Sabari
Sabari knew nothing about devotion and she curiously asked the Muni when she should chant. Matanga Muni replies that she should chant at all times. She asked how she should chant and the Muni replies that she should chant with utmost faith that as soon as she chants, Rama will appear.
Sabari immediately started chanting the lord’s name and kept thinking every day that Rama will appear before her. Rama does appear – after about 12 years, however, in all this time, the faith that Sabari had did not dwindle even a bit. She offered fruits that were tasted by her to the Lord and the Lord extends his hands and accepts. Earlier, in the Vamana avatar, the lord extends his arms for a hand full of earth and then conquers the entire universe. Later in the Krishna Avatar as well, the Lord extends his hands and takes butter from his devotees. Here, Rama took the half-bitten fruits of Sabari and gave her liberation! Such was the power of her nama smarana.
In the Krishna Avatar as well, Draupadi was such a favorite devotee of the Lord that even his wives Rukmini and Sathyabama were jealous of her. Once they wanted to know what was so special about her that the Lord was always available to her. They went to check and at that time, Draupadi had just had her bath and her long tresses were flowing. She was undoing the knots in her hair and when they went near, even every bristle of hair was murmuring the name of the Lord. No wonder, her cry for help to the Lord at Duryodhana’s court, was immediately answered by him. It is also believed that the Pandavas were always protected by the Lord only by the power of Panchali (Draupadi)
The beauty of nama smarana is that it does not require a great intellect or Vedic knowledge to engage in this type of devotion. It can be done easily and at any time. It can be as Japa or as bhajan and surely gives peace of mind to a true devotee.
Sabari immediately started chanting the lord’s name and kept thinking every day that Rama will appear before her. Rama does appear – after about 12 years, however, in all this time, the faith that Sabari had did not dwindle even a bit. She offered fruits that were tasted by her to the Lord and the Lord extends his hands and accepts. Earlier, in the Vamana avatar, the lord extends his arms for a hand full of earth and then conquers the entire universe. Later in the Krishna Avatar as well, the Lord extends his hands and takes butter from his devotees. Here, Rama took the half-bitten fruits of Sabari and gave her liberation! Such was the power of her nama smarana.
In the Krishna Avatar as well, Draupadi was such a favorite devotee of the Lord that even his wives Rukmini and Sathyabama were jealous of her. Once they wanted to know what was so special about her that the Lord was always available to her. They went to check and at that time, Draupadi had just had her bath and her long tresses were flowing. She was undoing the knots in her hair and when they went near, even every bristle of hair was murmuring the name of the Lord. No wonder, her cry for help to the Lord at Duryodhana’s court, was immediately answered by him. It is also believed that the Pandavas were always protected by the Lord only by the power of Panchali (Draupadi)
The beauty of nama smarana is that it does not require a great intellect or Vedic knowledge to engage in this type of devotion. It can be done easily and at any time. It can be as Japa or as bhajan and surely gives peace of mind to a true devotee.
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