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in one of the posts, our beloved seshadri mentioned about shankara's

face to face meeting with the divine mother shakti in Kashmir.

 

here is the narration of that famous incident where ADi shankara had

a darshan of the divine mother goddess.

 

As you, adi shankara had many discuusions , debates with learned

buddhist momks and other fanatic hindu priets and learned scholars

from different sects. This incident is about the time when Adi

shankara goes to Kashmir to have a discussioon with Shaktas , the

devotees of the divine mother shakti in all her various

manifestations.

 

Just a day before the debate, adi shankara gets indisposed and is

unable even to move. tHis was a cause for concern and all his

disciples and upporters were worried how adi shankara could engaze in

any spiritual discussion in his present state of health.

 

ADI SHANKARA CLOSES HIS EYES AND IS CONTEMPLATING ON WHAT HE SHOULD

DO.

 

at that time, a lovely young girl (may be 10 years old) with a

luminous countenance appeared before adi shankara and

asked him, " are you not taking part in the spiritual debate wit the

shaktas.? "

 

Adi shankara replied in a feeble voice, " I feel very sick and i have

no strength (shakti) even to lift a straw! "

 

The young girl's face lit up and she smiled and asked the learned

saint " so you think you do not have Shakti.?"

 

The great guru replied, " of course, normally all human beings have

SHAKTI (strength) to work, to speak, to move about and perform

various activities."

 

so, the young girl not content with adi shankara's reply asked, " so,

SHRIMAN guruji, you think this so called shakti is different from

you?"

 

The learned acharya immediately understtod the deep meaning behind

that question and answered, " o kanya! i don't think my *shakti* is

different from me rather it is my very essence, an integral part of

me, "

 

THE YOUNG GIRL CONTINUED, " if even ordinary human beings can have

shakthi and are indeed a manifestation of shakti, why can not BRahMAN

(the ultimate reality) have shakti for the ultimate reality includes

everything the manifest and the unmanifest. "

 

ADI shankara was speechless on hearing this.

 

After a few seconds, the great acharya recovered his composure and

replied " so , Kabnya devi! tell me, it is not a contradiction for an

advaiin to worship shakti, goddess with a form.? "

 

The young girl answered, " no, not at all. on the contrary your

philosophy becomes sound and strong when you accept shakti as the

supreme brahman ! when brahman is inactive, he is purusha and when he

becomes active brahman is shakti. shiva is unattached and is

inactive - when combined with shakti he becomes active. "

 

NOW, ADI SHANKARA WAS CONVINCED THAT THIS IS NO ORDINARY GIRL BUT THE

DIVINE MOTHER HERSELF who HAD COME IN PERSON TO TEACH HIM THE GREAT

SHAKTA DOCTRINE. SO, adi shankara touched the little girl's feet and

addressed her thus " O divine mother! i am grateful to you for

opening my eyes to the eternal truth. "

 

The little girl transformed herself into the blissful form of sree

Bhavani " yes, dear devotee! i am that divine mother and i confer on

you my blessings to compose hymns and prayers in praise of shakti,

the eternal brahman"

 

With the divine mother's blessings, adi shankara went on to compose

the famous bhawani stotra .

 

The moral of the story is first worship deity with form and then

proceed to the formless! from bhavamukha to nirvikalpa samadhi!

 

sesh, this is how i remember the story- i invite shankara kochu or

harsha or any other member to add to this narration... of course, our

beloved ompremji can add his perspectives to this tantric-advaita

approach!!!

 

dhyayet padmasanastham vikasha vadanam padma -patrayataksim

hemabham pitavastram kara-kalita -lasad-hema padmam vardangim

sarvalankara -yukham satatam -abhayadam-bhakta-namram bhavanim

srividvam santamurthim sakala -sura -nutam-sarva sampati-pradarim.

 

Devi bhavani is ever to be contemplated upon as seated in a LOTUS,

WITH A FACE BEAMING WITH JOY,

eyes soft and elongated like lotus petals, radiating a golden hue,

dressed in yellow silk, sporting a golden lotus in he hand,

perfect in every limb,

beautifully decorated, compassionate towards devotees, and bestowing

protection and all prosperity on them. adored by all celestials, she

is the very embodiment of sri vidya and tranquility.

 

jai bhawani maa ki!

jai gurudeva!

 

love