With Diwali approaching, this may be the right time to share one of my travel stories about visiting Shabridham, Subir Village, Dang District. Earlier in September 2021, I went to Saputara with the Gujarat Tourism Bureau: During our stay at this lovely mountain station, we also drove two and a half hours inside to visit the Jimal Waterfall and Shabu in Subir Village. Ridham.
Shabridham is a simple and beautiful temple built where the Hindu god Ram is said to have met the faithful devotee Ma Shabri during the forest exile.
The legend of Shabridham
In the process of searching for Sita, he passed through the small village of Subir in the district and unexpectedly met Sabali. She has been waiting to see him since her spiritual master urged her to worship him. Sabri belonged to the Bill tribe, and Ram was the king. In that era, this was a contradictory doctrine of sacred beliefs. In any case, Shabari was very happy to see Ram and offered him the berries she picked from the nearby Chamak Dungar hill, which is located on the current Ahwa-Navapur highway in Gujarat.
But according to the legend, these berries were first sampled by Ma Shabari, who intends to purchase the best berries: take a bite first and give only the sweetest to God. Shree Ram kindly accepted her berries and was impressed by her innocent dedication. This story is the foundation of this temple, where the three stones where Ram, Laxman and Sabali sat are still enshrined. So far, this place is surrounded by dense forests of Dand Karanya and Pampa Sarovar, and the place where Ram bathes is only 10 kilometers away from Shabari Dham.
The current Shabridham Temple is painted off-white and various shades of berry pink, and provides a magnificent view of the surrounding scenery. The temple’s grounds are large, with ample seating and a peaceful feeling, making you want to spend a long time here. Most tourists visit this sacred place and appreciate the tranquility it draws from the neighboring forests, mountains, forests and Pampa Sarovar. To promote a comfortable visit, Shabridham also provides accommodation and food for those who want to stay longer. The temple is open to everyone between 7 am and 7 pm.
