Rama and Lakshmana reached the western bank of the lake. There they spotted the charming hermitage of Sabari who had for decades pined to behold Rama. It was indeed her dream come true and her moment of ecstacy as she offerd him reverential hospitality. Rama asked Sabari, "Have you conquered your anger and the obstacles to your penance? How do your Chandrayana Niyamas fare? Do you rejoice in peace and serenity and has your service to your guru borne fruit?" Sabari herself a Siddha honored by other Siddhas said, "Rama! You are the best among men and gods. My life is blessed by your presence. My gurus had told me that one day you would arrive at this holy ashram and having beheld you I would attain those imperishable worlds from which none return". Sabari offered him fruit that she had gathered with great love from the trees along the banks of Pampa. Rama recognized that Sabari had reached great heights of penance and wisdom. He asked her if he could see the ashram of Matanga of which he had heard so much from Kabandha. She led the princes through the forest and showed them the grove called Matangavanam. Filled with exotic birds, animals and other creatures, the woods consecrated by mantras and purified by the ascetics were rendered sacred. They saw altars facing west, where the most venerable of seers had offered flowers. These altars sanctified by an ever ending flow of worship by the sages had acquired a radiance that still cast their luminence in all directions. The holy Ganga and the seven seas were invoked and brought to the hermitage by the power of their penance. The mighty forces willingly visited the sages whose feeble bodies no longer permitted them to travel. The ascetics bathed in the holy waters and dried their bark robes on the trees.Those garments still remain moist and the garlands made out of blue lotus are still fresh." After showing them the hermitage Sabari said, "Rama, you have seen and heard of its greatness. May I now be permitted to leave this body? I would like to go to the land where those sages whom I had served now dwell." Amazed at Sabari's faith Rama said, "You may go! Go in peace to the world that you desire." Sabari then cast herself into a blazing fire to emerge with a divine body, soaring into the skies with a brilliant dazzle.
Summary
Rama and Lakshmana reached the western bank of the lake. There they spotted the charming hermitage of Sabari who had for decades pined to behold Rama. It was indeed her dream come true and her moment of ecstacy as she offerd him reverential hospitality. Rama asked Sabari, "Have you conquered your anger and the obstacles to your penance? How do your Chandrayana Niyamas fare? Do you rejoice in peace and serenity and has your service to your guru borne fruit?" Sabari herself a Siddha honored by other Siddhas said, "Rama! You are the best among men and gods. My life is blessed by your presence. My gurus had told me that one day you would arrive at this holy ashram and having beheld you I would attain those imperishable worlds from which none return". Sabari offered him fruit that she had gathered with great love from the trees along the banks of Pampa. Rama recognized that Sabari had reached great heights of penance and wisdom. He asked her if he could see the ashram of Matanga of which he had heard so much from Kabandha. She led the princes through the forest and showed them the grove called Matangavanam. Filled with exotic birds, animals and other creatures, the woods consecrated by mantras and purified by the ascetics were rendered sacred. They saw altars facing west, where the most venerable of seers had offered flowers. These altars sanctified by an ever ending flow of worship by the sages had acquired a radiance that still cast their luminence in all directions. The holy Ganga and the seven seas were invoked and brought to the hermitage by the power of their penance. The mighty forces willingly visited the sages whose feeble bodies no longer permitted them to travel. The ascetics bathed in the holy waters and dried their bark robes on the trees.Those garments still remain moist and the garlands made out of blue lotus are still fresh." After showing them the hermitage Sabari said, "Rama, you have seen and heard of its greatness. May I now be permitted to leave this body? I would like to go to the land where those sages whom I had served now dwell." Amazed at Sabari's faith Rama said, "You may go! Go in peace to the world that you desire." Sabari then cast herself into a blazing fire to emerge with a divine body, soaring into the skies with a brilliant dazzle.