A devotee is directly connected to the Almighty through his pure devotion. The Devotion acts as a communication and once it reaches the Supreme Being, he himself makes a journey to bless his devotees. The compassion and love for his devotees was so dear to Shri Ram that he undertook this journey in the form of his exile and as a human reached his devotees and gave them a unique place in the world of devotees which till date is exclusive to them and none others.
Kewat – When a simple boatman disagrees to ferry Shri Ram across the river, it looks as if the boatman is foolish and does not know how to respect Shri Ram. But the moment he says, that he would only allow him after washing Shri Ram’s feet, there unfolds the pure innocent devotion of the Kewat on the lotus feet of Shri Ram. For his simple devotion, the Kewat was liberated from the cycle of Maya and thus earned a permanent place in the heart of Shri Ram.
Jatayu – With no boundaries on his compassion, Shri Ram has affection for even a flesh eating vulture and makes Jatayu his dear friend. Jatayu becomes his protector and fulfils the greatest responsibility of being a protector and offers his life at the feet of Shri Ram in trying to save Mata Sita. As a mark of Jatayu’s sacrifice, Shri Ram pays his humble obseciance to the departed soul by performing his final rites as a son and giving him an eternal place in Vaikunth Dham.
Shabari – As much as we strive to offer pure and sanctified offerings to the Almighty as offerings, this tribal woman offered already tasted berries to Shri Ram. While Lakshman is surprised at this audacity, Shri Ram explains the pure devotion of Mata Shabari and her urge as a mother to offer her son delicious and tastiest fruits. Ending her eternal wait for Shri Ram, he gives her liberation from the materialistic world and gives her an eternal place in the world of devotees.
Hanuman – Nothing can surpass the way Hanuman served Shri Ram. When Shri Ram meets him at Rishyamuk Mountain, Hnauman gives his introduction as the eternal servant of Shri Ram, yet he becomes as dear to Shri Ram as Bharat. Such his is devotion that Shri Ram blesses him to be a Chiranjeevi and stay in the world forever and in the hearts of all devotees who worship Shri Ram. Hence it is the popular saying that where there is the name chant of Shri Ram, there present is Shri Hanuman with hands duly folded and heart engrossed in the name chant of Shri Ram.
The Little Squirrel – Name unknown, body tiny, but the determination to work for the cause of Shri Ram in beyond measure for the little squirrel. With all the determination to be a part of the Ram Setu, the little squirrel offers help with by filling the gaps of the bridge through small pebbles it could carry. Shri Ram overwhelmed by its small , yet wide hearted gesture rubs its back and three lines are formed as mark of the affection of Shri Ram, which not only confined to the squirrel, but on the entire genre of squirrels. Shri Ram imparts that pure devotion does not expect anything, but he blesses them with the highest place in his heart and in the most special way to be remembered forever.
