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Some events from Adisankarar life

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[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Adi Sankara (Some events, and an artist's impression):[/FONT]




[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Lord Shiva, also known as Dhakshinamurthy, who spreads the Universal Truth not by words but by his silence and by his sign of his hand which is held in the form of "Chin Mudra". [/FONT]
[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]About 2500 years ago, when the spiritualisation of the people greatly reduced, all the Gods and the Rishis went to Kailash and pleaded with Lord Shiva to revive the world. Lord Shiva agreed with their request and informed that he will be born in this world. Lord Brahma, Indra and others also agreed to be born in this world to help Lord Shiva. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]In Kaladi, Kerala, a learned brahmin, by the name of Sivaguru, and his wife, Aryambal, spent their life in pooja and in giving alms to poor and in other good deeds. This childless couple went to Trichur and performed puja for 48 days to Lord Vadakkunathan (Lord Shiva) and prayed for a son. Lord Shiva melted in their devotion and appeared before them and told them "I am extremely happy with your devotion and you will get what you want. But tell me whether you want a number of dull children or a son who is extremely intelligent, who will live for a short period only." The couple replied the decision could not be theirs as the Lord knows what is good for them. [/FONT]


[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Lord Dakshinamurthy, pleased with the reply, was born to Aryambal under the star "Thiruvaithhirai". As the Lord had already promised that he will be born to do good to this world, the child was named Sankara. Sam means prosperity and Karathi means te giver. All the visitors stood in awe at the divinity of the child and said "This is not an ordinary child". [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]As Shankara grew up, he attraced everybody with his intelligence and kindness. At the age of three, he was given "Aksharabyas", i.e., the learning of writing and reading. At the age of four, he lost his father. At the age of five, he was initiated in Brahmacharyam i.e., the holy thread ceremony was conducted and he was sent to Gurukul for learning of scriptures. As per the practice the brahmachari has to go from house to house and take alms and submit this to his guru. On a Dwadasi day Sankara happened to go to the house of a very poor lady jand asked for the alms. The lady did not have a single grain of rice in her house to give. However she had kept a single Amla fruit for herself as it was a Dwadasi day. She unhesitatingly gave this Amla fruit to Sankara as she could not send a Brahmachari empty handed. Sankara was moved by her selflessness and the poverty of the lady and prayed to Goddess Lakshmi in a beautiful sloka which is called "Kanaka Dhara Stotram". On completion of this stotram, Goddess Lakshmi appeared in person and showered a rain of golden coins on the poor lady's house. [/FONT]


[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]One day, the rishis came to him and reminded him of his duty to the land in spreading spiritualism. Sankara agreed it was time to become a Sanyasi and go all over the country to kindle religious ferver. [/FONT]
[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]One day when Sankara was taking bath, a crocodile caught hold of his leg. Sankara called out to his mother. Aryambal came running and to her horror she found her son in the grip of the crocodile and she cried that se did not know how to help her son. [/FONT]


[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara informed his mother that his life was nearing to an end, but if he became a Sanyasi, he could start a new life as a sannyasi. Thus Sri Sankara obtained permission from his mother to become a sannyasi. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara went in the search of a Guru to be formally initiated as a Sannyasi. At the banks of the river Narmada, he found the river gushing forth into floods. By using his powers, he encapsulated the river in his Kamandal (a vessel sannyasi's carry) and released it in the banks of the river. Sri Govinda Bagawathpathar, an ascetic who saw this, marvelled at Sri Sankara dn took him on as a Shishya. [/FONT]
[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Govinda Bagawathpadar taught various vedas to Sri Sankara. He also taught about Advaita, the principle that every one in this world is the manifestation of God and that God and Atman are one and the same. He advises Sri Sankara to go out in the world and spread this truth throughout the country. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara went to Kasi and by that time, he had a lot of disciples. One of them, Sanandhyaya, was drying the clothes of his Guru and suddenly Sri Sankara called him to the other bank of the river as he needed the clothes urgently. Sanandhyaya, little realising that he would drown, starts walking into the river. However, the Grace of his Guru resulted in a lotus materialising wherever he was keeping his foot. When asked as to how did he cross the river, he says that when his Guru calls, he is not to worry about anything. Sri Sankara named him as Padma Padar (lotus feet). [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Once, in Kasi, when Sri Sankara was going to the Vishwanath Temple, his path was blocked by an "untouchable" who was accompanied by his wife and 4 dogs. The disciples of Sri Sankara shouted at him to make way, and to keep a distance. The untouchable smiled and said, ""According to your principle of Advaita, which you practice, all the Jivatma are same as God. How do you ask me to go? How am I different from your Paramacharya? What you say is unreasonable. How can I go away from myself?" [/FONT]


[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara realised that it was not an ordinary person and understood that it was Lord Shiva himself who had come along with His consort and the four Vedas. He prostrated before the Lord and sang five slokas called "Manisha Panchakam". Lord Shiva presented himself along with Visalakshi and blessed Sri Sankara. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]When Shri Sankara was 16, a very old Brahmin of ill health started arguments with him about Brahmasutra bashyam which Shri Sankara had written. Shri Sankara was astounded by his intelligence and arguments but they continued their discussion. The arguments continued for days together and the more Shri Sankara argued, his ideas crystallised more and more and he understood that the old man was none other than Vyasa Rishi, who was the creator of Brahmasutra. Sri Sankara said that he has done a great disrespect to the sage by entering into an argument. Vyasa Rishi said "I fully agree with your bashyam and I wanted to establish that yours is correct. I bless that you should live another 16 years and you should spread this Advaita throughout the country." [/FONT]


[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara learnt that there was a great learned person by the name Mandana Mishra who lived in Mahishmati and who followed the Karma Mimaamsa method of devotion. Sri Sankara arrived at his house and found his house was closed and Mandala Mishra was carrying out some rituals inside his house. Sri Sankara entered the house by using his powers and entered the house. Mandala Mishra became very angry and shouted at Sri Sankara. But Sri Sankara smiled and explained the uselessness of such rituals. [/FONT]
[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]However, Mandala Mishra admired the intelligence of Sri Sankara and started discussions with him after completing the rituals. Sri Sankara said that there should be a judge to decide the winner and suggested that Sarasawani, the wife of Mandala Mishra, to be the judge. Sarasawani, who was extremely intelligent and learned, realised that Sri Sankara was none other than Lord Shiva, did not want to declare her husband as the loser. She suggested that both of them should wear a garland of flowers and whichever garland fades first, that person would be the loser. Naturally, Sri Sankara won. [/FONT]



[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]As per the original condition, Mandala Mishra became an ascetic and started to leave the house. Unable to bear the separation, Sarasawani stood transfixed and told Sri Sankara that according to our faith, the husband and wife, even though have two bodies, are spiritually one and she would be incomplete without her husband. [/FONT]
[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara accepted this and started discussion with this lady. Saraswani showered questions like rain and Sri Sankara gave very beautiful answers and Sarasawani acknowledged him, and followed Sri Sankara and her husband's footsteps. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]In their travels, they reached Sringeri in Karnataka, which is on the banks of Tungabadra. While Sri Sankara and Mandala Mishra were walking, Sarasawani did not move and stood fixed in the sands of Tungabadra. Sri Sankara turned back and realised by his divine powers that Sarasawani did not want to proceed any further and created a seat for her for spreading the Advaita. This seat is today called the Sharada Peetham or the Seat of Sharada. This was the first Mutt installed by Sri Sankara, with the direction that all the heads of the Mutts will be called Sankaracharayas and they will have a lineage of Shishyas or disciples. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]When Sri Sankara was in Sringeri, he divined by his superior powers that his mother was in her deathbed, and as per his promise while taking Sanyas that he would be by her side while she breathes her last, he reached Kaladi and paid his last respects to the old lady. Aryambal was happy that her son had come back. Sri Sankara prayed to Lord Venkateswara who appeared in person and blessed Aryambal. Sri Sankara did the last rites for his mother but the people of Kaladi said that a Sanyasi does not have the right to do the last rites, but he did not hear that and carried the body of Aryambal and put her in the pyre himself and lit it himself. [/FONT]
[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]After the death of his mother, he went all over the country and converted the people of other faith to Advaita. He revived a number of temples and using his powers, he established a number of Yentras in these temples to spread the blessings of Parasakthi. During his travels, he arrived at Mukambi, a religious place in Karnataka. A poor brahmin came to Sri Sankara with his deaf and dumb son and prostrated before Sri Sankara. Sri Sankara asked the boy, "who are you?". The dumb and deaf child, for the first time, opened his mouth and explained, "The body is not me, it is the Paramatma who is my body." Sri Sankara was pleased with his answer and he gave an amla fruit and named this boy as Hastaaamalakan. (Hastaa means hand and Amalakan means amala). Hastaamalaka became one of the principle disciples of Sri Sankara. [/FONT]


[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara, with his three principle disciples, namely, Padmapadar, Sureshwarar (Mandala Mishra) and Hastaamalaka, went from place to place, and preached Advaita. Sri Sankara gave intense training to his disciples. One of the other disciples, Giri, while listening to the discourses, would not ask any doubts, would not open his mouth, and would be silent all the time. Some of the other disciples thought that this Giri was a dumb idiot and did not know anything. One day, all the disciples were ready to listen to Sri Sankara's discourses. Sri Sankara waited for Giri to arrive. Ultimately, Giri turned up but instead of keeping silent on that day, burst forth into eight slokas which had never been heard by the disciples earlier. These were the creation of Giri. On hearing this, all the disciples felt ashamed and praised Giri. These slokas are called "Thotaka ashtakam". Giri was named as Thotakar by Sri Sankara. [/FONT]


[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara visited Thiruvidaimarudur in Tanjore district of Tamilnadu, which is a great religious place, and the ruling deity in the temple was Lord Shiva. The learned Saivites of the temple informed Sri Sankara that Lord Shiva is the creator and that they are all merely lowly life created by Lord Shiva, and if that was so, how does Sri Sankara say that they were one with the Lord ? They did not agree with the Advaita principle. Sri Sankara asked them to enter the temple. As they reached the Sanctum Santorum of the temple, their was a thunderous statement "Satyam is Advaita". This was repeated thrice and it was also followed by a hand which came out of the Linga which conformed the truth. All the learned persons acknowledged the principle of Advaita and accepted Sri Sankara as their Guru. Even today, there is a Sankara Mutt at Thiruvaimarudur and there is a linga with a hand materialising out of it. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara visited Thiruvanaikar, near Trichy in Tamilnadu. In this temple, the Goddess Akhilandeswari was having a feirce power and people who went to have her darshan could not stand the fierceness of this Goddess. Sri Sankara created two sets of earrings which are called Tatankam and he presented these to the Goddess. The fierceness of the deity reduced. This tatankam, the earrings, has been maintained over time by the Acharyas of the Kanchi Mutt. [/FONT]
[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara visited Tirupathi and recited the Sloka "Vishnu pathathi keshanta stotra" which describes the Lord from his foot to the head. He wanted the people to visit the Lord in great numbers and get his blessings, he established an yantra. From that day the number of followers of the temple increased and is increasing day by day. [/FONT]


[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Arjuna tree is the tree of "Marutha" and the place where Lord Shiva appears as a Linga under this "Martha" tree is called Arjuna Kshetra. The Thiruvadaimaruthur which Sri Sankara visited earlier is called Madhyaarjunam. Srisaila, in Andhra, is called Mallikarjunam as Lord Shiva resides under a Marutha Tree which has also got Jasmine creepers on this tree. Sri Sankara visited this tree and became ecstastic on seeing the linga at the foot of this tree. His happiness flowed like the waves of a flood and became a sloka called Sivanandalahiri. [/FONT]


[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Near Srisailam, there is a forest called Hatakeshwaram, that no man enters. Sri Sankara entered this place and did penance for many days. During this time, a Kabalika, by name Kirakashan appeared before him. Kapalikas are a set of people who live in the burial grounds and pray to God by giving human and animal sacrifice. They were against Advaita which preaches love and affection and shuns violence. He asked Sri Sankara that he should give his body as a human sacrifice to Lord Shiva. Sri Sankara was happy to hear this request and agreed. Kirakashan was about to cut off Sri Sankara's head when Lord Narasimha appeared in the form of a lion and killed Kirakashan. [/FONT]


[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara completed his travels and went to Badrinath. Lord Vishnu appeared before him and told that his sculpture in Alaknanda river should be taken out and a temple should be built for it. This temple is called Badrinarayan temple and is one of the important religious places for Hindus. [/FONT]
 

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Dear Rajesh ji,
thank you for your lovely post.

but there is a slight different view on the Kirakashan episode.
Padmapada had attained Siddhi in the Mantra of Narasimha.
The consciousness of Narasimha took possesion of Padmapada and he became Narasimha himself for the time being and killed Kirakashan.

Anyway lovely post.
 
[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Adi Sankara (Some events, and an artist's impression):[/FONT]


[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Lord Shiva, also known as Dhakshinamurthy, who spreads the Universal Truth not by words but by his silence and by his sign of his hand which is held in the form of "Chin Mudra". [/FONT][FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]

About 2500 years ago, when the spirituality in the people reached a low ebb, all the Gods and the Rishis went to Kailash and pleaded with Lord Shiva to revive the dharma in the world. Lord Shiva acceded to their request and informed that he will be born in this world. Lord Brahma, Indra and others also agreed to be born in this world to help Lord Shiva.
[/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]In Kaladi, Kerala, a learned brahmin, by the name of Sivaguru and his wife, Aryambal, spent their life in doing poojas and in giving alms to poor and in other good deeds. This childless couple went to Trichur and performed puja for 48 days to Lord Vadakkunathan (Lord Shiva) and prayed for a son. Lord Shiva got melted by their pure devotion and appeared before them and told them "I am extremely happy with your devotion and you will get what you want. But tell me whether you want a number of dull children or only one son who is extremely intelligent, but will live for a short period only." The couple replied the decision could not be theirs as the Lord knew what was good for them. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Lord Dakshinamurthy, pleased with the reply, was born to Aryambal under the star "Thiruvaathirai". As the Lord had already promised that he would be born to do good to this world, the child was named Sankara. Sam means prosperity and Karathi means te giver. All the visitors stood in awe at the divinity of the child and said "This is not an ordinary child". [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]As Shankara grew up, he attracted everybody with his intelligence and kindness. At the age of three, he was given "Aksharabyas", i.e., the learning of writing and reading. At the age of four, he lost his father. At the age of five, he was initiated in Brahmacharyam i.e., the holy thread ceremony was conducted and he was sent to Gurukul for learning of scriptures. As per the practice in vogue those days, the brahmachari had to go from house to house and take alms and submit this to his guru. On a Dwadasi day Sankara happened to go to the house of a very poor lady and begged for alms. The lady did not have a single grain of rice in her house to give. However, she had kept a single Amla fruit (Nellikkai) for herself as it was a Dwadasi day. She unhesitatingly gave this Amla fruit to Sankara as she could not send back a Brahmachari empty handed. Sankara was moved by her selflessness despite her poverty and prayed to Goddess Lakshmi in a beautiful sloka which is called "Kanaka Dhara Stotram". On completion of this stotram, Goddess Lakshmi appeared in person and showered a rain of golden coins (in the shape of nellikkais) on the poor lady's house. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]One day, many rishis came to him and reminded him of his duty to the land in spreading spiritualism. Sankara agreed it was time to become a Sanyasi and go all over the country to kindle religious fervour. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]One day, when Sankara was taking bath, a crocodile caught hold of his leg. Sankara called out to his mother. Aryambal came running and to her horror, she found her son in the grip of the crocodile and she cried that she did not know how to help her son. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara informed his mother that his life was nearing an end, but if he became a Sanyasi, he could start a new life as a sanyasi. Quite reclutantly, Aryambal gave her permission to Sankara, for his taking to sanyaas. Thus Sri Sankara left his samsaara bandham at his young age. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara went in search of a Guru so as to get himself formally initiated into sany. At the banks of the river Narmada, he found the river gushing forth like floods. By using his powers, he encased the whole river in his Kamandal (a vessel sannyasis carry) and released it in the banks of the river. Sri Govinda Bagawadpadhar, an ascetic who saw this, marvelled at Sri Sankara took him on as a Shishya. [/FONT]
[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Govinda Bagawadpadhar taught various vedas to Sri Sankara. He also taught about Advaita, the principle that every one in this world is the manifestation of God and that God and Atman are one and the same. He advised Sri Sankara to go out in the world and spread this truth throughout the country. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara went to Kasi and by that time, he got a lot of disciples. One of them, Sanandhyaya, was drying the clothes of his Guru and suddenly Sri Sankara called him to the other bank of the river as he needed the clothes urgently. Sanandhyaya, little realising that he would drown, starts walking into the river. However, the Grace of his Guru resulted in a lotus emerging wherever he was keeping his foot. When asked as to how did he cross the river, he answered that when his Guru called, nothing else mattered for him. Sri Sankara named him as Padma Padar (lotus feet). [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Once in Kasi, when Sri Sankara was going to the Vishwanath Temple, he was accosted by an "untouchable" (chandaala or pulaiyan) who was accompanied by his wife and 4 dogs. The disciples of Sri Sankara shouted at him to make way, and to keep a distance. The untouchable smiled and said, ""According to your principle of Advaita, which you practice, all the Jivatmas are same as God. How do you ask me to go? How am I different from your Paramacharya? What you say is unreasonable. How can I go away from myself?" [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara realised that it was not an ordinary person and understood that it was Lord Shiva himself who had come along with His consort and the four Vedas. He prostrated before the Lord and sang five slokas called "Manisha Panchakam". Lord Shiva appeared along with Visalakshi before Sankara and showered their blessings on him. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]When Shri Sankara was 16, a very old Brahmin of ill health started arguments with him about Brahmasutra Bashyam which Shri Sankara had written. Shri Sankara was astounded by his intelligence and arguments but they continued their discussion. The arguments continued for days together and the more Shri Sankara argued, his ideas crystallised more and more and he understood that the old man was none other than Vyasa Rishi, the author of Brahmasutra himself. Sri Sankara said that he had shown a great disrespect to the sage by entering into an argument. Vyasa Rishi said "I fully agree with your bashyam and I wanted to establish that yours is correct. I bless that you should live another 16 years and you should spread this Advaita throughout the country." [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara learnt that there was a great learned person by the name Mandana Mishra who lived in Mahishmati and who followed the Karma Mimaamsa method of devotion. Sri Sankara arrived at his house and found his house was closed and Mandala Mishra was carrying out some rituals inside his house. Sri Sankara entered the house, without opening the door. Mandala Mishra became very angry and shouted at Sri Sankara. But Sri Sankara smiled and explained the uselessness of such rituals. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]However, Mandala Mishra admired the intelligence of Sri Sankara and started debating with him after completing the rituals. Sri Sankara said that there should be a judge to decide the winner and suggested that Sarasawani, the wife of Mandala Mishra, to be the judge. Sarasawani, who was an equally extremely intelligent and learned person, realised that Sri Sankara was none other than Lord Shiva, did not want to declare her husband as the loser. She suggested that both of them should wear a garland of flowers and whichever garland faded first, that person would be declared the loser. This arrangement was agreeable to both. Expectedly, Sri Sankara won. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]As per the original condition, Mandala Mishra became an ascetic and started to leave the house. Unable to bear the separation, Sarasawani stood transfixed and told Sri Sankara that according to our faith, the husband and wife, even though have two bodies, are spiritually one and she would be incomplete without her husband. [/FONT][FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara accepted this and started debating with this lady. Saraswani showered questions like rain and Sri Sankara gave very beautiful answers and Sarasawani acknowledged his greatness and bowed before him. She followed Sri Sankara and her husband's footsteps, wherever they went.[/FONT]

While on tra
[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]vel, they reached Sringeri in Karnataka, which is on the banks of Tungabadra. While Sri Sankara and Mandala Mishra were walking, Sarasawani did not move and stood fixed on the sands of Tungabadra. Sri Sankara turned back and realised by his divine powers that Sarasawani did not want to proceed any further and created a seat for her for spreading the Advaita. This seat is today called the Sharada Peetham or the Seat of Sharada. This was the first Mutt installed by Sri Sankara, with the direction that all the heads of the Mutts will be called Sankaracharayas and they will have a lineage of Shishyas or disciples. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]When Sri Sankara was in Sringeri, he learnt by his intuitive powers that his mother was in her deathbed, and as per his earlier promise at the time of taking to Sanyas that he would be by her side while she breathed her last, he reached Kaladi and paid his last respects to the old lady. Aryambal was happy that her son had come back. Sri Sankara prayed to Lord Venkateswara who appeared in person and blessed Aryambal. Sri Sankara did the last rites for his mother but the people of Kaladi said that a Sanyasi did not have the right to do the last rites, but he did not hear that and carried the body of Aryambal and put her in the pyre himself and lit it himself. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]After the death of his mother, he went all over the country and converted the people of other faiths to Advaita. He revived a number of temples and using his powers, he established a number of Yantras in these temples to spread the blessings of Parasakthi.

While he was on travel, he arrived at Mukambi, a religious place in Karnataka. A poor brahmin came to Sri Sankara with his deaf and dumb son and prostrated before Sri Sankara. Sri Sankara asked the boy, "who are you?". The dumb and deaf child, for the first time, opened his mouth and explained, "The body is not me, it is the Paramatma who is my body." Sri Sankara was pleased with his answer and he gave an amla fruit and named this boy as Hastaaamalakan. (Hastaa means hand and Amalakan means amala). Hastaamalaka became one of the principal disciples of Sri Sankara.
[/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara, with his three chief disciples, namely, Padmapadar, Sureshwarar (Mandala Mishra) and Hastaamalaka, went from place to place, and preached Advaita. Sri Sankara gave intensive training to his disciples. One of the other disciples, Giri, while listening to the discourses, would not ask any doubts, would not open his mouth, and would remain silent all the times. Some of the other disciples thought that this Giri was a dumb idiot and did not know nor could grasp anything. One day, all the disciples were ready to listen to Sri Sankara's discourses. Sri Sankara waited for Giri to arrive. Ultimately, Giri turned up but instead of keeping silent on that day, burst forth into eight slokas which had never been heard by the other disciples earlier. These were the creation of Giri. On hearing this, all the disciples felt ashamed and praised Giri. These slokas are called "Thotaka ashtakam". Giri was named as Thotakar by Sri Sankara. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara visited Thiruvidaimarudur in Tanjore district of Tamilnadu, which is a great religious place, and the ruling deity in the temple was Lord Shiva. The learned Saivites of the temple informed Sri Sankara that Lord Shiva was the creator and that they were all merely lowly beings created by Lord Shiva, and if that was so, how could Sri Sankara say that they were one with the Lord ? They did not agree with the Advaita principle. Sri Sankara asked them to enter the temple. As they reached the Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple, there was a thunderous statement "Satyam is Advaita". This was repeated thrice and it was also followed by a hand which came out of the Linga which conformed the truth. All the learned persons acknowledged the principle of Advaita and accepted Sri Sankara as their Guru. Even today, there is a Sankara Mutt at Thiruvaimarudur and there is a linga with a hand emerging out of it. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara visited Thiruvanaikaa, near Trichy in Tamilnadu. In this temple, the Goddess Akhilandeswari was having a fierce power and people who went to have her darshan could not stand the fierceness of this Goddess. Sri Sankara created two sets of earrings which are called Tatankam and he presented these to the Goddess. The fierceness of the deity subsided. These thatankams, the earrings, has been preserved over time by the Acharyas of the Kanchi Mutt.

[/FONT] [FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara visited Tirupathi and recited the Sloka "Vishnu padhathi keshanta stotra" which describes the Lord from his foot to the head. He wanted the people to visit the Lord in great numbers and get his blessings, he established an yantra. From that day, the number of followers of the temple increased and is increasing day by day. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Arjuna tree is the tree of "Marutha" and the place where Lord Shiva appears as a Linga under this "Marutha" tree is called Arjuna Kshetra. The Thiruvadaimaruthur which Sri Sankara visited earlier is called Madhyaarjunam. Srisailam in Kurnool District in Andhra Pradesh, is called Mallikarjunam as Lord Shiva resides under a Marutha Tree which has also got Jasmine creepers on this tree. Sri Sankara visited this tree and became ecstatic on seeing the linga at the foot of this tree. His happiness flowed like the waves of a flood and became a sloka called Sivanandalahari. [/FONT]('Lahari' in Sanskrit means waves)

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Near Srisailam, there is a forest called Hatakeshwaram, that no man ventured to enter at that time. Sri Sankara entered this place and did penance for many days. During this time, a Kapalika, by name Kirakashan, appeared before him. Kapalikas are a set of people who live near the burial grounds and pray to God by giving human and animal sacrifices. They were against Advaita which preaches love and affection and shuns all forms of violence. He asked Sri Sankara that he should give his body as a human sacrifice to Lord Shiva. Sri Sankara was happy to hear this request and agreed. Kirakashan was about to cut off Sri Sankara's head when Lord Narasimha appeared in the form of a lion and killed Kirakashan. [/FONT]

[FONT=Bookman Old Style, serif]Sri Sankara completed his yatra and went to Badrinath. Lord Vishnu appeared before him and told that his idol in Alaknanda river should be taken out and a temple should be built housing it. It was immediately done. This temple is called Badrinarayan temple and is one of the important religious places for Hindus. [/FONT]
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Dear Rajesh,

I appreciate the efforts taken by you in reproducing some of the events from Adi Sankara's life.

But, some small corrections are needed and I have made these.
I hope you will not get offended.
 
The period of Adhi Sankara is 8th century AD according to most historians. But claiming that his period is 2500 years before is questionable.

Again, Adhi Sankara has visited Kanchi only in Tamilnadu. There is no valid proof that he has visited other parts of present Tamilnadu.

Alwars and Nayanmars (7th to 9th Century AD) are responsible for the diminishing influence of Buddha/Jaina faiths in Tamilnadu.

While Adhi Sankara did a great job in the rest of the country, it was Alwars and Nayanmars did the work for establishing Hindu faith in Tamilnadu.

I wish historians in this forum bring more details so that no distortion of history takes place in this forum

All the best
 
I am no historian but I am just typing out some info from Sankara Digvijaya(traditional life of Sankaracharya).
I have only typed some of it.Read the prologue of the book for further details regarding era of AdiShankaracharya.
anybody else with more info can add on to this.
I am just giving historical input and do not want to deviate from the main purpose of this thread(The events in the Life of Adishankara)


There are wide variations in the biogaphical details of the date of AdiShankara's period of reign.
Max Mueller and other orientalist have fixed it as 788 to 820 A.D. and Das Gupta, Ramakrishnan and other writers have accepted it and repeated it in their books.

It is held by critics of this date that the Sankara of 788-820 AD is not Adi Shankara but Abhinava Shankara who was born at Chidambaram and was the head of the Sankara Math at Kanchipuram between 801 and 839.
He was reputed for his holiness and learning and is said to have gone on tours of controversy like the original Sankara.


Sri T.S Narayana Sastri in his book The Age of Sankara maintains that according to Brihad- Sankara -Vijaya and Prachina -Sankara -Vijaya, Adi Sankara was born in 2593 of Kali era (509BC) and passed away at the age of 32 in 2625 of Kali era(477BC).
He also maintains that this is more or less corroborated by the sucession list of heads maintained at the Kamakoti, Dwaraka, Sringeri and other Maths.
 
Adi Sankara

Sir,

The details of Adi Sankara's birth are not important , but his
teachings are.

A sloka in ' Praacheena Sankara Vijayam' says that the the
year of birth was 509 B.C.

Also, it appears that Adi Sankara visited Thiruvaanaikoil and
Trichy . In Trichy, within the sanctum santorum of Sugunta
kunthalambal, the first part of his famous ' Soundarya Lahiri'
is inscribed in grantha language. It is also said that he visited
Thiruvidaimarudur MahaLingeswarar Temple. I will try to locate
the references.

regards,

N.R.Ranganathan.
 
Late Sri K.A.Neelakanta Sastri is considered as an authoritative historian.

K. A. Nilakanta Sastri - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anybody who can get references from his book is welcome

It is a well known fact that Azhwars and Nayanmars played a greater role in revival of Hinduism in the present day Tamilnadu.

Adhi Sankarar did a wonderful job in other parts of the country.

It is not my intention to degrade anybody but history has to be properly understood and interpreted. Any distortion will only help those who want to make fun of us.

I am also a follower of Adhi Sankara and I am not questioning his philosophies but only about the timings.

All the best
 
Dear RV SIr & All,
The following details gathered from : kamakoti.org .

following events of the life of Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada :
Birth of Sri Sankara (Cyclic year Nandana)2593( Kali) 509(B.C)Upanayana of Sankara2598(Kali) 504(B.C) Completed study of the Veda 2601(Kali) 501(B.C)Got his mother's permission to enter the Holy Order of Sanyasa (Kartika Sukla Ekadasi, Cyclic year Plava) 2603(Kali)499(B.C)Philosophical study under Govinda Bhaghavatpadacharya 2603-2605(Kali)499-497(B.C)Sankara, in his 16th year, met Kumarila Bhatta for the first and the last time in Rudhapura near Prayaga at the time of self-immolation by Kumarila Bhatta (Kumarila was older than Sankara by 48 years (Cyclic year Kilaka) 2609(Kali) 493(B.C)Sri Sankara founded the Dwaraka Math (Magha SuklaSapthami of the cyclic year Sadharana with Hastamalaka as its first Acharya)2611(Kali)491(B.C)Sri Sankara founded the Jyotir Math on Pusya Suddha Poumima of the cyclic year Raksasa with Totakacharya as its first Acharya 2616(Kali)486(B.C)Sri Sankara founded the Govardhan Math of Purl (Jagannath) on Vaisakha Sukla Navami of the cyclic year Nala with Padmapadacharya as its first Acharya2617(Kali)485(B.C)The Sarada Peetha at Sringeri was founded by Sri Sankara in Pusya Purnima of the year Pingala with Sureswaracharya , as its first Pitadhipati2618(Kali)484(B.C)The Kamakoti Pieetha at Kanchi was founded in Vaisakha Sukla Purnima of the year Siddharthi with Adi Sankara himself as the first Acharya2620(Kali)482(B.C)Niryana of Sankara in his 32nd year on Sukla Ekadasi of the month of Adhika Rishobha in the Cyclic Year Raktakshi2625(kalI)
 
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Sri Adi Sankara

Dear sirs:

After the polemical debate with sri Mandana Misra , Sri Mandana
Misra's wife Sarasawani challenged sri Sankara to a debate with
her. Sri Sankara gave suitable replies to her, but faltered when
Sarasawani asked him about family life. It is said that she
herself felt sorry for having asked a sanyasi about kaama sutra.

However, Sankara requested her to give him a month's time to
answer her question, which she did. Adi Sanakara, on his way
back to his place, saw the dead body of the King of the state
and decided to enter into his body ( parakaaya pravesam ).
He learnt what he wanted to and ruled the kingdom efficiently.
Seeing the change in the King, the ministers sensed that some
great saint's soul has entered into the king's body and so they
ordered that any dead body of any saint found in the kingdom
be burnt so that the new saint-king can rule the country for
ever.

The disciples , who were guarding the body of Sri Adi Sankara,
came to know of the ministers' plans and they rushed to the king's
court. They reminded the king as to who he is by singing a hymn
consisting of five verses - this is called ' tatvamasi panchakam '.
Each verse will end with the words - Tatvamasi Tatvamasi
Tatvamasi Rajan .

I shall be much obliged if anyone has anuvaadam of this hymn
in tamil. If it is a priced publication, I will pay for it.

Thanks and regards,

N.R.Ranganathan.
 
I heard another version.

It was a 'dhasi' (prostitute) in Varanasi who was very pious and interested in spiritualism wanted to have a debate on an intellectual plane with Sankara. Sankara consented. As the debate progressed, the dhasi could not resist herself asking a question on marital life with the gnani who was practising celibacy.

Then he asked for some time to answer that question. While on his way back, he saw the Kasi Maharaja's body being taken on a procession to burial/cremation ground.

Rest is well known to us.

One more point is the Queen also had some doubts regarding the identity of the soul inside the body of the king, because Sankara was always avoiding touching (sparisam) her body.
 
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Time Period of Adi Sankara

Please go through the wikipedia article on Adi Sankara

Adi Shankara - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The time period mentioned in the article is 8th/9th century AD.

They have also referred a book from K. A. Nilakantha Sastry, A History of South India, 4th ed., Oxford University Press, Madras, 1976.


The same period is mentioned in the following website

The Advaita Vednta Home Page - Sankara's Date

Can anybody enlighten us further on this.

All the best
 
Sri Adi Sankara

Sir :

I am more interested in the hymn ' Tatvamasi panchakam '.
If anyone has it, I will be grateful if he lends me.

Thanks and regards,
 
This is regarding date of Sankara. Sri Sankara and his contemporary disciple Sureswaracharya have quoted buddhist scholar Dharmakeerthi by name. Dharmakeerthi's date has been fixed 6th/7th century AD as per Tibet histsory. So Sankara could have flourished only after that.
 
Dear NRR

If you go through the entire sections under the title "KADABAYADHI SANKHYA" we can come to a conclusion.

There are around 26 sections just below the kadabayadhi sankhya, stating Buddhism, Jainism examples, example of poornavarma, Dravida sisu issue, evidence of dwaraka sri mutt, etc. all have been discussed in that.

Pranams
 
Adi Sankara

Dear sri Durgadasan,

Thanks . Likewise there are different opinions about the place of
his siddhi- whether it is kashmir or kanchi. A number of scholars
have done research on these things. But what is relevant for us
is his teachings , his logic, his analysis and his vast knowledge of
the various subjects - aaya kalaigal arupathu nangum !
 
Yes sir. You are right. The birth-death of a sadhu is of mere importance, as they too gave no importance to them. The teachings (especially shri adhi sankara's philosophical books and other slokas) are really a treasure. He is a perfect poet. Noone can even imagine the comparisons done by him in soundaryalahari. I usually called is as "Lahiri", as it gives me immense pleasure and also make myself to forget.

Pranams
 
sri Durgadasanji,
And what about the bhujangams on Subramnaya and Rama , moving with the
rythm and speed like that of a serpent ? What glorious ethos and poignancy
built into them !

His polemical debates with sri Mandana Misra are a treat. He has used superb
logic in showing the demerits of sankhya and naiyayika theories. No doubt, He
is a Jagatguru.
 
enjoyed your post here of my favorite saint sri adi shankara...hope to read more about him from your posts here
 
If Adi Shankara was born on 509 BC that wud make him a near contemporary of Gautama Buddha.

Cults like Charvakas or Lokayathikas, Kapalikas, Shaktas, Sankhyas, Buddhas and Madhyamikas reached their peak only after a few years after Buddha's death....

Its not possible for Adi Shankara to have defeated those cults even before they were established (!) or "defeat" something that had already dwindled.

Hsuan Tsang mentions Dharmakriti but not Adi Shankara around 650 ad.

Adi Shankara's comtemporaries such as Mandana Mishra are dated to around 8th century.

Kanchipuram was ruled by Pallavas and there is no mention of the presence of kanchi mutt even in 12th and 13th centuries in their accounts, records, inscriptions, etc

Note that if Adi Shankara had taken Samadhi there, it wud have been considered a very holy place at the time of Pallavas....or atleast it should have been mentioned as a samadhi kshetram even atleast 500 years back.

And if Adi Shankara did take samadhi at Kanchi, why did the kanchi mutt operate from Kumbakonam (if Adi Shankara's Samadhi was in Kanchi).......there should have been no need for the kanchi mutt to operate from Kumbakonam and get shifted to kanchi later.

Shringeri Mutt has been honest and realistic with the life history of Sri Adi Shankara (born in 788 AD not 509 BC with samadhi in Kedarnath not Kanchi): history

Actually, its better if there is an official enquiry by a university based group of historians into the antecedents of the kanchi mutt - esp with regard to their claim of mulamnaya or jurisdiction over the other 4 mutts established by adi shankara.

People complain about 'political interference' into mutts - instead i feel politicians are protecting mutts - each time they donate money no one knows if its is black money or white money - can anyone protect mutts from bcoming a safe haven for black money (??) - that is the root cause of the current problems.

And ofcourse politicans of tamilnadu will go broke if casteism is wiped out. They will have no more political platform to mint money from. Naturally they will protect institutions that protect their interests.

Only a weak link that creates problems for them is sought to be eliminated by hoisting false court cases on him.


Please read this:

1) The Shankaracharya(s) of Jyotirmath - Vidyasankar Sundaresan - Plain text

2) Biography Of Sankara - Works of Sankaracharya, Advaita Vedanta and Hindu Sacred Scriptures

3) Commotion in Kanchi - very revealing

4) Important doc: http://www.kanchi-sathya.org/affidavit.doc

5) http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/dating-Sankara.html

And if possible, please do try your hands on these books:

1) The Truth About the Kumbhakonam Mutt - written by R. Krishnaswamy Aiyar and K.R. Venkataraman.

2) Kanchi Kamakoti Math: A Myth - written by Raj Gopal Sharma.
 
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Yeah yeah. The meter of bhujanga itself is an amazing treasure. It flows like "vasothara". Sometimes I compare bhujanga slokas with arunagirinathar's Thirupugazh and exclaims within myself. Thanks for remembering me that.

Pranams
 
Dear sri Durgadasan,

Sri Paramacharya compares sri Muthuswamy Dikhsidar's 'Subramanyaya namaste '
sung in raga khamboji to this one. The raga itself meanders wonderfully well.
 
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