BEDTIME STORIES

DEAR FRIENDS,

FROM NOW ON BEGINNING ON THIS AUSPICIOUS TAMIL NEW YEAR DAY I SHALL START TELLING STORIES FOR CHILDREN. YOU HAVE TO TEACH THEM AND TELL THEM TO CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF LOVE AND BE BENEFITED TO GROW AS DISCIPLINED VALUABLE CITIZENS FOR THE FUTURE.

BED TIME STORIES FOR CHILDREN - 1 J K SIVAN

BECOME A SABARI

Siva Thathaa likes children. He is surrounded by children like honey bees amidst flowers. He used to tell ineresting stories to them. His mission is to educate the children as much as possible to create interest in them in our traditional, holy epics, puranas and scriptures so that what is not taught at home or by the modern educational insttituions reach them safely for their better understanding of human values with discipline, faith and love for humanity and all living beings. Let us join the children who have ''gheraoed' Siva Thaththa and listen to their conversation at his house.

''You told me of an old woman Sabari. Tell us again about her. we like her''

''Sabari was born in the family of a hunter in a forest. She was to be married, According to the custom of the hunters she has to be married to a hunter and many goats, deers and fouls were to be killed for throwing a big feast for all the visitors and family members. Sabari by nature was a lover of all animals and birds and the thought of many of the animals and birds she loved would have to be killed in connection with her wedding ceremony made her sick and feel sorry for them. She refused to marry. Because she was compelled by the hunter family she left the house to a deep forest away from them.

''Oh poor good Sabari...What happened to her Thatha?''

''Nothing. She was far from the reach of those hunters and found herself in a place in the dense Dhandakaranyam Forest where many Rishis and Munis lived in meditation and rising holy fires (homas and Yagnas) to please the gods. She liked them but could not go near them as she belonged to a low caste, an untouchable''

''What is untouchability and low case Thatha?''

''My dear children, there is no low or high caste or touchability and untouchability, It is in the mind, an age old practice which existed centuries ago still found in some places. All humans and living beings are creations of God without any difference and discrimination. Divisions in peple was introduced as a discipline for performing duties preferred to be followed for service to each other which was exploited by some later.. Let us not deal with it now and proceed with the story...

Sabari remained in the hut made by her ownself in the forest and remained there mostly during the day unseen by anyone. She would go in search for fruits and vegetables in the dusk and collected the dry wood, small sticks from branches of selected trees, bundled them and carried these bundles of dry wooden pieces (samith) and placed these bundles in front of the huts(ashramas) of the Rishis and Munis at night. It will save them the ordeal of searching for such wood and sticks for use in their holy fire everyday.. Every one was surprised and asked each other ''did you keep these samith for me ?'' '' No'' I also have a bundle daily in front of my ashram'' was the answer from everyone.

The rishis made an effort to find out who was the person supplying these most useful ingredient for their yagnas, without a remuneration unknown to them and one night Sabari was found while keeping these bundles in front of their huts. Some of the Rishis were angry and shouted

''How dare you untouchable visiting this place and keeping these? but some other old rishis and good natured stopped such shouting at the poor Sabari, an innocent good teenager. One of such old Rishis respected by the others was Rishi Matanga, who liked Sabari.

''Where do you live? and who are are you?

''Maharishi I am Sabari, an illiterate belonging to a hunter family. I have none..and I beseech forgiveness if I have done anything wrong by placing these bundles in front of the huts of the Rishis. I thought they may use them and would reject if found these were supplied by me, a low case woman''

''No my child you are not a low caste or low class woman. You belong to a very high class. My Rama would bless you''

''Who is Rama?''

''Oh you dont know anything. Come with me and stay with me in my ashram. I would teach you more about Rama''

Sabari happily went with Matanga and lived in a corner of his hut without any disturbance to his routine Homas, Yagnas and meditation. He taught her all about Rama, the avathar of Maha Vishnu, who killed many demons and cruel strong Rakshasas who were menaces to the Rishis in the Dandakaranya and other forests.

Sabari developed a deep love for Rama because of his virtues and great qualities and prayed all the time to have his dharsan.

Meantime the other Rishis continued to hate Sabari's presence in their colony. Matanga permitted her to use the small river in the forest where the Rishis used to bathe. When she entered the river the other rishis shouted and cursed her. The moment she entered the waters of the river, it was no longer the crystal clear water, and became reddish like liquid blood. The Rishis cursed her and Sabari cried and was pacified by Matanga.

As time passed, Sabari now became an ardent devotee of Rama and always thought of him. Matanga became too old and time was nearing for his end. Sabari also wanted to die with him. ''No my child, you will remain in this ashram after me and wait for Rama to come here one day when you will receive his blessings and then reach me''

After Matanga passed away Sabari was counting the days for Rama to visit and everyday she will think " Rama will come here today and I shall serve him the best fruit'' For this she would daily go and collect the best ripened sweet fruit for hlim. How to select the sweet fruit? She will bite a bit of the fruit to taste if it was sweet and keep it for Rama if approved by her as the sweetest.

One day Rama came to Dandakaranya forest with Lakshmana his brother and Sita his wife. All the rishis ran towards him to receive him and honour him at their ashrams. Rama enquired about everyone and suddenly asked ''Where is Sabari living?''

Sabari was somewhere unseen by the Rishis hidden behind a tree and enjoying the visit of Rama. She was thrilled to see Rama and wanted to go near him and pay her respects. Now she was an old woman waiting for Rama's presence for many decades. The Rishis were surprised

''How did Rama know about the untouchable old woman Sabari? Why is he asking for her?''

One of the Rishis replied "Prabhu, Sabari, the old woman is living in Mathanga Rishi's ashram''

''Take me there I want to meet her'' said Rama rejecting the invitation of others.

Rama entered Mathanga Rishi ashram and was happy to see the old Sabari standing with tears welling up and dropping down from her eyes

''How are you Sabari?'' he asked.

''Swami, I was waiting only for seeing you.and I have no wish to live anymore. I wanted to offer these fruits for you'' She placed before him the sweet fruits selected by her after tasting them.

Rama very happily consumed the fruits offered by her. Some of the Rishis complained about Sabari to Rama and how the river used by them for bathing was rendered unusable becoming red like blood after she touched the water.

One of the Rishis suggested if Rama touched the river with his feet it might become once again the clean crystal watered river. Rama told them : There is no distinction or discrimination among devotees. Sabari is more devotional than many of you. Repent for not realising her pure devotion, wash her feet and throw the washed water into the river. Then come and tell me what you did ''

The Rishis stood before old Sabari and asked her to forgive them and washed her feet and collected the water thus used and threw into the river.

''Lo, what a miracle it was. The moment the water they used to wash Sabari's feet were thrown into the river, it once again became the crystal clear water''.

Rama explained to the reformed Rishis that Sabari in her earlier birth was Malini, a princess, born to a Gandharva King in heaven and while roaming in a forest she fell in love with a hunter and was cursed to be born a woman in a hunter family. When she begged to forgive her and restore herself to heaven the Gandharva told her '' Wait until Rama of Ayodhya visit your place and bless you''

Thus Sabari cleared the woods, removed the thorns and obstacles and made the passage for Rishis to walk freely in the forest. collected the wood for their yagnas and homas and served them. She cleared the stones and pebbles on the way for Rama to walk barefooted to her Ashram and waited for many years.

''Thatha the story is very interesting''

''Yes my dear children. Remember Love is the mighty force and power in you to win you everything in life. Have faith in Rama and serve all and you would all be Sabaris''