Shabari's Devotion to Lord Rama

Title: Shabari’s Devotion to Lord Rama
Survey date: 30th June, 2017
Surveyor Name: Anjali Araj, Laxmi Kanta Saini and Nurul (Wall Painting Directory, Jaipur)
Site name: Shri Sitaram Ji Maharaj Ka Mandir, Tonk, Rajasthan
Article by: Shreeya Rawat (Wall Painting Directory, INTACH, New Delhi)

The region of Tonk remained the capital of the Princely States of British India from 1817 to 1947. Its rich culture is reflected in the folk arts and traditional paintings. The temple of Shree Sitaram Ji Maharaj is situated in a small tehsil of Malpura of Tonk district which is approximately 60 miles from south of Jaipur. The temple can be reached from Tonk bus stand and Niwai Railway Station. The temple was built under the patronage of Nawab Ameerudullah. Built in 19th century in the traditional haveli style of Rajasthan, the temple houses beautiful wall paintings painted in the alagila technique. Alagila paintings are laid on fresh lime plaster with pigments mixed with a binding medium. Later on, the painting is finished by burnishing with agate stone that gives an extra luster to the wall paintings.

The Shree Sitaram Ji Maharaj temple stands on a raised plinth, square in plan and is accessed through a flight of stairs. The front facade of the main entrance comprises multi-foliated arches and a projected eave along with gokhas at both the sides of the entrance. Besides, the structure houses a small courtyard and a worship hall which is located outside the sanctum. The materials used in the building of the structure are primarily stone and lime. The walls and the ceiling of the prayer hall are decorated with wall paintings.

The style of art generally comes under the Dhundhar School of art, an amalgamation of both Mughal and Rajput elements, found in old havelis, temples, palaces and mosques. The temple is festooned with numerous paintings depicting scenes from the Ramayana, paintings of the royal court, processions, pomp and grandeur of the palaces, along with the rulers and their lavish lifestyles.

Besides wall paintings, the building has also been decorated profusely with lattice work which is mainly based on themes of Ram leela and the trio - Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. It adds to the aesthetic beauty of the temple.

 

The prayer hall or garbhagriha of the temple houses the idols of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. The walls of the prayer hall are adorned with some beautiful wall paintings which depicts scenes particularly from the Ramayana. These paintings are decorated with floral patterns and depict Sheshyayi Vishnu. Other themes are derived from the life of Lord Rama such as marriage ceremony of Rama and Sita, Lord Rama and Lakshmana wandering in the forest in search of Sita, building a Shivalinga in Rameshwaram and construction of the bridge to reach Lanka by the Vanar Sena, Jatayu attacking Ravana when he had captured Sita and was returning to Lanka, Lord Hanuman destroying the kingdom of Lanka with his burning tail and the scene of Ram Durbar.

One of the most interesting wall painting panel in this temple is one depicting the scene from ‘Ramayana’ wherein Shabari is offering berry fruits to Rama and Lakshamana. Shabari is portrayed in a sitting posture offering berries to Rama. Her humble thatched hut is seen in the background along with the forest as well as a basket of berries. Rama is seen sitting next to Shabari receiving the offerings from one hand and also offering berries to Lakshamana with the other hand. Lakshmana is standing and it seems as if he is refusing the offering with his hand gesture.

According to the legend, Shabari was a tribal woman and a saint in her guru Sage Matanga’s ashram. Pleased with her selfless services and great devotion, Matanga informs Shabari that Lord Rama would visit her place one day and give her darshana. Shabari waits patiently and prays for years for the arrival of Lord Rama. Rama and Lakshamana as predicted visit her humble abode and Shabari offers berry fruits to them. However, in order to ensure that only ripe and sweet fruits are offered to her lord, she takes a bite of the fruit before offering. As Rama is enjoying the fruity delights, Lakshmana raised the concern that Shabari had already tasted them and the offering therefore is unworthy of eating. Rama however conveys to him that it is the selfless devotion or ‘bhakti bhav’ that is important for the deities and they partake a fruit, leaf, flower, water or anything offered with love with great joy.

The temple structure suffers from damages that include cracks and water seepage problems. Structural changes such as installation of electrical fixtures and drilling of holes have led to further problems. The jalis in the prayer hall are covered with cement and other unscientific interventions are observed in the building. The structural problems are also affecting the wall paintings housed within. The paintings are in urgent need of conservation.

               

Shabari's Devotion to Lord Rama 

Reference

Books

1. Pai Anant, (1970), ‘Rama: Retold from the Ramayana’, Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd.
2. Rao Subba, Mulick Pratap, (1975), ‘Valmiki’s Ramayana’, Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd, published by Anant Pai
3. Narayan R.K, (29th August 2006), ‘The Ramayana’, Penguin Publishing Group.
4. Keshavadas Sant Sadhguru, (1988), ‘Ramayana at a Glance’, published by Motilal Banarasidas
5. Vanamali, (2014), ‘The Complete Life of Rama: Based on Valmiki’s Ramayana and the Earliest Oral Traditions’, published by Inner Traditions/Bear.
6. Pattanaik Devdutt, (7th May, 2017), ‘Devlok’, Penguin Random House Publishers India Pvt. Ltd.