016: Rama meets Shabari

Ravana reaches Lanka along with Sita in the Pushpaka Vimaana. Sita refuses to stay anywhere in the palace. So, she’s finally settled into Ashoka vana in Sri Lanaka. The only entrance to which, is from Ravana’s bedroom.

On the other hand, Rama meets Lakshmana half way through the forest and shudders at the thought of something happening to Sita. They both run back and see she’s missing with some fruits etc fallen on the ground. It couldn’t have been an animal dragging her out as there are no drag marks. They observe huge footprints of another person. Rama is completely distraught, confused and angry at why none of the nature’s forces are giving him clues on where Sita has disappeared. He decides to curse the entire universe which is when Lakshmana tries to pacify and console him. They decide to go in search of Sita towards the south.

On the way, they hear someone chanting Rama’s name. On approaching, they realise its Jatayu lying in a pool of blood. He’s breathing his last. He manages to inform Rama that Sita was taken by someone in a Vimana (flying machine) towards the south. Rama and Lakshmana perform his last rites.

They walk further south and realize they’re being dragged by someone’s hands. They decide to chop the hands off. They then find out, they were the hands of Kabandha. A daemon who cannot move from his place, had an open mouth near his belly button, had no head, and eyes near the chest… but could expand his hands upto 100 miles. Kabandha thanks Rama and Lakshmana as he has been waiting for a very long time for their arrival. He requests them to  burn up the body.

Rama and Lakshmana dig up a huge hole in the ground, throw in some firewood and set Kabandha on fire. A beautiful looking Yaksha comes out of the body and explains how he was cursed by a Rishi for teasing him. The Yaksha guides Rama to walk towards Mathanga muni Ashrama where Shabari is waiting for them and then proceed to Rushyamookha parvata. They thank him and move accordingly.

Rama and Lakshmana are surprised and delighted to see a decorated path. They meet Shabari and realise she has been waiting for them as Matanga Maharshi had asked her to guide them when they arrive. She’s kept enough fresh ripe fruits ready for the two to eat. They then witness her self immolate and attain moksha.