Shabari, Matanga, Dundubhi

Shabari

When Raama and Lakshmana travelled southward in search of the abducted Sita, they met Shabari, near present day Hampi, in the kingdom of Kishkinda, where the Vaanaras lived. Shabari had been patiently awaiting Raama’s visit, ever since her guru, Matanga rishi had asked her to. Not much is known about the early life of Shabari. It is said that she left her parental home before her wedding in disillusionment and made her way to the forests where she became a disciple of Matanga rishi. When the rishi gave up his body, Shabari wanted to follow suit, but he told her that she was destined to meet the lord in flesh and blood, when he would visit her hermitage in the years to come. Shabari spent every minute of the next couple of decades awaiting the arrival of Raama. Every chore she performed was intended as a welcome to Raama.

The Raamayana describes her as an old woman who offered Raama, fruit with bite marks. The story goes that every day Shabari would collect fruit (Indian Jujube/ ber), taste them, retain the sweet ones and discard the rest.

When Raama accepted the fruit which had been bitten into, he broke many rules*, social (Raama was king, a Kshatriya, and Shabari was of a low caste), and religious (one is supposed to offer untasted food and unsmelled flowers to the Lord).

Some stories mention that Shabari suggested that Raama seek the help of Sugreeva, the exiled Vaanara, to find Sita. A pleased Raama granted Shabari salvation, when Shabari stoked yogagni** by her yogic powers and was consumed by the fire***.

*Time and again, the Lord has demonstrated that he is more concerned with the thought behind the offering and not the actual offering itself. Stories of the hunter Kannappa, who offered the Shiva Linga, meat and carried water in his mouth, Aandal who wore the garlands her father strung, before they were offered to Ranganatha and so on.

**the fire within oneself

***not to be mistaken for self-immolation which amounts to suicide. These were ancient practices for giving up one’s life. Sati, wife of Shiva, when insulted at her father’s home, also resorted to this method to end her life.

Matanga rishi

Matanga rishi lived in the wilderness of Kishkinda. Not much is known of him, although there are references to him having been born from the union of Brahmin woman and a low-born barber but having attained brahminhood through severe austerities. These are unclear tales, considering that there is a Matanga rishi who finds mention in the Mahaabhaaratha too.

Matanga rishi, can be thought of as a learned sage who lived near the river Pampa, and had the divine vision to see the greatness of Shabari and accept her as a disciple, and also to predict Raama’s visit. The hill on which the rishi lived was called the Rishyamukha parvatha. In recent times, it is called Matanga hill.

Dundubhi

Dundubhi was a gigantic and extremely strong person, who was invincible. He would transform into a colossal buffalo, in order to fight his opponents. Itching for a contest, he approached Varuna, the lord of the oceans and Himavaan, the lord of the mountains. Both refused to accept his challenge, but Himavaan suggested that he travel southward and challenge Vaali, the king of the Vaanaras. Dundubhi, therefore, challenged a reluctant Vaali to a fight.

During the intense fight that ensued, drops of Dundubhi’s blood drizzled on the hermitage of Matanga rishi, defiling it. Disturbed from his deep penance, the rishi uttered a curse that whoever was responsible for this act was forbidden from setting foot on the Rishyamukha hill, for his head would split into pieces if he were to.

After a fight that is said to have lasted a year, inside a cave, Vaali killed Dundubhi.