Shabri (शबरी)

Bhaktamal: Shabri
Real Name - Shramana
Other Names - Mata Shabri
Guru - Rishi Matanga
Aradhya - Bhagwan Shri Ram
Born - Krishna Paksha Saptami, Phalguna
Place of Birth - Shivrinarayan, Chhattisgarh
Marital Status - Married
Language - Maithili
Famous - Shri Ram DevoteeSabari is an elderly female ascetic in the Hindu epic Ramayan. Because of her devotion she was blessed by the darshan of Bhagwan Ram. She belonged to the Shabar caste of the Bhil community for this reason later she was named Shabri.

According to the scriptures, even though hundreds of other yogis were waiting for darshan of Bhagwan Ram in their ashrams, Bhagwan only went to Shabri's ashram because of her true devotion. On this occasion, Mata Shabri fed juthe berries to Shri Ram after welcoming him to the ashram. On the other hand, Shriram had eaten juthe berries with great enthusiasm. The feeling of love was hidden behind feeding juthe berries. Now there was a doubt in the mind of the mata that even the berries are sour. For this, the mata used to taste the berry first herself and then used to feed the same berry to Shri Ram. When mata Shabri got sour berries, she did not give them to bhagwan. Sheshnag avatar Lakshman was amazed to see this scene.

This indicates that in bhakti, faults are not seen by the deities. Bhagwan Ram is impressed upon seeing the bowls of fruits made by Shabri's labor and so blesses the tree so that the leaves naturally grow in the shape of the bowls. It is said in the Ramayan that Shabri was a very bright and knowledgeable saint. This love feeling of bhagwan and devotee was unimaginable. That's why Shabri Jayanti is celebrated with great pomp every year.