Posted on: 08 Apr 2023
Smt. Lakshmi Lavanya K asked:
Q1: What service and sacrifice did Sabari do to attain the grace of Rama? I heard Lakshmana also praised and saluted her for her devotion towards Rama.]
Swami replied:- Shabari did the climax of service and sacrifice in view of her existing level of materialistic life. If a king does the same service and sacrifice, it will not be considered even as that of an ant. She did service and sacrifice at her climax level in view of her existing level. This is the most important point that should be understood applying the theory of relativity. One must show practical devotion to the climax level of his/her capability. The life of such practical devotion is lack of complete selfishness and pure love to God without aspiration for any fruit in return. Several sages did such service and sacrifice while Rama was walking in the forest in search of Sita. But, they did it with selfish desire to get salvation from God while Shabari did it for the happiness of Rama only and not with any selfish aspiration. These points make Shabari stand as the climax devotee.
Q2. What is the difference between Shabari and the Gopikas?
Swami replied:- As far as the angle of true love on God without any selfish aspiration is concerned, both are one and the same. The difference is that Shabari is already the candidate that passed the examination long back whereas the Gopikas are the candidates that are preparing sincerely for the examinations.
Q3. Why did Rama tell Sages to wait for the next incarnation and blessed Shabari as all waited in the forest for Rama?
[Why did Lord Rama tell the Sages to wait for next incarnation and why did He bless Sabari? Both Sages and Sabari waited in forest for Lord Rama. What is the difference between their waiting?]
Swami replied:- The waiting was common to all, but, all the sages failed in the examination due to their selfish desire of the upliftment of their souls whereas Shabari never thought of such desire. Her only desire was that Rama was very much tired and He should be attended well with service and sacrifice of good fruits so that Rama gains some physical and mental happiness. All her thoughts were about Rama only and no single thought was about herself! Many sages failed in the next birth also due to their blind fascination towards their children in the test of stealing butter by Krishna.
Q4. Why did Krishna steal butter of Gopikas but Rama ate fruits given by Shabari? What is the difference between them?
Swami replied:- The difference is between Shabari and Gopikas and there is no difference in the examiner or examination. Selfishness especially in the form of blind fascination to the issues existed with sages by which they utterly failed in the examination. Sage Vyaasa was considered to be the king of sages, who wrote the entire spiritual knowledge from A to Z. Such a sage was running after His son with both the eyes becoming blind due to the fascination to His son! It is this single bond that made even the king of sages fail in practical spiritual knowledge. If this is the case of sage Vyaasa, what is there to become surprised if ordinary souls are doing even the most sinful crimes for the sake of their issues? Shabari remained unmarried and did not aspire for children so that her spiritual path would be like a National highway. In this aspect, she is almost equal to Radha.