Description

GODDESS SHABARI RENUKA A FORM OF GODDESS DURGA WHO RESIDES IN FORESTS AND PROTECTS ONE LIVING OR TRAVELLING ACROSS FORESTS

Goddess Renuka has many forms among which shabari Renuka is the prime one. Shabari Renuka dwells in the forest with austeric dress code like sages. She is always seen in deep meditation through which she protects her devotee coming across the forests. This form of Renuka is connected with Vaanaprasthaashrama stage of Sage Jamadhagni along with his wife Renuka. She is even praised as Muni Devatha , vana Rakshaka,Vana Maaya Sundari etc… andis always seen enguaging in austerities and penance for the sake of well being of her devotee.
Lord Prashurama Praises this form of Renuka as follows :
Neelaambare Neelavarne Mayoora PichhaDhaarini
VanaBhilla Dhanurvaame Dhakshine Baana Dhaarini
Shabari Renuka is one who is of dark in complexion and wears clothes of same colour. She Wears Peacock feathers in her hair. She Resides in forests as Bhill race woman with Bow in left hand and Arrows in Right hand. Her dark colour is due to her long time austerities and deep penance. At this stage she is often praised as APARNA a form of Parvathi who did penance for the sake of marrying lord Shiva.
Dhyaana Sloka of Shabhari Renuka is as follows :
Gunjaaphalaam Kalpitha haara ramyaam shruthyoh shikhanda shikhino vahantheem |
Kodhandabaanow Dadhatheem karaabhyaam katistha valkaam shabhareem smaraami ||
I meditate on Goddess Shabhari one who wears ornaments made of roasary beeds whose ear rings are made of Peacock’s feather and same are kept in her hair stuff. She holds Arrows in one hand and Bow in another hand she wears an ornament made of Bark of a tree around her waist. She is meditated with her Panchakashari mantra which is well known as Renuka Shabhar Mantra. Her Yantra is of Three Avaaranas with Shatkona Ashtadala Bhoopura .
In general Arrows and Bows are the weapons of Lord Manmatha who is god of love and romance and is root cause for reproduction. When they are in his hand it promotes progeny
any body pleasures in human beings. So when he tried to hit arrow on Shiva to make him to get attracted to parvathi, he failed and was burnt into ashes because Shiva was against all such pleasures. But when they come to hand of Devi Devotee is dettached from such body pleasures and this is the reason why Goddess like Lalitha, Renuka etc. hold Bow and Arrows. Purpose of their worship is to get salvation and make themselves free from attachments.
As per Nava Durga puja vidhi of Dravidian style Fifith day of Navarathri is meant for worshipping Goddess under the name of Shabhari Durga who is none other than Shabhari Renuka. In this form she holds rosary beads in one hand and Kamanadal pot in another hand representing her austerities and peanace mode. She is called Brahmacharini in north She wears saffron sarry with black border and with blouse of same colour. Her hair is Piled like that of Sages and resided in forests. She is surrounded by cruel animals like Tiger Lionetc.. which shows her controlling power over nature. As per Guru Maharaj Shree Hari Swamiji of Tamilnadu Shabari is the one who guided Rama during their period of Exile and also guide for Lord Dharma Shastha in Shabarimalai hills , Which shows her loving and protecting nature of her devotee.
Temples of Shabahri Renuka are very rare and one among such is Nahaan Shri Renuka in Uttaranchal. Here Goddess is depicted very beautifully surrounded by dense forests with tigers and lions wanderring around and a lake dedicated to her. Every year Renuka mela is conducted in Vaishaaka month which is life worthy fair to see. It is also a famous tourist spot for its vegetation so try to have a trip to Nahaan. Shri Mathre Namaha. Sarvam RenukaarpanaMasthu