What a coincidence..Adi Shankara died on Vaishaka Poornima just like Lord Buddha.
Both preached on similar lines too.
Another incident quoted in the Biography of Acharya is similar to Thiru Gnyana Sambandar's childhood incident. However this comparison is disputed by some scholars for the reason "Sambandar is not known to have composed any poem in Sanskrit. The distinctness of the two personalities is very clear in spite of punditry, which might confuse the two personalities."
The Lakshmeedhara Vyaakhyaanam "Sowbhaagya-Vardhini" of Sankaran's "Soundarya-Lahari" is said to recall a childhood incident: Sankaran's pious father used to perform daily offering of milk (as Nivedyam), and upon returning home, used to give it to his son. One day when he had to leave home, he entrusted this duty to his wife, Arya. During her monthly periods, she entrusted it in turn to her son. Dutifully, he kept the milk in front of the Devi's idol and requested her to accept it; but seeing that she was not drinking it, he started to cry. Thereupon, Devi is said to have appeared, took the boy on her lap and breast-fed him. The story goes that it was as a result that Sankaran became a poet-laureate and great scholar. He is then said to have created and recited his "Devee-Bhujangam.
Here is the beautiful verse 75 in Soundraya lahari referring to Dravidian sisu identified as Sambandar, which is often quoted by scholars.
तव स्तन्यं मन्ये धरणिधरकन्ये हृदयतः
पयः पारावारः परिवहति सारस्वतमिव ।
दयावत्या दत्तं द्रविडशिशु-रास्वाद्य तव यत्
कवीनां प्रौढाना मजनि कमनीयः कवयिता
tava stanyam manye dharanidhara kanye hrdayatah
payah paravarah parivahati sarasvatam iva
dayavatya dattam dravidasisur asvadya tava yat
kavinam praudhanam ajani kamaniyah kavayita
"Your breast milk, I consider, O Maiden born to the Earth- Supporting Lord,
As if it were word-wisdom's ocean of nectar, flooding from out of Your heart Offered by one who is kind, which, on tasting,
This Dravidian child, amidst superior poets, is born a composer of charming verse."
Brahmanyan
Bangalore.