Adi Guru Shankaracharya

 

Jagadguru Shankracharya was a divine yogi, an un-parallel teacher, great organizer and an extraordinary revolutionary holy man. Great saints with such great wisdom and brilliance do not take birth again and again not only in India but on the whole Earth. In his one great personality many different kinds of meritorious personalities were contained. Looking at his great works he accomplished in his lifetime, one cannot easily believe that such a superhuman personality appeared on this Earth. Almost 1200 years before he appeared, but in even today his efforts are totally secure. Religious institutions established by him, scriptures written by him and even the spiritual practices established by him are still in vogue without any break.

His Divine birth

Many differences are found regarding birth of Shankaracharya according to different scholars but most agree that his birth was in 685 and death occurred during 713. Many different books were written on his life in many different languages. These are about 32 scriptures in Sanskrit language alone in which material on his great personality is collectively published.

Acharya Shankar took birth in Kaladi village of Kerala and his parents were Namboodiri brahmins. Namboodiri brahmins are loyal, righteous and followers of Vaidik tradition. Acharya Shankar’s father’s name was Shiv guru while his mother’s name was Sati. Both mother and father were great worshippers of Lord Shiva. They had no child. After getting happy with their bhakti and prayers, lord Shiva granted them a boon of a child with condition that if they want an all-knowing child then he will have short life span but if they want a son with long span then he will not be fully accomplished. His father requested to lord Shiva to grant him fully accomplished son only as what would he do with an ignorant son in his old age. Lord Shivas boon totally manifested. Acharya Shankar was born on 6ht day of Vaishakh Shukla paksha. Though he left behind his body at a young age of 32 years only but he is counted among the top most acharyas, philosophers, poets and holy men in the world.

Stupendous Child Shankar

Acharya Shankar was a great personality right from his birth. His sharpness was evident from his childhood itself. At the age of three he gathered good knowledge of his mother tongue Malayalam. At the age of five, he went to study under an Acharya to learn Sanskrit. Within two years only he returned home after not only learning Sanskrit but also studying various scriptures at Guru ashram. By the age of seven he started teaching children elder to him. Fame of this child guru spread far and wide and many erudite scholars use to come to cheque his scholarship but retuned after bowing down to his great knowledge. When the king Raj Shekhar learned of this amazing child, with great respect he extended an invitation to him through his courtier to visit his palace court. Child Shankar neither accepted the gift sent by the king and nor accepted the invitation to visit his royal court. The king himself came to meet the child yogi in his village. The king was a high degree scholar of Sanskrit, poet and play writer.  He read three of his Sanskrit plays to child Shankar. After listening to them carefully, Shankar enumerated on the virtues and vices of the writings. On hearing his scholarly description, the king was elated. After this happening, scholarship, dispassion and teacher-hood of Shankaracharya specially got established.

Miraculous deeds of child Shankar

Child Shankar was not only extraordinarily wise but also, he had many divine powers. When he was studying at his Guru’s ashram then all the students have to go to villages to beg. One day to seek food, he stopped at the door of a poor brahmin woman. The poor brahmini had nothing to offer to child Shankar but an amla (amalica embilicus) only. On seeing her plight child Shankar was filled with pity. Hence, he prayed to Goddess Luxmi with his whole heart. Next day Brahmini’s house was filled with golden amalaa fruits and her misery was removed for ever.

Few years after his Shankar’s birth, his father died. The family had only a widowed mother. Mother used to go for bath daily in a nearby river. One day to too much heat she swooned and fell on the way to the river. Due to this mother loving Shankar felt great distress.  At night time itself Shankar prayed to his family deity of Lord Krishna for removal of this problem. Nest day in the morning her mother saw that the river has changed her course and now is flowing nearer to her village Kaladi.

Right from very young age, Shankar wanted to become a monk but mother never gave him order for this. One day Shankar went to the river with his other to take bath. A crocodile caught hold of his foot. Shankar shouted but nothing could be done to free him. On realizing that his last time has come, so he requested his mother to allow him to become a monk, so that he could die as a monk and achieve final emancipation.  To fulfil her child’s last desire, mother immediately gave her permission to become a monk. He immediately took emergency Sanyas. On hearing his shouts many fishermen came there and with their help Crocodile released Shankar’s foot. At that time, he was only eight years old. The mother had many worldly desires from her only son but this even appeared to be a great hit on her all such desires.  Now child Shankar could not live like a normal family person in his house and he also never wanted to live like that. He sought permission from his mother to take initiation from a right Guru as per proper method. She being bound with scriptural decorum, making heart strong, she gave him permission. After making proper arrangements for upkeep of her mother in his absence, he left his house in search of a right guru for himself.

Stopping the flood in a river with the help of a pitcher

Celibate Shankar had heard from his Guru that sage Patanjali has rebirth in the form of Govind Bhagwatpaad and is doing austerity in a cave somewhere in North India by the river Narmada. Shankar had great desire to learn Yog and Vedant from him only and hence he walked in that direction only. Crossing many obstacles on the way, he reached that place where Govindacharya or Govind Bhagwatpaad were busy in his tapasya or austerity. He was taken aback by the great intellect of the child. With great pleasure he accepted Shankar as his disciple. He made him wonder struck by learning the great knowledge of Brahmsutras and Upnishads in just three years’ time. Not only this, Shankar gave him an idea of his austerities and accomplishments to his Guru. One day Govindacharya was sitting in a samadhi in a cave on the bank of river Narmada. At that moment, river got flooded and water quickly started filling the cave.  All the disciples were greatly concerned by it. Nobody wanted to break the Samadhi of guru Govindacharya but also none could come out with any plan to save him from the rising waters. When disciple Shankar came to know of this problem, he charges a pitcher with mantras and placed at the mouth of the cave. The flood water started going into this pitcher. As the water started rising, it only went inside the pitcher. When Guru came out of his samadhi, he was overwhelmed by the scene. He strongly realized that this is not any ordinary child.

Extrication of Statue in Badrinath

On the orders of his Guru, Shankaracharya arrived in Kashi. All the saints, scholars and monks of Kashi entered into debate with this special child and got defeated. Many old people became his disciples. A desire to write commentary on Brahmsutras, Upnishad etc arose in the heart of Shankaracharya. For this work, the cave of Vyas ji in the Himalayas seemed best suited to him. Hence, he left for Badrinath from Kashi. At that time, this travel was extremely difficult but fearless twelve-year-old child along with his disciples and devotees kept moving and reached Badrinath. At that time this sacred place was very neglected. In the main temple of the Badrinath there was no statue. From the local people it was informed that because of the fear of Chinese plunderers, the statue was thrown into the Narad Kund. But later even after searching for it, it was not found and that is why the temple is without any statue. Shankaracharya became ready to search for the statue himself. But local people desisted saying that the Narad kund is connected with Alaknanada from below and hence he would put his life in danger. Without paying any heed to them, Shankaracharya descended into the Narad Kund. When he took first dip, the statue which came into his hands was a broken one. He thought that Lord Badrinath’s statue can not break so he cast the broken statue into the Ganga waters and entered into the river, a second time. But his time again he found that broken statue in the kund and he again cast it into the river. When he entered for the third time, the same statue came into his hands again. He heard a prophecy that in this Kaliyug time, this broken statue of the Lord has to be worshipped. Hence, he established this very statue in the temple and prepared a procedure to worship it with vedic method. Thus, through the hands of Shankaracharya, Badrinath dham was re-established. Even today, the procedure established by him to worship the lord is still in practice. People from different parts of the world come here and earn virtues.

One to one meet with Maharishi Vedvyas   

Acharya Shankar established Jyotirpeeth at a little distance from Badrinath. Then he started the work of scripture writing living in the Vyas Gufa. Staying in this very cave, Vedvyas ji wrote Mahabharat. Acharya Shankar not only did his writing work only here but used to teach a few of his selected disciples and gave them instructions in Yog. One day a brahmin came and asked his disciples as to who their guru was and why did he teach there. Then disciples informed him that he is their great guru Acharya Shankar, who is a great knower of Upnishads and Brahmsutras and he has written a bhashya or commentary on Brahmsutras. Expressing his surprise, that Brahmin said that who in this kaliyug can know the real meaning of Brahmsutras? He has been in search of such a person and he would be very happy if their guru can clear some of his doubts.  Disciples made this Brahmin meet Shankar. He gave answer to Brahmin’s question in great detail. This debate carried on for seven days. Brahmin was elated with the explanation of Shankar and when he showed his real form then everyone came to know that the Brahmin was Rishi Vedvyas. Shankar’s age was only 16 years, Vedvyas ji gave him an of 16 more years.

Overcoming everyone in all the direction 

At that time Vedic dharma was almost in tatters. Due to missionaries of Baudh and Jain dharma, in the hearts of followers of Vedic dharma there was great despair. Acharya Shankar in this difficult time, vowed to restore the vedic dharma. Coming down from Himalayas, Acharya Shankar started roaming in India. Writers of his life stories gave it a name of Shankar’s Digvijay. Actually, Acharya Shankar went in various direction in India and wherever he met people against Vedic dharma, he defeated them in debates and well organised the followers of vedic dharma. In Sanskrit, many scriptures were on his such travels. From reading them it becomes evident that he went to main cities like Uttrakhand, Ayodhaya, Kashi, Prayag, Delhi, Ujjian, Karnataka, Kanchi, Kaamroop, Gaya, Gokarna, Chidambar, Jagannath, Dwarika, Naimish, Pandarpur, Mathura and Rameshwaram etc, spread in all the four directions of India. 1000 years earlier, such travels were extremely difficult. Due his such travels, an end was brought to the hypocrites and antagonists of dharma and a great opportunity arrived for the establishment of the Vedic dharma. During the travels of Acharya Shankar many miraculous things happened which have been explained in details in various Sanskrit writings.  Many times, his antagonists tried to kill him but he got saved in miraculous ways. During one of his travels, he brought to life a dead boy even.

Debate with Mandan Mishra and Parkaaya pravesh

During the times of Acharya Shankar there was a great scholar by the name of Mandan Mishra. He had great reputation among scholars. He followed a path different than Shankar’s non-dual path. His wife Bharti was extremely knowledgeable. Shankar went to debate with Mandan Mishra and his wife Bharti was made the judge. Mandan Mishra got defeated in this debate. Bharti was annoyed by this defeat of her husband and she expressed her desire to debate with him.  Shankar happily agreed. During debate, Bharti asked him some questions regarding Kaamshastra. Since Acharya Shankar was celibate from birth, he could not answer her question, did not accept defeat but asked for some time from her. One day by coincidence Shankar while walking in a forest, he came across dead body of a king on a rock.  Probably while chasing a pray, he got separated and died because of extreme heat. Entering his body, Acharya Shankar, thought of experiencing the knowledge of Kaam shastra. He conveyed his decision to his disciples. That king became alive while Shankar’s body lost its consciousness. This body was kept inside a cave and his disciples guarded it as per the instructions of Acharya Shankar. Acharya Shankar starting living in king’s palace while in Kings body. During this period, he studied the kaam shastra in great depth. After sometime he again entered his body kept inside the cave. The King again died while Shankar came back to life (in his own body). From there he came to the wife of Mandan Mishra Bharati and debated as decided earlier. Bharati was defeated. As per promise made at start, Mandan Mishra renounced the world and became Shankar’s disciple and was later became famous by the name of Sureshvaracharya.      

Establishment of an ideal state

In a way, Acharya Shankar had established an ideal state. To run this state in right manner, he made many disciples, devotees and bhaktas. He had established many organisations in the country and had re-established many temples and mathas. Acharyas Shankar’s four disciples are worth mentioning, namely, Sureshvaracharya, Padmpaadacharya, Hastamalkacharya and Totakacharya. All the disciples were extraordinarily knowledgeable, had great dispassion, supernatural monks. To establish the concept of ideal state, Acharya Shankar established four centres or mathas’ in four directions. He made his four disciples as the heads of these centres. Out of these, Govardhan math is in the East of India (Jagannath puri), Jyotir math known as Joshimath is in the North established near Badrikashram, Shardamath is established in Dwarikapuri under Kathiawar area and fourth one in Mysore is known as Shringeri math. Apart from these main four centres, there are other centres too. Heads of these centres are also called Shankaracharya. There are elaborate procedures for running them. There system is going on for centuries without any break. For governance of various works of Dharma and Karma no great person could ever establish such a widely spread and well organised system.   These centres provided greatly unparalleled contribution towards the development and safeguard of our culture.

Acharya Shankar established Daashnami system to join all the monks in the country. Under this system comes the monks who take ten different titles, namely, Tirth, Ashram, Vann, Aranya, Giri, Parvat, Sagar, Saraswati, Bharati and Puri. These ten branches have big organisations.

Acharya Shankar apart form being greatly dispassionate, renunciate and skilled organiser, was unparalleled Acharya of six different philosophies and an excellent poet. He wrote many books which can be broadly divided into four different categories, namely, Bhashya Granth, Shraut Granth, Prakaran Granth and Tantra Granth.  Under Bhashya granth commentaries on Brahmsutras, Geeta and Upnishads are main; under Shraut granth are the hymns written in a very lucid manner, in praise of Ganesh, Shiv, Devi, Vishnu etc various male and female divinities. These writings are around 240 in number. Under Prakarn Granth come the explanations of various teachings of Vednata in very simple language. In these Aprokshanubhuti, Atmabodh, Nirvaan Manajari, Vivek Chudamani, etc. 40 books come; Under Tantra granths Sanudarya Lahiri and Prapanchsaar tantra are main. In this manner in a short span of 32 years, he wrote hundreds of scriptures. Later on, people attained great respect and glory by writing explanation on these. Hundreds of explanatory writings have been devoted to hundreds of his texts and are even being written till now. All this work of his is an evidence of his supernatural status.

Establisher of Srividya

Shankracharya was a high level sadhak and knower of Tantra knowledge. In tantra, Sri Vidya Sadhana has a very high level of place. Its proper adoration and worshipping procedure, was established by Shankracharya which is being practiced even today through various established centres. In his text ‘Saundarya Lahiri’, he has expounded the deeper meanings of it in a poignant and touching manner.

Shankracharya in Garwhal

Date of birth of Shankaracharya is quite debateable. It can only be said that he took birth around 7^th century sometime in Southern India. In his very young age, acquiring immense knowledge he proceeded on his path of dharm-vijay. In Kashi Lord Vishwanath showed him his divine form and instructed him to write commentary on Brahmsutras written by Rishi Vyas. He decided that he will write it in Badrinath only. Near Badrinath only is the cave of Rishi Vyas, sitting in which Rishi Vyas wrote all the Brahm sutras. Via Haridwar Acharya reached Rishikesh. There he came to know that the statue of the lord has been thrown into the waters of the Ganges due to fear of Chinese plunderers. With the efforts of Acharya, from one of the places on the banks of the river Ganga, a statue was found and it was established in the temple. After that he started towards Badrik ashram. On the way, human offerings and many tantric procedures were more in practice, which Acharya stopped with his efforts. In the main temple of Badrik Ashram, Lord’s statue was not there. The pandits told that due to attacks from Chinese side they have thrown the statue of the lord in to the Narad kund in Ganges. Acharya reclaimed the statue from the Narad Kund and established it in the temple. It is a statue of the lord sitting in padmasana whose left corner is broken.

Living in the Vyas tirth for four years, Acharya wrote commentaries on Brahmsutras, Bhagwat and main Upnishads.

After this Acharya reached Kedarnath, after that visiting Uttarkashi he reached Gangotri. In Uttarkashi, he met Rishi Vyas. Here only he came to know that Kumaril Bhatt was on the banks of Triveni in Prayag. Walking along the bank of the river Yamuna probably, he reached Prayag to meet him.  (Baldev Upadhyay – Shankaracharya P.no 45-46).

Acharya established Jyotir peeth near Badrikashram and made his disciple Totakacharya as the head of it.         

Ref: Uttrakhand ki Sant Parampara – Giriraj Shah – Vishvavidyalaya Prakashan