During the time when Varnashramis( people going to the forests for performing penances etc.) was in full flow,, in the Yuga of 'Treta' and there were numerous hermitages of the sages and hermits in which they used to perform their homage and Yagyas and the resultant smoke coming out from the sacred fire used to cover up the sky and block the vision, there used to live a lonely woman who was a 'bheel' by caste who had neither a husband nor a son but who was full of faith and devotion towards the almighty God. Her name was Shabari and she lived in the deep forests of Dandak.

Shabari being very much influenced by the divine sight of Sage Matang decided to spend her whole life at his service. She made her own hut at a little distance from sage Matang's hermitage. She used to serve the sages in her own way like brooming off the way through which the sages were expected to cross while going for a bath, picking up thorns and piling up dry wood for fuel before dusk could descend in front of Matang's hermitage. She did all these without letting anybody know about it.

Sage Matang used to be surprised when he used to find the path clear of thorns, dry woods piled up at the door of his hermitage.

So, one day, he ordered his disciples to find out the identity of the person responsible for all these actions. The disciples caught Shabari red handed piling up dry woods in front of the hermitage. They brought her to Sage Matang. He asked: " Who are you? And why do you clear the path of thorns everyday and bring dry wood everyday."

Shabari who was frightened replied: " Lord, my name is Shabari. I have taken birth in a low caste because of my destiny. So ,by engaging myself in such activities, I purify myself. Because of my low caste, I cannot serve you in any other way. Please forgive my sins."

Hearing this the sage was filled with pity for her. He ordered the disciples to construct a hut near his hermitage and make arrangements for her food. So, Shabari started living in that hut, engaging herself in devotional activities. But the sages of other hermitages did not like this. They did not want to have any kind of relation with him. But sage Matang was not bothered because he was sure that Shabari was not nay ordinary woman of a low caste, she was a supremely pure soul immersed in the devotion towards the Lord. So, he continued helping her develop her devotion towards God.

Many years passed by. One day, the sage Matang decided to leave his mortal body. His disciples were filled with grief. Shabari wanted to end her life, but then sage Matang consoled her by saying that: " Lord Rama who has his hermitage at Chitrakoot and who is the incarnation of Lord would visit her and you must wait patiently for that moment of benediction."

Following the commands of the sage, Shabari used to keep herself busy and engaged in the remembrance of the Lord Rama. She became unaware of anything else. As the time passed, her desire of seeing the Lord grew in intensity. The slightest of sound made her come out of her hut. Not finding the Lord, she used to ask the trees, leaves, flowers, fruits as to when Shri Rama would arrive. Shabari used to clear the path, coat the floor of her hut with cow dung, gather the sweetest of fruits for Shri Rama. Her involvement in Shri Rama's thoughts was total.

One day, the disciples of sage Matang gave her the news of Shri Rama's arrival. Hearing this Shabari began to behave in a hurried manner She kept the plum fruits she was carrying and hurriedly ran towards the river to fetch water. She became so unaware of her surroundings that while running she dashed against a sage who was returning after having a bath in the river. He cursed her, but Shabari was so much immersed in Shri Rama's thoughts that she did not even listen to the sage's curse. The sage followed her to the river for having a bath again as he considered that the touch of a low caste woman had made him impure.

But as soon as the sage entered into the water, he found out the water had become full of worms and the water had become red like blood. But the unfortunate sage could still not understand that it was all because of the disrespect he had shown to Shabari.

As Shabari was about to enter her hut carrying water in her hand. She heard Shri Rama's voice who was saying: " Where is Shabari?" All the sages knew about Shri Rama's arrival but each one of them were imagining that Shri Rama would visit 'his' hermitage first. They were surprised when they heard that Shri Rama was enquiring about Shabari's address. Shabari after knowing that Shri Rama was going to visit her first was filled with joy. When she saw Rama at her door, she started to dance in joy thinking about the sage Matang's correct prediction. She was not aware of her surroundings. Lord Rama looked smilingly at Lakshman. Lakshman said to Shabari: " Shabari! Will you keep on dancing like this? Will you not treat your guests? Look, it has been a long time since Shri Rama has been standing." Hearing this, Shabari regained her consciousness and she fell at the feet of Shri Rama and Lakshman and she washed their feet and offered them seats.

When Shri Rama asked Shabari: " Shabari, you have mastered all the means of living. You have mastered anger and hunger. Do you have peace in your heart or is there anything still left for which your heart has a desire?"

Shabari replied: " Every wish, penance and the virtues of the service done to my teacher have been attained just by having your divine sight. Shabari was so full of emotions that she could not speak much. After sometime she said: " I have kept some fruits for you. Accept it and make my desires worthwhile." After saying this, Shabari gave the fruits to Shri Rama before giving, she herself tasted it to make herself sure that the fruits were sweet or not. She gave only the sweetest fruits to Shri Rama and Shri Rama was eating everything that was being offered to him. This significant event clearly shows that only pure devotion and nothing else impress God.

Sages from the nearby hermitages came to Shabari's hut and after making salutations to Shri Rama said that: " his divine sight" has made them free from fear. They also felt sorry for their crime of showing disrespect to sage Matang and Shabari. They cursed themselves for all their knowledge, penances and celibacy because they were of no use to them. One of the sages asked the reason why the lake of this place was full of worms and its colour of the water was red like blood.

Lakshman replied that because of the disrespect they showed towards the sage and Shabari, it has become so. It can be brought back to its previous state only if Shabari touches the water of the lake. Shabari did so and the lake became pure. Before leaving Shri Rama asked Shabari to demand any boon. But Shabari whose all wishes had been satisfied by the divine sight of Shri Rama wanted nothing else. She requested Shri Rama to make her faith, devotion and belief in him even more stronger.

Shri Rama blessed her. After her death, Shabari attained salvation.