounced the world, indicating Sabari's conduct.

Thyagaraja's Song s

Saint Thyagaraja in his compositions on Rama starting as Entani ne sung in Mukhari, paidhis homage to Sabari , the woman from the hunter clan whose good fortune surpassed that ofmany wives of the sages of the forest. There is another hymn begin with Karuna jalathe

dasarathe , kamaniyanana sug una nithe sung in Ragamalika ,depicting entire personality ofRama as exemplary man , attractive physical features, , admirable virtues, and intellectualattainments. Thyagaraja mentioned in his poem as Rama, the son of Dasaratha is possessorof all invaluable excellences -Sundaram, Sivam, Satyam, Dharmam,Karuna, Beauty, Truth,Righteousness, Grace and as Purushothama .All these praises were done by Sabari also when

she first met Rama.

Rama Nama

Sabari whispered 'Rama' ' Rama' in reverence and thankfulness always. Sabari's utterances

to Rama were "Lord, I have no desire. I survived until now for darshan of Rama . I was just

reciting Rama nama only. ". After relishing the fruits given by Sabari , Rama told her that fruits

are as sweet as her own heart. Fruits are on the tree of life, on the branches of pure mind, in

the sunshine of love. Sabari then told as she is of low caste, dull intellect, but with love for

God getting His boundless grace. But Rama told that of the nine ways of earning and

cultivating devotion, she followed all the nine ways. Also her mind does not blossom when

good comes and does not wither when bad comes. She is thus blessed for ever.

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Chanting the name of the lord in steady meditation is an important part of worship. Each and

every aspirant is eminently eligible for this spiritual practice, without any distinction of caste,

sex, age and there are no restrictions regarding time or place for this exercise. Sabari was

having required earnest orientation to lord, intense urge, to meditate on him. Firm faith,

sincere application, and devotional fervor make this namajapa fruitful beyond calculation and

brought Sabari ,such a peace and bliss.

Devot ion

Sabari's Devotion to God is supreme attachment to Rama through a Bhava predominant, and

is out and out concerned with Him. One cannot develop true devotion to God if he is crooked

in his heart, if he has got objects of love in this world, if he is tempted by charming worldly

things. Perfect detachment from all objects is a preliminary to real devotion. Vairagya is the

product of real love for God. One who has love for the world cannot have love for God. One

has to be renounced for the attainment of the other. This renunciation can be acquired through

the nine forms of Bhakti.

The nine forms of Bhakti . They are Sravana (hearing of God's stories) Kirtana (praying and

singing of His glories) Smarana (remembrance of His name) Padasevana (service to His feet)

Archana (worship of God) Vandana (prostration to Lord)Dasya (cultivating as a servant with

God)Sakhya (cultivation of the friend-Bhava) and Atma nivedana (Total surrender of the

self).The nine modes of Bhakti are the ways in which a devotee attains the Supreme Ideal of

life. A devotee can take up any of these paths and reach the highest state. The path of Bhakti

is the easiest of all and is not very much against the nature of human inclinations. It slowly

and gradually takes the individual to the Supreme without frustrating his human instincts. It is

not direct assertion of God, but a progressive realization.Note

In woman in epics, we saw Kaikeyi with talent, Tara with love, Mandodari with

care, Manthara with gesture, Trijadai with goodness, and Ahalya with morals,and now Sabari with devotion . This will be continued about Urmila in next.

Arumbuliyur Jagannathan Rangarajan