Rama, after killing Maricha walked back to the Ashram and saw Lakshmana coming in search of him. Ravana has kidnapped the Maya Sita, not my consort, but no one should know that now. I better grieve as if I am a commoner and start searching for Sita. Once I reach Lanka and kill Ravana, I can retrieve Sita from the Fire. I better conceal this ploy from Lakshmana.

Accordingly, he told Lakshmana that he had committed a mistake by leaving the Ashram. They both returned to the Ashram and as Rama expected, they could not find Sita there. Rama searched and cried for Sita like an ordinary mortal. He was acting his role in Maya to complete his life's mission.

They found Jatayu who updated them about where Sita has been taken. In Valmiki Ramayana, Jatayu also mentions that Ravana adducted Sita in the muhurta of Vida. Anything lost in this time would be finally recovered by the owner and therefore Rama would succeed in finding Vaidehi. Jatayu then requested Rama to liberate him. Jatayu became an associate of Vishnu.

Additional Source: Essential Ramayana by Arjun Bharadwaj

Picture Credit: J. Martin and Manoj Publications

Le Pakshi is supposed to mean, Rise, O Bird in Telugu and is considered the place where Jatayu fell. Thiruputkuzhi has a temple pond dedicated to the bird. The Jatayu rock near Trivandrum is a recent construction. Though they are popularly believed to be the spots where Jatayu fell, Sarva Teertha at Taked near Nashik is considered as the spot where Jatayu was actually slain. It is about 40 kms south of Nashik, very much in the route that Ravana would have taken to go towards Sri Lanka. Picture Credit https //www.facebook.com/sandhya.bhatia.92

Source: Footsteps of Rama, Vikrant Pande and Neelesh Kulkarni.

Picture Credit
www.facebook.comsandhya.bhatia.92

Rama and Lakshmana were walking deep in the forest. Suddenly, they came across a terrible beast who had no head but had yojana-long hands. This mysterious creature had no eyes. But he had a large opening for the mouth at his chest. It charged at them as if to eat them alive. Rama cut his right arm and Lakshmana, his left. This was demon Kabandha who said that he was a celestial being and was cursed by sage Ashtavakra. He would be redeemed when he meets Rama in the forest.

Kabandha got this terrible shape after a fight with Indra. Indra cut his head but could not kill him since Kabandha had to live till he meets Rama as per the Rishi’s curse. So, Indra shoved Kabandha’s head inside the body. Kabandha’s hands were a yojana long and he could grab all the creatures within his reach.

Rama and Lakshmana cremated Kabandha and a Gandharva emerged. Kabandha revealed that Sabri is living in Matanga Ashram and she will direct Rama towards Sita.

In the village of Kardiguda near Hubli in Karnataka, there is a rock in the shape of a grotesque human being. The temple is called the Basavanna temple, after the modern social reformer of Karnataka. The grotesque sculpture is that of Kabandha which is now revered as Basavanna. Locals believe Basavanna held on to the demon who became part of his body.

Additional Source: Footsteps of Rama, Vikrant Pande and Neelesh Kulkarni.

Picture Credit: Balasaheb Pant

Kabandha's stuti names the two classical cosmic forms of Vedantic meditation. Virat is the gross universal body — sun and moon as eyes, sky as head, devatas as limbs, drawn from the Puruṣa Sukta. Hiraṇyagarbha is the subtle counterpart: the collective mind and prana animating all beings.

Meditation on the visible form comes first, and comes easily, since the mind grasps the gross before the subtle. Subtler meditation goes beyond it, to the collective consciousness and prana.

Nevertheless, both forms are only superimposed on the Atman — which is the real nature of Rama, and of Kabandha, and of everyone.

Picture Credit: J Martin and Manoj Publications

Parvati prayed and bathed in Pampa Sarovar (in Karnataka) to get Lord Shiva as her husband.

When Sabri met Rama and Lakshmana, she led them to Pampa Sarovar. She indicated that they would meet Sugreeva there and that he will help them in the search for Ravana.

Source: Footsteps of Rama, Vikrant Pande and Neelesh Kulkarni.

Picture Credit
www.facebook.compampasarovaranegundi

There is no mention of Sabri biting the fruits. In popular narrative, Sabri bites the fruits as she is blind and cannot ensure their ripeness by checking the fruits. In Valmiki Ramayana  and Adhyatma Ramayana, when Rama and Lakshamana reach Sabri’s ashram, she falls at their feet. She says that once she meets them, she is also destined to go to heaven. She mentions that she has collected several forest produce for them and then offers them. She seeks the permission of Rama and Lakshmana to leave her body. She immolates herself and resembling a flame, ascends to Swarga.

The popular narrative underlines the Bhakti of Sabri and the acceptance of Rama of the acts of his true devotees.

Additional Source: Essential Ramayana by Arjun Bharadwaj

Rama consoled Sabri and said that he only looks at the devotion of his devotees and not their background. Going on a pilgrimage, visiting temples, or doing sacrifice rituals, etc. are good, but no one will get to see Rama except when they are devoted with a one-pointed vision. He then explains nine ways to build up devotion.

1. Being in the company of noble people, Satsang.

2. Telling Rama’s stories and singing his glories.

3. To identify with Rama’s qualities

4. To follow Rama’s words

5. To follow Rama’s rituals serving the gurus.

6. To live a noble life, following the scriptural injunctions of Yama-Niyama, etc.

7. To meditate upon Rama and chanting the mantra prescribed by your guru.

8. Developing compassion towards all living beings and seeing Rama in them.

9. Firmly know that I am Paramatma and is the soul of the individual, Jivatma.

When anyone cultivates devotion, they will have a blissful feeling of contentment. This leads to liberation, and this is the best path for human beings to follow.

Rama says Sabri is an example of devotion and that is why she was able to see them.

Adhyatma Ramayana uses the narration to convey deep philosophical thoughts aptly.

Picture Credit: J. Martin and Manoj Publications

Rama asked her about Sita’s whereabouts. Sabari told Rama that although Rama knows the answer himself, she would oblige as a matter of good conduct. Sabari said Sita Devi is residing in Lanka, grieving profusely, always thinking about Rama and chanting the name.

She pointed Rama towards Pampa Lake near which is the Rishyamooka mountain. She said Sugriva lives there. Rama could make a pact with Sugriva to defeat Vali. Sabari left her body and attained liberation. In Valmiki Ramayana, Kabandha himself mentions about Sugriva.

Picture Credit: Dr. K.U. Krishnakumar and Guruvayoor Devaswom