Unto that GURU I prostrate!
Whose love changes not even when those who belong to Him sin!

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Children! In this issue we narrate an incident found in the Ramayana. It is about an old hunter woman by name Sabari who had great Bhakti for her Guru.

Sabari lived in a forest, as it is the home of hunters. She killed animals for food. One day during her wanderings in the forest she came to a place where she experienced immense peace and joy. She found that she did not feel like killing any animal; moreover, she even began to enjoy their beauty! She wondered about the sudden change in her attitude. Soon, she saw a great Mahatma (Madanga Maharishi) passing that way along with many young men around and entering his hut nearby. He shone like a hundred thousand Sun. She realized that it must be because of this Mahatma’s presence that she had changed. She, therefore, decided to spend the rest of her life in this place. From that day she began to eat only fruits that were to be found there.

Madanga Maharishi rose early around 3 a.m. and walked to the river nearby to bathe. Being forest, the path was full of thorns and stones - big and small. Sabari, therefore, woke up earlier than him and cleaned the path of thorns and stones. The Maharishi found that the path was clean and asked his disciples, “This path used to be so full of thorns and stones but is very clean nowadays. Who cleans this path every day?” The disciples said, “An old lady has recently come to live here. She is the one who wakes up very early in the morning and cleans the path.” The Maharishi was highly pleased and said, “Bring her to me.”

The disciples went to the old woman’s house and said to her, “We are the disciples of Madanga Maharishi. He desires to see you. Please come with us.” The frightened old woman pleaded, “Please forgive me if I have done wrong by cleaning the path he takes to go to the river. I will never again do it.” The disciples explained, “No! Our Guru is not angry with you. He is happy about your service. Please do come.”

So, hesitatingly and shyly, Sabari accompanied them to Madanga Maharishi’s hut. The Maharishi was very happy to see the old woman. He said to her, “I am very pleased with your service. Continue to do it!” Sabari retuned home happy. From the next day she did this service free of mind, without any fear.

One day when Sabari stepped out of her hut, she found the Maharishi’s disciples running here and there with sad faces. She asked them, “What is the matter? Why are you all so sad?” They said, “Our Guru has decided to leave his body today.” (Unlike us who do not know our time of death, Mahatmas leave their body on the day and time that they choose) Sabari was shocked to hear this and shed tears. She was at a loss to know what to do.

Meanwhile, in the ashram, the Maharishi called all his disciples to him. They stood around him. He asked each one of them, “Tell me your desire. I will grant it to you.” One said, “I want huge amount of wealth.” The Maharishi said, “So be it.” Another said, “I wish to be the best amongst the learned.” The Maharishi said, “So be it.” Another disciple said, “None should be able to win over me in any debate.” “So be it,” said the Maharishi. One by one the disciples asked for all worldly desires and the Maharishi granted them their desire. But, he was very sad and disappointed that after all these years of speaking to them about God, nobody desired God but desired only worldly things. He then said to them, “Bring Sabari to me. Let me see what she desires.” Sabari was brought to his presence.

Sabari stood with folded hands and tears flowing down her cheeks. The Maharishi asked her softly, “Sabari! Tell me if you have any desire. I will fulfill it.” Sabari, in a choked voice, said, “Oh! My Master! I am shocked to hear that you are leaving me. I came to live here only because of you. I was very happy to see you every day. How will I live without you? Is there any greater sorrow than this? What can I ask for? I do not need anything. I desire only you!” The Maharishi was very pleased to hear this. He felt touched to find Sabari shed tears. He consoled her, “Sabari! Do not weep. I will appear and speak to you whenever you desire.” He then initiated her into RamaNãma, “Rama! Rama! Rama! Keep chanting this always.” Sabari asked, “Oh! Guru! What does this mean? Can I chant this? Am I worthy of this?” The Maharishi said, “The ‘meaning of this Naama' will come searching for you one day! Keep chanting it. I give it only to those who deserve. Even if you do not deserve it, the moment I have given it to you, you have become worthy of it. So, do not worry on this account.”

The Maharishi then left his mortal coil.

Children! Do you know what was reason in the difference of the attitude of Sabari and the other disciples, in spite of all of them being disciples of Madanga Maharishi? The other disciples were egotistic. They believed in the strength of their learning while the ego less Sabari loved and had faith in her Guru.

Sabari continued to live there and looked after the hut where her Guru had lived. She chanted RamaNãma always with great faith and love. Every day she would clean her house, decorate it with mango leaves and ‘kolam’, collect lots of fruits and await the visit of Rama and Lakshmana. Years rolled by, but there was no sign of Rama or Lakshmana. But, Sabari did not feel dejected. Very eagerly she awaited the arrival of Rama and Lakshmana. She would call the children near by and ask them, “Are there two people carrying bow walking up to my hut?” The children would say laughingly, “Grandma! Why do you ask this everyday? Who are these people that you are waiting for? Our father and grandfather say that you used to put this same question to them when they used to play here as children!” Sabari would only give a smile in explanation.

However, one day the children spotted two handsome men carrying bow walking towards Sabari’s hut. They ran to Sabari and said, “Grandma! Those two men with bow are at last coming here!” Sabari rushed out of her house to receive Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana. She bowed down to them and invited them into her small hut.

The tall Rama and Lakshmana had to bend to enter this little hut of this great Guru Bhaktai. Rama enquired after her progress in her sadhana, “Oh! Sweet-tongued one! Is there any block to your dhyana? How is your japa? Have you conquered anger? Have you been able to lessen your food intake? How is the fulfillment of your discipline? Have you attained peace of mind?” Rama says that the basis for all the above is only the service (‘susroosha’) done to Guru. Sabari said joyfully, “Yes, my japa has borne fruit just as blessed by my Guru. He said that God would come and you have indeed come home, oh! Lord!” Rama said smilingly, “I am not God.” Sabari, “You are indeed God because my Guru Madanga Maharishi has said so. You may speak untruth. But, my Guru will never speak anything but Truth.” Sabari washed the feet of Rama and Lakshmana and then offered them the fruits that she had collected. All the while she kept speaking about the glory of her Guru, Madanga Maharishi.

Sabari worshipping the Lotus Feet of Lord Rama

Rama was wonderstruck by her Guru Bhakti. Rama had met so many Rishis during his wandering in the forest. All of them who were great ‘tapsvis’ had become speechless seeing the handsome Rama. All of them sought Rama’s help in killing some asura or the other who was troubling them. Here, Sabari was neither astounded by Rama’s personality nor did she seek any sort of help from him. She was only speaking continuously about the glory of her Guru. Sabari took them to her Guru’s hut and pointed to the place where he used to sit and meditate, the place where he used to sit for food, etc. She pointed to the cloth that her Guru had used. It was still wet after all these years! She pointed to the garlands that he had worn. They were still fresh! She then said to Rama, “Oh! Rama! My Guru had said that I could join Him after your darshan. Please watch me join my Guru!”

Sabari then sat in a particular posture (‘ãsana’), closed her eyes and chanting RamaNãma soon went to the place of her Guru!

Children! Guru Bhakti is the highest and it bestows the highest on one. A simple, ignorant Sabari born in a hunter family attained Moksha only through Guru Bhakti and God was only a witness to it!

GURU MAHARÃJ KI! JAI!

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