Shankaracharya

Shankara was born in a Nambudiri Brahmin family at Kalady, village in the state of Kerala in 788A.D. Young  Shankara proceeded northward in search of a Guru. He came to the banks of Narmada where he met Govinda Bhagavatpada, disciple of Gaudapada. Shankara requested him to initiate him formally into Sanyasa. The request was readily granted. Shankara thereupon received instruction in Vedanta from Govinda Bhagavatpada.

Hinduism was at very critical juncture in the middle of the 7^th Century, orthodox Hinduism, with its elaborate and confusing ritualism, with its elaborate and confusing ritualism could no longer inspire the masses; even the rich who conduct these expensive Yagnas and Yagas, did not feel any sense of participation. Buddism had broken down into endless groups, each fighting with all the others, and the enchantment of direct thought and simple ideals got lost in the confusing  melody of their involved dialectics and noisy argumentations. It was at such a smouldering era of total decadence and endless confusions, that we had the timely rise of a fresh national hope in a young Kerala Brahmin, Adi Sankara. And soon this hope of giving Hindus a clear philosophy, beaconing them back to the Upnishads and the general consciousness of the entire nation, was fulfilled. With the Advaita Philosophy, stemming forth from the gushing Sources of Knowledge, the Upanishad, Sankara could reclaim the hopes of the community from the cobwebs of ritualism and give to the Hindus a peep into the wholesome beauty of their own ancient culture.

Shankara was one of the sacred instruments through which the Lord functions to maintain the universal rhythm and keep the world a healthy field for the onward march of evolution. The Infinite will can readily play Itself through such men of total identication with the Lord, and they alone are, therefore, the most competent instruments for the Universal Law to accomplish its divine purpose. To artists, their instruments are the most precious possessions. They are well cared for, trimmed. Sharpened, cleaned and kept ever tuned-up always, with diligent attention and soothing love.  Lord Jagadeeswara also never spares His choosen workers. Adi Sankara too was not to be spared from this Cosmic-law! He too has to be re-strung and re-turned from time to time.

The discussions of the conference lasted several days. Mandan Misra’s wife, Sarasa Vani, who was a very learned lady and who was held in great respect by scholoars for her integrity and wisdom, was requested to be the umpire. The wager was that if Sankara was defeated he should give up Sannyasa and marry and settle down as an orthodox householder. If, however, Mandan Misra’s was defeated he should give up his house and become a Sannyasa. Sarasa Vani, with her powers bordering on the divine, gave two extraordinary garlands for the disputants to wear and declared that who ever was defeated in argument would find his garland fading, while the victor’s garland would remain fresh. And it happened that Sankara’s garland remained fresh while that of Mandan Misra faded. Mandan Misra accepted defeat and was so changed that he now considered it a blessing to follow  Sankara as his Sannyasin disciple.

During his wanderings, Sankara had a premonition that his mother’s end was near. Remembering his promise to her, he went to her side, losing no time. Though he was her son, he became her Guru now and enabled her to meet her death with unshakable faith in God. The end came peacefully and quietly.

After the obseueries of his mother were over, Sankara resumed his travels. He visited Srirangam, Jambukeswaraam, Tirupati, and other places in south. In Tiruvottiyur, near Madras, there is evidence to show that he changed the mode of worship at the temple there by stopping animal sacrifices. Then he proceeded north along the east coast. The Maths established by him have continued to function through the centuries, at Kedarnath, Dwaraka, Sringeri, Puri and Kanchi and the instructions of worship initiated by his in many temples continue his traditions to this day.