RAM NAUMI - LESSON 3: SHABRI AND NAVDHA BHAKTI - HINDU VERSION OF NINE COMMANDMENTS

LESSON 3:  SHABRI,NAVDHA BHAKTI AND SIMPLICITY

Thakur Ranjit Singh

In lesson three we speak about one devotee of Lord Ram, Shabri. Despite being a simpleton and considered light-minded (with “loose nut”, pagli, neech), she had unwavering devotion for Ram. 

Bhagwan so much loved her selfless, firm and simple faith and devotion, that He walked to her place. He even tastefully ate half eaten wild berries (jhutha bair). It shows that one need not possess knowledge of rituals, understanding of mantras or so called proper ways and pooja stuffs.  One’s non-deceitful and steadfast devotion (shradha) in Lord overrides all materialistic riches, mantras and rituals.

Ram -Shabri Milan: This meeting has so much significance for us Hindus, with many teachings. The first lesson is to be very simple, you need not be rich, but be a good person. That means being spiritual, without necessity of being religious or ritualistic. 

That is a lesson to all of us that God does not need big ceremonies, expensive set-ups, huge Mandirs, big Brahmin/Pundit, loud music, and pages full of pooja list. Shabri’s episode is a lesson to all people.

Ram tells her that He only recognises one’s devotion. Despite caste (jaati), kinship (paanti), lineage (kull), religiousness (dharm), reputation (barhaai), wealth (dhan), physical strength of family (bal), accomplishment and ability (gunn, chaturai), a person lacking in devotion is worth no more than cloud without fain. 

Hence this is a direct message to our rich, mighty and influential people in society who think they are more equal than the others and have "bought" God with their riches. No one can buy their way into God's kingdom. We need donors to run organisations, but one does not buy devotion with wealth. 

This real devotee was a poor, lowly caste, half-witted rustic villager like Shabri. Those who perceive themselves of higher caste (especially Brahmans) or those at higher financial level or in hierarchy in community, without devotion and selfless feeling for others are like barren soil, not worthy of any crop and useless in the eyes of God.

Ram imparting nine commandments for Hindus to Shabri. The underlying message is to have faith in God, selfless devotion, respect for elders and people who love God and his ways (sant) and love God through loving your fellow beings.

Bhagwan Ram then narrates and explains Navdha Bhakti – The Nine Steps of Devotion. I translate here so Pracharaks can explain to the modern generation in simple English, to the new generation -both in Hindi, Fiji Hindi and English.

NAVDHA BHAKTI

1) Pratham Bhakti Santan kar sangaa

The first step to devotion (Bhakti) is to keep company (fellowship) of the saints, good respectable people (Satsang). Note saints are NOT necessarily Brahmins, Pundits Swamis or Babas living in Mandirs. They are anybody with good character and good and righteous deeds. 

2) Doosri rati mam kathaa prasangaa

The second step is to enjoy listening to (fondness of) legends/lectures pertaining to the Lord.

3) Guru padd pankaj seva, teesri bhakti amaan

Selfless service to the Guru’s (perceptor/ teacher) lotus feet without any pride is the third step. Remember, PARENTS are the first Guru, and those deserting parents can never be loving to God.

4) Chouthi bhakti mam gunn gann karai, kapat tajee gaan

The fourth step is to earnestly sing praises of the Lord’s virtues with a heart clear of guile, deceit or hypocrisy. Our people need to shed off trickery and showmanship and stop conning other.

5) Mantra jaap mam dridh visvaasaa, pancham bhajan jo ved prakaasaa

Chanting God’s Name with steadfast (unwavering) faith is the fifth step as the Vedas reveal.

6) Chattha damm seela birati bahu karmaa, nirat nirantara sajjan dharma

The sixth, is to practice self-control, good character, detachment from manifold activities and always following the duties as good religious person. This simply means is that all you need to love your God is to love your fellow beings, have compassion and good manners.

7) Saatvam sam mohi main jag dekhaa, motey sant adhik kar lekhaa

The seventh step is to perceive the world as God Himself and regard the saints higher than the Lord. One should be compassionate to others, humans and even animals, see God in all living beings. As I said, saints are not with saffron cloth and big beards with big tikka. They need not be pundits or Brahmins- just good righteous human beings of any caste or creed. 

8) Aathvam jathaa laabh santoshaa, sapneu nahin, dekhai par doshaa

The eighth, is remaining contented with whatever he gets and not detecting faults of others. Being content or “Santosh” is a virtue rarely found in many.

Clarification: Not detecting faults of others does not mean you see injustice or wrong things done, and keep quiet. Some blame me as a journalist for speaking about ills in society. This is NOT what this bhakti means. If VIBHISHAN had followed this, then he would not have stood up to his brother Ravan for doing wrong. HENCE SPEAKING UP AGAINST WRONG OR INJUSTICE does not fit in definition of "par doshaa"

9) Navam saral sab san chhal heena, mam bharos heenya harash na deenaa

In this state, one has full faith in the Lord, and becomes (child-like) simple with no hypocrisy or deceit. The devotee has strong faith in the Lord with neither too much happiness and expression of praise, nor depression. One needs to maintain calm emotions-and balance, with simplicity.

Shabri's offer of "jhutha bair" and acceptance of that by Ram shows  God loves simplicity and only understands the language of devotion - those who have devotion and unwavering love for God and good ways to God. Unfortunately, India has't learnt from this example by Ram. 

The meaning and lessons here need to be clearly imparted to the audience. We have halls full of so called devotees, but many do not possess good character as explained in Navdha Bhakti. You still find many, full of deceit, hypocrisy, being two-faced, are thieves, full of tension or depression, being discontented with life, feeling jealous of others, being cruel to others, lacking self-control, having no respect for parents, being gossiping "Manthras, and yet trying to pass oneself as religious without having qualities of being a good person. I see some in Mandirs.

I personally know such people, and this shakes my faith in religion and our ways of prayers. Some have organised Ramayan path for Ram Naumi at their place or Mandir. They have been singing Ramayan, being part of a Mandali or Mandir for many decades, yet their hollow and deceitful character have not changed to follow good ways taught by Ramayan.

In many Hindus of modern-times, no personal improvement are noted in their personality, despite years of Ram Naumi and Ramayan.  I would rather befriend one who does not go to Mandir, does not sing Ramayan, does not belong to a Mandir or Mandali, but still is a good human being (spiritual without being religious) and a truthful and trustworthy person who respects  elders and parents and treats others with compassion.

We are so short of people who can walk their talk in Hinduism. They need to read and understand Navdha Bhakti, and see how God visits an uneducated lowly ranked, of very low caste woman who lacked all knowledge about prayers of rituals, but had non-deceitful and unwavering faith n God. 

We need more Shabris who are real Ram Bhakt and not ponga, dhongi (deceitful) bhakts, masquerading as religious people with big tikkas. They can be common men-aam aadmi

Lessons from Ram-Shabri Milan to modern man is to shed all showmanship, your richness and greatness in whatever form, and be nice to your fellow beings, and just be a good person to reach God. You do not reach God through donations to Mandirs and Mandalis alone. One cannot bribe God or buy your way into God's heart. 

The lesson here is not to indulge in rituals, showmanship or display of wealth to reach God. Be simple, but devoted and a nice person, with faith and compassion, like Shabri.

And God will walk to your place.

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a blogger, a media scholar and a person who has been singing Ramayan since he started reading Hindi over six decades ago. He is former Secretary of Nasinu Branch of Sanatan Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji. He advocates Ramayan pracharaks and those conducting discourse to IMPORTANTLY preach about the relevance of Ramayan to modern man, instead of repeating stories we already know about.]